The 1910 return of Halley’s comet was greeted with rapture—at least until some scientists started running their mouths off, and caused a deadly worldwide panic. ☄️The new season of Disappearing Spoon starts today! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… Science History Institute sciencehistory.org/stories/disapp…

A big thank you to Barnes & Noble Barnes & Noble for being great partners throughout my career! You can order my new book Dinner with King Tut (and all my previous books) on their site: barnesandnoble.com/w/dinner-with-…

The question seems simple: how many chromosomes do humans have? But every textbook in the world once cited a wrong number, until a fiery Indonesian scientist went to war with his boss and proved the world wrong... podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… Science History Institute sciencehistory.org/stories/disapp…

In the 1950s, French doctor Marthe Gautier discovered the cause of Down syndrome. But a colleague allegedly stole credit from her—and is now on track to become a certified Catholic saint. Full story below! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… @scihistoryorg sciencehistory.org/stories/disapp…

The birds and the bees and the ... frogs? 🐸 Last century, the best pregnancy tests in the world relied on our little croaking friends, who initiated a revolution in health care. Full story below! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… @scihistoryorg sciencehistory.org/stories/disapp…

Compared to his father Charles, Leonard Darwin felt like a failure—a mediocre military officer and two-bit politician. Then Leonard found his calling: the dark world of eugenics. Hear his chilling tale below... podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… Science History Institute sciencehistory.org/stories/disapp…

Attention barnesandnoble members! Through Friday, get 25% off my NEW BOOK, Dinner with King Tut. Act fast before the deal expires: barnesandnoble.com/w/dinner-with-…

Although forgotten today, rickets once devastated children, leaving their bones twisted. Finding the cause took decades, but ended with a startling discovery—nothing less than human photosynthesis. Story below! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… @scihistoryorg sciencehistory.org/stories/disapp…

Asbestos was once considered a miracle substance, due to its ability to stop the fires that plagued every city. Sadly, it also shreds people’s lungs—until one crusading doctor ended this scourge. Full story below! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… Science History Institute sciencehistory.org/stories/disapp…

It was one the largest epidemics in American history, resulting in 30,000 cases of paralysis. And it would be forgotten today if not for blues musicians who recorded the details in their songs. New podcast below! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… @scihistoryorg sciencehistory.org/stories/disapp…

When Charles Dickens included a scene about spontaneous combustion in one of his novels, some scientists went ballistic. It ignited one of the strangest controversies in literary history. New episode below! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… @scihistoryorg sciencehistory.org/stories/disapp…

My new book Dinner with King Tut was named a top nonfiction read of the summer by the New York Times! You can preorder now: barnesandnoble.com/w/dinner-with-… amazon.com/Dinner-King-Tu… nytimes.com/2025/05/22/boo…

Why did so many doctors and engineers enthusiastically embrace the Nazis? Vanity, opportunism, and pseudoscience. Listen now—and get a DISCOUNT PROMO CODE for my new book, Dinner with King Tut: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… Science History Institute sciencehistory.org/stories/disapp…

Get the adventure started early!🔎 Anyone who pre-orders my NEW BOOK, Dinner with King Tut, can get a sneak peek and read the introduction and first chapter now. Just fill out the form at hachettebookgroup.formstack.com/forms/dinnerwi…

Ever wonder how to make a mummy at home? You can learn right now, in this sneak-peak audiobook preview of my new book, Dinner with King Tut... podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the…

Hey, DC - I'm speaking about my new book, Dinner with King Tut, Politics and Prose a week from tomorrow, July 8th, 7pm. Joining me is the wonderful Melissa Block of NPR fame! Hope to see you there... (Streaming link here: politics-prose.com/sam-kean)

To those in New York - I'm speaking about my new book, Dinner with King Tut, Strand Book Store a week from today, July 9th, at 7pm. Joining me is the fabulous Annie Rauwerda of Depths of Wikipeida depths of wikipedia!! Hope to see you there...

A reminder: I'm speaking about my new book, Dinner with King Tut,Politics and Prose tomorrow night, 7pm. Joining me is the wonderful Melissa Block of NPR fame! Hope to see you there... (Streaming link here: politics-prose.com/sam-kean)

New York reminder: I'm speaking about my new book, Dinner with King Tut, Strand Book Store tomorrow night at 7pm, along with Annie Rauwerda of depths of wikipedia!! You can purchase signed copies, even if you can't make the event: strandbooks.com/events/event79…