In early August of 1945, Tsutomu Yamaguchi had a run of the worst luck imaginable. A double blast of radiation left his future, and the future of his descendants, in doubt.
Stories by Jad Abumrad
Jad Abumrad goes looking for the devil, in search of the truth behind the legend of one of the most haunting, shadowy figures in music — American blues singer Robert Johnson.
In 1822, an accidental shooting left Alexis St. Martin with a hole in his gut that wouldn’t heal, but didn’t kill him either. Instead, the strange relationship that developed between the patient and his doctor opened up a one-of-a-kind window into the human body.
Two stories about heart-stopping falls: David Eagleman gets to the bottom of what goes on in our brains during those life or death moments when time seems to slow way down. Plus, the story of Sarita and Simon, who fell in, and then out, of love.
Is there such a thing as a purely selfless deed? Three bona fide heroes explain what went through their minds as they leapt into action. The heroes: Lora Shrake, who squared off with a 950-pound bull; Bill Pennell, who repeatedly dove into a burning car for survivors; and Wesley Autrey, who jumped in front of a subway train.
The best idea that Susan Schaller ever had came after meeting an isolated young man at a community college. He was 27. Though he had been born deaf, no one had ever taught him to sign. He had lived his entire life without language.
The dizzying rise and fall of Lincoln Beachey, a pilot whose aeronautic feats changed aviation forever and turned chancy stunts into acrobatic mastery.
via @spheeris1
A chimp teaches us the ups and downs of growing up human (here’s the epilogue, too).
via @romanmars
As host of 99% Invisible, Roman Mars spotlights the seams and joints that make up the world around us. Roman joins Radiolab to play some favorites from his podcast, and chat about the hidden language of design that shapes our lives.
It might seem hyperbole to claim, as many Wagnerites do, that The Ring Cycle is the greatest work of art ever. But the grandeur and power of this monumental work have permeated our culture from Star Wars to Bugs Bunny to J.R.R. Tolkien.