Roundup

Mary Queen of Scots

Why are we still so fascinated by a queen who died 400 years ago and never even sat on the English throne? Professor John Guy of Cambridge University and Dr Helen Hackett of University College London.

Hilary Spurling & "Matisse the Master"

Hilary Spurling discusses the second of her two-volume biography of one of the twentieth century's most important and influential artists, "Matisse the Master: A Life of Henri Matisse: The Conquest of Colour: 1909-1954."

Audio news from Archaeologica

(1) Czech statue a hoax. (2) Loch reveals drowned Scottish forest. (3) Student uses multidisciplinary approach on Hopi "porcelain." (4) Unearthing a Cycladic Bronze Age town. (5) Scot discovers long lost Egyptian ceremonial path.

Aztec cosmology

The Aztecs' concept of the universe, dieties and humans is the topic of today's "History According to Bob." History Professor Bob Packett teaches at Maple Woods Community College, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Kennedy proposes joint moon mission, September 20, 1963

Today in 1963, President John F. Kennedy put forth a proposal that shocked his political allies, enemies and the nation. It stirred debate around the world and was even discussed at the United Nations. What did Kennedy say? Simply, that the United States and the Soviet Union should consider the possibility of planning and executing a joint mission to the moon.

Election of 1824

In today's "History According to Bob," History Professor Bob Packett, of Maple Woods Community College (Kansas City MO), talks about the presidential election contested by Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, William H. Crawford, and Henry Clay.

Buffalo Soldier Mark Matthews dies at 111

Retired 1st Sgt. Mark Matthews, 111, one of the last of the nation's legendary Buffalo Soldiers, died Sept. 6 at a nursing home in Washington. The Buffalo Soldiers were African-American regiments within the U.S. Army after the Civil War; they served primarily in the Indian wars of the late 1860s.

Rhode Island Regiment

Colonial Williamsburg interpreter Greg James discusses the determination of the members of an all-black regiment of soldiers, the Rhode Island Regiment.

Allen Weinstein, Archivist of the U.S.

Allen Weinstein discusses his job as the Archivist of the United States in preserving Presidential & other U.S. government records at Presidential libraries and other National Archives' facilities.

And now, the war forecast

Can software really predict the outcome of an armed conflict, just as it can predict the course of the weather? A discussion with Tom Standage, Technology Editor of "The Economist" -- "We’re looking at systems which take historical data about known conflicts. You then build a model and tweak it until it correctly predicts the known outcomes of the these conflicts. Weather forecasters call this 'hind-casting'. Just as you can work out the rules of physics that govern the behaviour

The history of nylon

70 years ago in a research laboratory in Delaware, USA, a young scientist made a discovery that was to change the face of fashion forever. Nylon was the world’s first totally synthetic fibre and it was originally heralded as a 'miracle'. Within a few years nylon was being used in a whole range of products from brush bristles to racquet strings, but it was the launch of nylon stockings that really created a storm. "Woman’s Hour" explores the History of Nylon, and Jenni Murray is joined

The miraculous journey of Margery Kempe

David Wallace assesses the first autobiography in the English language, "The Book of Margery Kempe". He traces the final journey that its author, the 15th Century visionary Margery Kempe, made at the age of 60 from her home in Kings Lynn, England, to Danzig, Wilsnack and Aachen. She passed through pilgrim boomtowns, crossing paths with crusaders who lived like kings and meeting merchants who wanted to be knights. Featuring actress Prunella Scales as the voice of Margery Kempe, and hist

Remembering Kent State 1970

When thirteen students were shot by Ohio National Guard Troops during a war demonstration on the Kent State University Campus on the first week of May 1970, four young lives were ended and a nation was stunned. More than 30 years later, the world at war is a different place. However, those thirteen seconds in May, 1970 still remain scorched into an Ohio hillside. Through archival tape and interviews, "Remembering Kent State" tracks the events that led up to the shootings.

Adam Nicolson on Trafalgar

The Book Guys -- book appraiser Allan Stypeck and Washington DC radio host Mike Cuthbert -- welcome historian Adam Nicolson, who discusses his new study of British history, "Seize the Fire: Heroism, Duty, and the Battle of Trafalgar."

In the footsteps of explorers

Sandi Toksvig talks to three explorers about walking in the footsteps of the heroic explorers from the age of adventure. Tom Fremantle has trekked into Africa on the path of Mungo Park's journey in 1795. Rebecca Harris retraced the steps of John Franklin, lost in 1845 whilst trying to find the North West Passage. Benedict Allen travelled by camel along the Namib desert/Skeleton Coast of South West Africa.Tom Fremantle has had a restless career. He's been a teacher, journalis

On this day, 2003: Washington DC swept by hurricane

A massive hurricane has swept through the area around Washington DC, the capital of the United States. At least two deaths have already been attributed to the storm, known as Hurricane Isabel, since it hit the east coast late yesterday, wreaking widespread havoc with winds gusting at up to 150 km/h (90mph). By early today, most people in Washington had already taken shelter. The streets are largely empty, and much of the city has simply shut down, including federal buildings. Uprooted trees are

Silent Cal takes a nap

In today's "History According to Bob," History Professor Bob Packett talks about the idiosyncrasies of our sleepiest president -- Calvin Colidge. Professor Bob, of Maple Woods Community College (Kansas City MO), loves to tell stories of the real people behind the often sterile descriptions found in history texts. His conversational style, filled with anecdotes, quips and humor, will bring to life the characters of history. Now, through the technology of podcasting, you can also enjoy w

On this day, 1970: Rock legend Hendrix dies after party

Guitarist Jimi Hendrix has died after collapsing at a party in London. Police say there was no question of foul play. A number of sleeping pills were found at the house in Notting Hill Gate and they have been taken away for analysis. Hendrix, 27, was born in Seattle, Washington, but rose to fame in Britain with his band the Jimi Hendrix Experience. He will be remembered as a key figure in the music world who transformed electric guitar-playing using distortion, feedback and sheer volume to creat

On this day, 1961: UN Secretary General killed in air crash

The body of UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold has been identified among the wreckage of a plane which crashed last night outside the Northern Rhodesian town of Ndola. The Norwegian statesman was due in Ndola for peace talks following clashes between United Nations peacekeeping troops and forces striving for independence in the breakaway Congolese province of Katanga. There was only one survivor from the aircraft. Twelve other bodies have been recovered. The survivor, Sergeant Harold Julian,

The US Air Force is born, September 18, 1947

Today in 1947, the United States Air Force officially became a separate branch of the armed forces. I use the term “officially” because the service was actually created by the National Security Act of 1947, which became law on July 26, 1947. However, it was on this day that Stuart Symington became the first Secretary of the Air Force, putting the service on an equal footing with the Army and Navy.