On the arid northern coast of Peru, where the Andes slope toward a narrow desert before meeting the Pacific Ocean,…
Ancient Andean Civilizations Before the Incas
Long before the rise of the Incas, the towering Andes Mountains were home to civilizations that laid the foundations of…
The Fall of the Inca Empire: Spanish Conquest
High in the rugged Andes mountains of South America, a vast empire stretched across valleys, rivers, and coastal deserts. By…
Inca Religion: Gods of the Sun and Moon
The Inca Empire, the largest pre-Columbian empire in the Americas, was not only an extraordinary political and military power but…
The Nazca Lines: Mysterious Desert Drawings
Across the arid plains of southern Peru, beneath a sky that rarely sees rain, lies one of the world’s most…
Cusco: Capital of the Inca Civilization
High in the Andes Mountains of present-day Peru, at more than 3,400 meters (11,200 feet) above sea level, lies the…
Inca Roads: Engineering in the Mountains
High in the soaring peaks of the Andes, where the air grows thin and the earth trembles under the weight…
Machu Picchu: Lost City of the Incas
High in the Andes of Peru, where mist weaves through jagged peaks and sunlight glimmers on terraces carved into mountainsides,…
The Inca Empire: Builders of the Andes
High in the rugged peaks of the Andes Mountains, where snow-capped summits kiss the sky and valleys echo with rushing…
The Fall of the Aztecs: Conquest by the Spanish
In the early 16th century, the Aztec Empire stood as one of the most extraordinary civilizations in the Americas. At…
Ancient Mesoamerican Ballgame: Ritual and Sport
Thousands of years ago, long before soccer stadiums or basketball courts filled with cheering crowds, the people of Mesoamerica gathered…
Mayan Writing: Decoding an Ancient Script
For centuries, the writing of the ancient Maya remained one of the great puzzles of human history. Visitors who wandered…
The Olmecs: America’s First Great Civilization
Long before the mighty cities of the Maya rose in the jungles of Central America, and centuries before the Aztecs…
Human Sacrifice in the Aztec Civilization
Few images from history capture the imagination with as much intensity as that of the Aztec priest, standing atop a…
Mayan Calendar: Ancient Timekeeping Explained
Time has always fascinated humanity. From the rising of the sun to the changing of the seasons, early civilizations sought…
Tenochtitlán: The Great Aztec Capital
In the heart of the Valley of Mexico, where high mountains circle a basin dotted with lakes, a city once…
The Aztec Empire: Rise and Fall of a Warrior Nation
Long before the great cathedrals of Europe towered over bustling cities, and centuries before the skyscrapers of the modern world,…
Chichen Itza: Ancient Mayan City of Wonders
In the dense jungles of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula rises one of the most awe-inspiring remnants of human civilization: Chichen Itza.…
The Secret Sugar Plants Hide on Their Leaves—And Why Ants Love It
When we think of nectar, most of us picture delicate blossoms brimming with sugary liquid designed to lure bees, butterflies,…
Scientists Unearth the Oldest Dome-Headed Dinosaur—And It’s Still a Teenager
In the rugged expanse of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, a fossil skull shimmered from the sandstone like a hidden gem. Resting…
These Australian Lizards Can Smell Fire Before It Arrives—But Ignore Its Sound
Sometimes, science begins with the simplest of observations—or even an accident. Years ago, zookeepers in the United States noticed something…
A Tiny Device Could Solve One of Quantum Computing’s Biggest Problems
For centuries, humanity has tried to push the boundaries of how we store, process, and understand information. Classical computers—powered by…