LATEST STORIES
Science
The Very Long Odds of Life on Planet Earth
For Earth to foster life required many processes to happen in the right order and time. Had Earth formed elsewhere in our Solar System, it might not have been the beneficiary of some lucky breaks that made it into the thriving planet...
Insider
Producer's Circle: October Update
From new platforms to improved speed and captions, the MagellanTV team has been hard at work improving the member experience and usability of our apps. Here’s what’s been happening behind the scenes, and what to expect in the...
History
Goddesses of the Ancient World: Legends of Powerful Religious Deities
From Sumer to Egypt to India, the world’s most ancient civilizations often worshiped powerful female goddesses and religious leaders – but even they had to fight for equality.
History
Ancient Tech: The Amazing Inventions of Hero of Alexandria
Our great age of technology and scientific advancement is hardly the first. In ancient Alexandria, one great mind of that era, Hero, is responsible for several amazing mechanical and technological inventions involving water, steam,...
Culture
Frankenstein, Sherlock, and Alice: How Timeless Literary Characters Have Shaped Our World
While many stories have earned recognition as influential classics, let’s look at three...
Culture
Cannabis Legalization: What the Data Says about its Risks and Benefits
Cannabis has changed culture in the U.S. and other areas where laws have shifted. More adults smoke, and the public is more accepting. But with this societal evolution comes scrutiny, and the list of acknowledged risks of marijuana is...
History
Pyramids, Sphinxes, and Aliens? The Mysteries of Ancient Egypt’s Architecture and Engineering
The ancient Egyptian civilization created some of the most miraculous architectural and engineering miracles ever. From the Sphinx to the Pyramid of Giza, from ink to agricultural tools, here’s a look at how (and why) they did it.
Culture
Blind Faith: Religious Forgeries from the Middle Ages to the Age of Technology
Artifacts and relics have always been fascinating to the people who find or buy them....
Science
How the Towers Fell: Science and Engineering Reveal the Facts of 9/11
The events of September 11, 2001, are seared into the memories of all who witnessed it, including the horrific spectacle of the twin towers’ collapse. Engineering allows us now to understand how the towers fell, and how to avoid a...
History
Magic and Hysteria: The History of Witch Hunts Through the Ages
You might be familiar with the Salem Witch Trials or the witch hunts that overtook Europe in the Middle Ages, but witch hunts have ancient roots. They also share many root causes, including misogyny, economic insecurity, and more.
Science
Aviation Software: Is Safety Flying 2nd Class?
“Fly-by-Wire” requires extensive use of aviation software, which must be carefully evaluated to meet FAA safety standards. Recent crashes of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft raise the question whether companies and regulators can keep up...
History
Sex and Violence in Rome: Caligula’s Empire and the Salacious Rumors that Built It
Caligula was Rome’s third emperor, and the first to be assassinated. While the start of...
History
The Wright Brothers vs. Everyone Else: How American Aviation Nearly Crashed on Take-Off
The Wright Brothers revolutionized early aviation in 1903 with the first flyable...
Crime
Jack the Ripper and Other Notorious Cold Cases: Our Obsession with Unsolved True Crime
From Jack the Ripper to the Zodiac Killer, from Black Dahlia to JonBenét Ramsey,...
Culture
Anniversary Overload: 50 Years Since 1969's Woodstock, Altamont, Manson and the Moon
1969 was a year of signal events in popular culture. From Woodstock to Altamont, from the...
Crime
Mental Health Behind Bars: Treatment and Rehabilitation in the Criminal Justice System
Millions of criminals with mental health issues are incarcerated each year, but...
Climate
Endangered African Forests Fuel Climate Change
Our planet’s long-term health depends on moderating natural and human-made processes that lead to global warming and habitat destruction. Deforestation in Africa and elsewhere threatens land conservation and increases the level of...
Nature
America’s Beloved National Parks Risk Being Annihilated by Climate Change
America’s national parks are disproportionately vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and the political prominence of climate deniers isn’t helping. But the parks could also be essential in helping us fight against...
History
Time Travelers: How Living Historians and Re-enactors Bring the Past to Life
The art of Living History and historical re-enactors might be the closest we’ll ever...
Nature
‘If It Can Kill You, That’s the Best’: The Origins of Shark Week
Shark Week premieres Sunday, July 28. And what can we expect? Plenty of chills and...
Space
The Cost of Weightlessness: How Space Travel Can Affect the Human Body and Mind
While space travel seems out of this world, it comes with a cost. Each mission has...
Space
Buy Me to the Moon: The Money and Politics of Owning Outer Space
Who owns the Moon? Technically no one – but several private companies and individuals have had other ideas. As interest in the Moon’s profit potential grows, important questions about the finer details of celestial territory...
Space
NASA’s Return to the Moon
NASA is planning a return to crewed missions and it’s starting out with a big bang – landing astronauts on the surface of the Moon by 2024. This effort is supported by an enhanced budget, plus new alliances with corporations and foreign...
History
The Space Race's Indispensable Man: Wernher von Braun
In the Space Race between the U.S. and U.S.S.R., America relied on the rocket designs of Wernher von Braun. Sometimes called the “Father of Space Travel,” von Braun was also behind Hitler’s “Vengeance” weapon, the V-2...
Science
Made in a Hollywood Basement? Cultural and Psychological Roots of Moon Landing Conspiracy Theories
The Apollo moon landings were massive achievements for technology and science....
Space
Apollo’s New Moon: The Director’s Take
Apollo’s New Moon writer/director David Sky Brody discusses aspects of this MagellanTV original film, and the importance of the Apollo missions in revolutionizing knowledge about the Moon, including its composition and how it was...
Space
Moon Work Was Hard Work: Apollo’s Astronauts Didn’t Have It Easy
Working on the Moon was no walk in the park for the Apollo astronauts. From bulky space suits to toxic space dust, the challenges were many. But the astronauts overcame the obstacles and didn’t let anything stop them from...
Nature
Towers of Terror: What Are Composite Volcanoes and How Do They Form?
Composite volcanoes, or stratovolcanoes, are the world’s most common and destructive types of volcanoes. When they erupt, they can change the world. Examples of this type include Vesuvius, St. Helens, and Krakatoa, among others that...
Culture
5 Revealing Documentaries About Sex and Gender
Meet Canada’s first trans beauty queen and explore various ways to live outside the “gender binary” of stereotypical male/female distinctions. To mark Pride Month, let’s take a look at some films showing the broad diversity of...
Culture
Sacred Brews: A History of Coffee and Religion
The first known coffee drinkers were Sufi mystics in Yemen, who used coffee to stay awake during their long prayers. Since then, coffee has held a prominent position in Islam, Christianity, paganism, and more.
History
Light and Dark: Two Legacies of the History of Coffee
Coffee is ubiquitous in the U.S. and around the world, but how did this drug-bearing plant enter so fully into our cultural life? The history of coffee reveals both the light and dark sides of coffee production and our caffeinated...
Astronomy
The Complex Evolution Of The Telescope
Galileo is recognized as the first man to use a telescope to gaze at the stars and planets. But since then, his hand-constructed telescope and its advances have only made it more clear how much today’s astronomers are indebted to...
Science
Live Fast, Die Young: The Dramatic Lives and Legacies of Cinder Cone Volcanoes
Cinder cone volcanoes are the smallest and simplest volcanoes, but they’re also among...
War
Bravery from Above: The Paratroopers of D-Day
Paratroopers played a critical role in the eventual success of the 3-month-long battle that began on June 6, 1944 – marked in history as D-Day – 75 years ago. But who were they? Let’s learn more about these soldiers and what...
War
Landing Craft, Mulberries, and Ruperts: How Equipment and Deception Shaped D-Day
D-Day, June 6, 1944, was the culmination of intensive planning and the use of new...
War
From German Jets to Double Agents: 5 Ways D-Day Could Have Been a Disaster for the Allies
D-Day was a pivotal moment in world history – but it almost didn’t succeed. From...
War
War Correspondents: Risking It All for the Story
It’s a dangerous world for war correspondents, and getting riskier by the day. Reporter Lara Logan was brutally attacked in a 2011 Egypt demonstration yet survived. She is but one example of the many risks undertaken by these...
Nature
Narwhals, Unicorns of the Sea: When Myth Meets Reality
Narwhals, often referred to as the “unicorns of the sea,” are a strange, single-tusked species of whale. Despite being thought of as mythical or magical, these Arctic natives have had a role not just in Inuit history but also in...
Technology
“A War of Currents”: The Invention of the Electric Chair
A battle of titans named Edison and Westinghouse sparked the invention of the supposedly humane electric chair. But how did Nikola Tesla’s promising discovery – alternating current electricity – get diverted into this shocking...
Nature
Facts about Shield Volcanoes: A Trip on the Lava Train
Shield volcanoes are distinct from other volcanoes due to their sheer massiveness and the unique manner in which they erupt: effusively, not explosively. Come on a vicarious ride from beneath the Earth’s crust right up to the...
History
From Chinese Origins to Gutenberg's Bible: How the Invention of the Printing Press Changed the World
Most of us associate the name Johannes Gutenberg with the invention of the printing...
War
Secrets and Hollow Promises: How World War I Gave Rise to Arab Nationalism
The Middle East was an active theater of conflict during WWI. Following the war it was treated as spoils of war by the West, despite promises made for Arab self-determination. Arab nationalism arose in reaction, and its effects...
History
Heads Will Roll: The Life and Death of Mary Queen of Scots
Mary Queen of Scots served as queen of multiple kingdoms before she was dethroned for her faith and the controversies that followed her in life. She was Catholic in the face of Protestantism and made enemies along the way. That is,...
Culture
Polish Musical Nationalism – from Chopin to Right-Wing Rap
Nationalism has changed dramatically since its formation during the Enlightenment era. In the 1830s, Polish composer Frédéric Chopin made his musical mark as a defender of freedom. Today, neo-nationalism has a much different spin in...
Health
The Flexible Brain: Neuroplasticity’s Revolutionary Potential for Training and Healing
The human brain is extraordinary, and the skills we learn as humans seem limitless. But...
Science
Overpopulation Has a Solution: But Can We Get There?
Lowering the birth rate may be the “magic bullet” for addressing current and future climate and population emergencies. But governments are not always in alignment with scientific recommendations. How can we proceed for the health...
Health
Good Vibrations: How Sound Therapy Could Cure Depression, Cancer, Alzheimer’s, and More
Though it’s sometimes written off as New-Agey magic, sound healing is being used to...
History
Notorious to Courageous: Women of the Bible
Women in the Bible play many roles, and while few actually make it into the spotlight, the ones who do leave their mark. But who are some of the more famous - and infamous - ones? Learn who these women are, and what it is that makes...
Nature
What Are “Endangered” Species? (And How You Can Help Save Them)
Endangered and threatened species face possible extinction. Leading the effort to save...
History
How Alexander Became Great: From Child of Zeus to God of Egypt
Alexander entered Egypt in 332 BCE, liberating it from the Persians and advancing his ultimate goal of conquering the entire Persian Empire. In the process, he transformed Egypt, and that land also elevated him to the status of a...
Space
7 Threats Mars Colonizers Are Sure to Face in Outer Space
Humans appear to be on the verge of setting out in large numbers into space on commercial flights. Space visionaries are promoting these journeys as essential next steps for the human race, but other scientific minds express caution....
Crime
Raising a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Ted Bundy and the Making of a Serial Killer
Ted Bundy is one of history’s most notorious serial killers, and fascination surrounds...
Nature
From Sexy Maneuvers to Great Migrations, High-Speed Cameras Reveal Hummingbird Secrets
New scientific discoveries unlock the secrets of hummingbird behavior and shine a light...
Nature
Hawai‘i to Mt. Tambora: Volcano Eruptions and Their Creative Destruction
Volcanoes are among the most destructive natural forces on Earth. How are volcanoes...
History
The Hidden Legacy of the Homestead Act
The Homestead Act conjures images of the dusty plains and old west, but this couldn't be farther from the truth. The Homestead Act was a groundbreaking piece of progressive legislation with a legacy of technology innovation still felt...
war
Woman at War: Lyudmila Pavlichenko, the Sniper Who Shot Down Gender Norms
Meet Lady Death – the Ukrainian sniper, Lyudmila Pavlichenko, who shot down as many...
War
Nuclear Weapons: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
During the Cold War, accidents and other incidents involving nuclear weapons were more common than many people know, but the bombs didn’t go off. How close have we come to nuclear war, and how was it averted? Is nuclear catastrophe...
Insider
Survey of Americans’ Documentary Watching Habits Might Surprise You
At MagellanTV we love documentaries, but does the American public share our passion? To find out we asked 1,027 Americans men and women about their documentary consumption patterns.
Science
Are Plants Intelligent? Surprising Evidence that Plants Can Feel
Researchers into plant life are continually discovering amazing facts concerning plant adaptations and their ability to “sense” their surroundings. However, some botanists resist identifying plants as “intelligent.”...
Science
Getting Into Your Genes: Gay Sexuality & 'Natural Selection'
Research into homosexuality has led to interesting and sometimes surprising discoveries, as well as to previously unconsidered questions about the balance between nature and nurture in a person’s sexual orientation.
Space
How We Learned the Night Sky is a Time Machine
Have you met Jim al-Khalili? (You’re about to.) He is a UK-based theoretical physicist and also a talented interpreter of technical science for people like us – sort of a British version of Neil DeGrasse Tyson or Bill Nye, the...
Contemporary
Litigation Nation: 4 Wacky, Ridiculous and Weird American Lawsuits
Necessary or frivolous? In a society where “I’ll sue you” is a common threat, the legal system gets inundated with potential cases. Sometimes these cases are tragic and the pursuit of justice is necessary. Other times, they’re...
Contemporary
Tangled in the Web: Cyberbullying and Its Effects on Kids
Effects of cyberbullying are pernicious, serious, and long-lasting. Half of all teens with Internet access report to researchers that they’ve been cyberbullied, but 90 percent of those say they never reported it to parents or...
Crime
Cut and Run: The Black Market in Organ Trafficking
Black markets have been created across the world for illegal organ transplants. Mostly in severely poor, developing nations with incompetent or corrupt oversight, this trade is allowed to thrive despite its risk of lasting damage,...
Art
4 Women Impressionist Artists: Confronting Barriers in the Avant-Garde
Marie Bracquemond, Mary Cassatt, Eva Gonzalès, Berthe Morisot – these painters, all affiliated with the Impressionist art movement, have not received the attention given their male peers. Could it have been institutional sexism...
Nature
Tsunamis: What, How, Why, Where
Tsunamis are among the most destructive natural disasters on Earth. What are these enormous waves that roll in from the ocean? How do they form? Why do tsunamis cause so much damage? And where are we most vulnerable to their...
Insider
Viewers’ Favorite Documentaries of 2018
2018 is coming to a close. Before it ends, let’s remember some of the highlights. You watched a lot of documentaries, but which stood out from the rest? Here are the top 10 most watched documentaries of 2018 – a list created by...
History
Absolutely Bananas: The Story of Entrepreneur Sam Zemurray
Think you know bananas? Meet Sam “the Banana Man” – the immigrant who founded his own banana empire, manipulated Central American governments, and took control of one of the largest banana distributors in the world – the...
Contemporary
Copyright in the Digital Age: 4 Eye-Opening Cases
In our digital age, artwork and other creative content can travel rapidly from author to user. But sometimes those users exploit digital content in ways unauthorized by copyright owners. Let’s explore examples of this new kind of...
science
Life Obsessed: What Is OCD?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a psychological condition that affects around 3% of the population – across all ages, races, and genders. But what is OCD, who is at risk, and why does it develop? Here’s what it means to live a life obsessed.
Crime
The Darker Side of Shopping: What Is the Black Market (and What Strange Things Are for Sale)?
The Black Market is known as the go-to spot for all things illegal and dark. In some...
Science
Psychopath or Sociopath: What’s the Difference?
Psychopath or sociopath? While some use the terms interchangeably, there are clear differences between them that have been debated among psychologists. Let’s take a look at what defines the two. You may be surprised by what you...
Mystery
Very Superstitious: 5 Popular Superstitions in Today’s America
Superstitions have been common throughout history all around the world. But how much do they influence our everyday life? Let’s take a look at five of the most popular superstitions in America. Maybe you even practice some of these,...
contemporary
Hawai‘i: A State, or a Nation?
Uncovering Hawai‘i’s history reveals an unexpected tale of 19th century American empire-building and a tradition of native resistance that runs counter to Hawai‘i’s status as America’s 50th state. Let’s examine the roots...
Science
Overpopulation in the Era of Climate Change
Overpopulation is a root cause of climate change. Reducing the rate of population growth is crucial to the fight to bring global warming under control. However, governments are reluctant to acknowledge the link, and we are running out...
Warfare
World War III Flashpoint: North Korea
Has anything important changed since Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un first met? Kim still has his nukes, and the U.S. wants him to give them up. World War III is not the solution. Maybe the better move is just to get used to a...
Music
Mozart's Problem With Authority
Mozart’s resistance to authority led to one of his less recognized impacts: a lasting change in composing as an occupation and music as an industry.
Warfare
World War III Flashpoint: Taiwan
With China ascendant, the era of the United States as the world’s lone superpower may be ending. Where is a flashpoint that could draw the two nations into a military conflict that might escalate into a global conflagration?
Space
Journeys To Jupiter - 2001: A Space Odyssey Turns 50
Fifty years ago, Stanley Kubrick released his film 2001: A Space Odyssey, a classic tale of an epic journey to Jupiter. Let’s take a look back at Kubrick’s masterpiece. From today’s perspective, what was prescient – and what...
Nature
Scary Creatures: A Coward's List
Certain animals evoke revulsion and fear in billions of people, from Sakhalin Island to Timbuktu, Sydney to Sarasota. What fierce creatures would you least like to encounter up close and personal? Our timid but cantankerous...
Warfare
World War III Flashpoint: Cyberspace
The world wars of the 20th century were fought by soldiers, sailors, and airmen in clashes of steel across defined geographical battlefields. World War III, however, could well be fought in the realm of cyberspace.
Warfare
The Psychology of Propaganda: War Tool Turned Marketing Tactic
“Propaganda” and “war” generally go hand in hand. After World War I, however, propaganda became a marketing tool no longer reserved for posters of the enemy and national spirit. It evolved to become the calculated manipulation...
Space
How the Apollo Moon Missions Changed Our Understanding of the Solar System
Find out how Apollo 11 and the manned moon missions that followed shaped the ongoing debate over moon formation theories, and how the first man to step on the moon played a part in what we know today.
Space
Salyut-7 and The New Cold War
More than three decades ago, the United States and the U.S.S.R. nearly came to blows over a disabled Soviet space station called Salyut-7. Or did they?
Science
Hawking to Humanity: We Must Venture Into Space, Or Else!
No less a thinker than the late Stephen Hawking sought to warn us that our time is running out on planet Earth. Humankind’s continued existence requires us to prepare for mass space travel.
Science
Overpopulation: Myth, Reality, or Both?
Is the human population growing? Yes. Will overpopulation eventually threaten our species? Some leading experts say, “No.” There are many worries about overpopulation, but modern demographers have deflated several of them.
Health
7 Ways BMI is Useless, 6 Better Alternatives, & 5 Reasons to Stick With BMI Anyway
The BMI, or “body mass index,” is a common method to assess body composition. But how...
History
The Age of Greece: Rise and Decline of the Ancient Greek City-States
Greece is one in a constellation of ancient cultures that formed the foundations of Western civilization. In this timeline, we’ll mark the rise of Greece from its preliterate beginnings to its decline and eventual fall to Rome’s...
Health
The Skinny on Fat Cells: They're Just Another Body Tissue
Body fat is often scrutinized when evaluating health and diet, but what exactly is it? Fat cells provide nutrients, and regulate temperatures and hormonal changes in the body.
Nature
Snakes in the Everglades! Pythons Threaten Florida's Ecosystem
If you live in Florida, you probably already know from first-hand experience what I’m about to tell you. There are a lot of unusual fauna all across Florida, but the most concentrated area for large, bizarre, crawly things is the...
History
Tools of the Neolithic Era: Inventing a New Age
The Neolithic Era was the final stage of technological development for prehistoric humans. Read more about Neolithic tools from this study of Neolithic history.
Space
Planet 9 Coming Into Focus (And Maybe Planet 10, Too!)
A Caltech team is on the hunt for hidden planets. Building on research first published in 2016, they amassed enough unsexy but compelling evidence to book time at the Subaru Telescope on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea and initiate a search for...
Space
Jupiter's Stormy Weather: Juno Reveals More Than the Eye Can See
The Juno probe has revealed Jupiter's majestic weather patterns in amazing detail. But are Jupiter's colors really that dynamic? It turns out, no. But just because these images utilize "false color" doesn't mean they're "fake news."
Earth
Fukushima: The Costliest Disaster in History
What happened when an earthquake, a tsunami, and nuclear reactor meltdowns combined to devastate a populated region of Japan? Though lessons have been learned save lives in the future, much is still unknown and solutions are still...
Contemporary
The Mattachine Society & LGBTQ History
The 21st century has had rapid progress for members of the LGBTQ community. But in fact, recent advances in gay rights stand on a foundation that was laid by courageous activists and the organizations they created more than 50 years...
Culture
Encroaching Silence: The Impact of Deafness on Beethoven and His Music
Ludwig van Beethoven’s music includes some of the most memorable, profound, and beautiful compositions of all time. But for much of his career he was unable to listen to what he had written.
Culture
Beethoven and His Father: Alcoholism and the Gifted Child
Ludwig van Beethoven was among the greatest composers in history, yet is often seen as a moody, dark genius. What does his childhood tell us about him?
culture
Mozart and The Musical Flowering of the Age of Enlightenment
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart came to fame during the Age of Enlightenment, and his compositions were informed by this spirit. But in fact, whether we would even have some of his most beloved operas without the guiding principles of the...
Crime
Serial Killers In America: Quotes From The Darkest Criminal Minds
Serial killers have always been a subject of both curiosity and fear. Though motives of serial killers are as various as their grisly crimes, we can begin to understand the inner workings of their minds by evaluating the words they...
culture
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: His Life, His Death, His Immortality
In a life of only 35 years, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart created an extraordinary volume of memorable work that will be performed for as long as we appreciate the genius of timeless music. But who was Mozart really? What path did he walk...
Nature
Plastic Pollution in the Ocean: What You Can Do About It
Conservationists are alarmed by masses of floating plastic garbage that endanger our oceans, including one they have dubbed the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” Finding new strategies for mitigating the threat posed by these patches...
Nature
Whale Sharks: Why the World's Biggest Fish is in a Struggle For Survival
Will space-age technology help save the largest fish on Earth – the whale shark? Despite their size, whale sharks are threatened by overfishing and the appalling practice of “finning.” Organizations now exist to educate...