Smithsonian African-American museum beats fundraising goal
With its fundraising goal of $270 million easily surpassed, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African-American History and Culture is ready for its closeup. The museum is slated to open on September 24 with VIPs on hand such as President Barack Obama. Oprah Winfrey donated over $20 million to the museum, which expects to have approximately…
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Cracking the Lorenz SZ42’s Code
During World War II (1939–1942), the Germans used a machine called the Lorenz SZ42 to send encoded messages. This machine used wheels and switches to create billions of possible combinations.…
Astronaut Peggy Whitson sets another record
On April 24, astronaut Peggy Whitson broke the record for most days in space by a US astronaut. Jeff Williams, the previous record holder, had a total of 534 days…
Ella J. Baker’s role in civil rights
Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorates the work of the civil rights movement. But did you know that one of the movement’s key leaders was a woman named Ella J.…
Unsung Heroes shines a spotlight on underrepresented voices throughout history. Featuring racial minorities and other marginalized contributors who are routinely left out of history books, this biography series examines the work of professionals throughout US history and in the fields of science, technology, and social justice. Each book profiles 12 individuals and their impressive contributions as well as the challenges they faced.