July 10, 1913 - Hot as hell it was! On this day the mercury climbed to 134° Fahrenheit in Death Valley, California. It’s the highest temperature ever recorded in North America – and not far from the hottest reading ever taken on the planet. Libya hit 136° in 1922.
Besides the blistering heat, Death Valley is one [...]
June 13, 1955 – On this day a team of geolists trudged their way through the Siberian wilderness and discovered traces of a volcanic rock called kimberlite. This was a telltale sign that the area probably produced diamonds.
Due to its remote location and harsh weather conditions, 2 years would pass before excavation began. The ground [...]
May 19, 1780 – On this day during the Revolutionary War, a large swath of New England was plunged into almost total darkness. Thick black clouds obscured the sun to such a degree that candles were needed at noon. Many believed it was the end of the world.
Harper’s Magazine described it like this:
Birds went [...]
