We’re all familiar with Laika the dog and Ham the chimp as pioneering animal astronauts, but how many of us have heard of the Moon Tortoises? In fact, two Russian tortoises, imaginatively named “22” and “37”, were the first Earth creatures to orbit the Moon, four months before Apollo
In this part of the world, it seems that almost anything can be served up in a pita. Most people are familiar with falafel and shawarma. Other local foods are served on pita like lahme bajen, or the pita is used as a spoon to scoop and wipe hummus and
History, it is said, is written by the victors. But which victors, of which war? The United States lost the Vietnam War militarily, for instance: but the American left emerged victorious on the home front. And they wrote a history which was every bit as false as the Soviets who
This weeks post is tasty Spinach soup, a simple very quick delicate and visually attractive way to warm your cockles and sigh aahhh afterwards. There is not much you can write on the origins of spinach soup but I will give it a go. Spinach first appeared in the region
It’s sobering to realise that my own children, now in their 20s, have lived with the “War on Terror” as the background to their entire lives. They can barely remember 9/11, of course; they were toddlers, playing, oblivious to the telly on which those shocking images transfixed the
Simon Black sovereignman.com Simon Black, as James Hickman is more commonly known, is the Founder of Sovereign Man. He is an international investor, entrepreneur, and a free man. His daily e-letter, Notes from the Field, draws on his life, business and travel experiences to help readers gain more
Simon Black sovereignman.com Simon Black, as James Hickman is more commonly known, is the Founder of Sovereign Man. He is an international investor, entrepreneur, and a free man. His daily e-letter, Notes from the Field, draws on his life, business and travel experiences to help readers gain more
The crash of the Hindenburg is one of the most iconic transport disasters of all time. Second only to the sinking of the Titanic, it’s been immortalised in popular culture, from Leadbelly’s contemporary song, to the cover of Led Zeppelin’s debut album, and films and novels. Journalist
Just back from the paprika and fishy flavour of the Maghreb, we are now off to the boot of Italy. Timballo, a long-forgotten traditional dish, almost never seen on a restaurant menu anywhere ever, received positive exposure when appearing in a cameo role in the foodie movie Big Night
Ali A. Olomi Penn State I am a historian of the Middle East and Islam researching, writing, and publishing on medieval and modern Muslim thought. I study how Muslims imagined the “Islamic world” through at the intersection of religion, science, and empire. The rapid takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban
Caitjan Gainty King’s College London Caitjan Gainty is a historian of twentieth century medicine and technology. She initially trained in public health and worked for several years in health care research before returning to academia to pursue a PhD in the history of medicine, which she received in 2012.
New Zealand’s oldest person, Ron Hermanns, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) war veteran who was still living independently in his own home in Christchurch, has died. He died on Monday, just three weeks from his 110th birthday. Hermanns drew media attention in 2010 when at the age
