Singular Discoveries

Unusual stories from the forgotten past

Each edition of Singular Discoveries presents a fascinating, surprising, and forgotten story from the past, plus some recommended discoveries — books, articles, records, podcasts, TV shows, or movies — chosen because they’re interesting and might enrich a few minutes of your time. There’s also some context about writing, reporting, and the process of scouring historical archives for interesting stories. And we ask authors to offer insights into their work and share their recommendations.