1816 Lake Geneva ghost story contest Frankenstein

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A rainy summer helped inspire Frankenstein

In 1816, cold, rainy weather kept Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and their companions indoors at Lake Geneva. A ghost-story contest there led Mary Shelley to write Frankenstein.

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Burial protected Pompeii’s remains

Nearly 2,000 Years

For nearly 2,000 years, Pompeii lay buried with little air or moisture reaching its remains. Excavation exposed the site to weather, water, light, tourism, and other damage, making it harder to preserve.

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Rice production depended on enslaved Africans’ expertise

Colonial rice production in the Americas relied on enslaved Africans for more than their labor. Their agricultural expertise included water control, milling and winnowing.

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