Formed in 2009, the Archive Team (not to be confused with the archive.org Archive-It Team) is a rogue archivist collective dedicated to saving copies of rapidly dying or deleted websites for the sake of history and digital heritage. The group is 100% composed of volunteers and interested parties, and has expanded into a large amount of related projects for saving online and digital history.
Where the Tide Turned for WWII
The term “D-day” described the launch of a few operations in WWII, but the Normandy Invasion is by far the most famous. It was the largest amphibious operation in history, uniting the air, land, and sea forces of the U.S., U.K. and Canada, on the shores of Nazi-occupied France. And it was a big turning point. By the end of August, 1944, northern France was liberated as the Allies prepared to drive into Germany. On this anniversary, we remember the sacrifice of the Allied troops who died that day.
D-day: A Visual Journal
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
10 Infographics That Explain the Normandy Invasion
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Patrick O'Neill Riley
9 Questions About World War II, Answered
U.S. Army Photograph
Discover More
Behind the Headlines
What do Mike Pence, Prince Harry, and cocaine hippos have in common? Read on...
Prince Harry on the stand
Prince Harry is set to testify today in a suit he filed against London-based tabloid The Daily Mirror, making him the first royal to take the witness stand since Prince Albert Edward did so in the late 19th century. In the suit, Harry alleges privacy violations such as phone hacking, stretching back to his boyhood.
Children in the crossfire
UNICEF has released a report illustrating the impact of armed conflict on children. It found that more than 120,000 children were killed or maimed, at least 105,000 children were recruited or used by armed forces, and more than 32,500 children were abducted, across 30 conflicts in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, between 2005 and 2022.
Cocaine hippos line up
Researchers in Colombia have finished a census of its “cocaine hippos,” a hippopotamus population descended from four hippos once owned by drug boss Pablo Escobar. The census revealed there are between 180 and 225 in the country, more than twice previous estimates.
Pence jumps in
Former VP Mike Pence filed the paperwork to run for president on Monday ahead of a formal launch planned for tomorrow. Pence joins a field that already includes former Pres. Donald Trump; former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; and Sen. Tim Scott. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is expected to announce his candidacy soon.
© Digital Vision/Getty Images
Popular on Britannica
Features
- How Did the Rainbow Flag Become a Symbol of LGBTQ Pride?
- Why Is Pride Month Celebrated in June?
- Where Did the Word Hippie Come From?
- Where Did the Peace Sign Come From?
- Pro and Con: Space Colonization
- Is Cinco de Mayo Mexico's Independence Day?
- How Mike the Chicken Survived Without a Head
- Why Do Airlines Overbook Seats on Flights?
- What Is Gaslighting?
- Do Lemmings Really Commit Mass Suicide?
Lists
- 9 Noteworthy Bog Bodies (And What They Tell Us)
- New Seven Wonders of the World
- 6 Important Mughal Emperors
- 7 of History's Most Notorious Serial Killers
- 9 of the World’s Deadliest Spiders
- Brain Games: 8 Philosophical Puzzles and Paradoxes
- 7 of the World’s Most Dangerous Festivals
- 12 Greek Gods and Goddesses
- 11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
- The Top COVID-19 Vaccine Myths Spreading Online
Eddie Koiki Mabo
This activist fought for land rights for First Nations people in the 1980s, challenging Australian laws that prevented them from owning land.
History of Bhutan
The origins of Bhutan are obscure; it’s reported that some four to five centuries ago, an influential lama from Tibet became king.
Ruth Westheimer
The diminutive sex therapist known as “Dr. Ruth” became a celebrity in the 1980s for her frank but nonjudgemental manner, and charisma.
Nuclear submarine
This type of submarine relies on a nuclear reactor to drive its propolsion system, and may or may not be armed with nuclear weapons.
Know Better with Britannica Premium
Step back from the day-to-day and get a global perspective with the annual Britannica Premium Membership. News in context, brain teasers and quizzes, plus editor’s roundups on trending topics.
Trending Quizzes
See All Quizzes
Where in America is That?
Crisscross the U.S. by placing these famous landmarks.
From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology
Do you know which hero took a dip in the River Styx? Or what mysteries lurk inside the Labyrinth?
Ultimate Animals Quiz
What is a rattlesnake’s rattle made of? What animals can go over 180 miles an hour?
Guess the Language! Quiz
Can you recognize a language by its greeting?
Best Picture Movie Quote Quiz
Take this quiz or you may regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.
American Civil Rights Movement Quiz
Test your knowledge of Americans’ tumultuous fight to end racial segregation and discrimination.
Name That Thing: Tools
A handy quiz to test your tool acumen.
The Dog Breed Quiz
Find out which breed can outrun a cheetah, which breed was created by monks, and much more.
Baking and Baked Goods Quiz
You may have a sweet tooth, but how much do you know about baking and baked goods? Test your knowledge with this quiz.
First Ladies of the United States Quiz
They have been hostesses, helpers, advisers, gatekeepers, guardians, confidantes, and sometimes formidable powers behind...
Featured Videos
See All Videos
Browse by Category
Entertainment & Pop Culture
Entertainment and leisure activities have been a part of culture in one form or another since the ancient times. Dance performances, live music, and storytelling have a long tradition throughout history, even as the styles and available methods of delivery have shifted dramatically.
Featured
-
concerto
music
-
Why Nollywood is obsessed with remakes of classic movies
The Nigerian film industry has been overtaken by a...
-
All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained
No, Billy Joel isn’t talking about the band U2.
Geography & Travel
Planet Earth contains some extraordinarily diverse environments, some of which are easily habitable and some not so much. In different areas of Earth, one might find sweltering deserts, dense tropical rainforests, or bone-chilling tundras. Each biome and habitat comes with its own selection of flora and fauna, and it may include physical features such as canyons, volcanoes, rivers, or caves. Human beings have built homes in many different environments, settling the area and organizing it into units such as cities, states, regions, and countries, each with its own points of interest. Shifting trends in human migration have resulted in a human geography that is profoundly different from that of centuries ago.
Featured
-
Europe
continent
-
14 Buildings That Lay Bare Scotland’s Soul
Know before you go.
-
European Capitals Quiz
From the Atlantic to the Urals, backpack your way...
Health & Medicine
The study of the human mind and body, how these function, and how they interact—not only with each other but also with their environment—has been of utmost importance in ensuring human well-being. Research on potential treatments and preventive medicine has expanded greatly with the development of modern medicine, and a network of disciplines, including such fields as genetics, psychology, and nutrition, aims to facilitate the betterment of our health.
Featured
-
dengue
disease
-
Is Spontaneous Human Combustion Real?
Some of the most famous authors have written about...
-
What is Hexavalent Chromium (or Chromium-6)?
The movie Erin Brockovich (2000) brought attention...
Lifestyles & Social Issues
It's easy enough to agree that human beings all around the world have certain basic requirements that must be fulfilled in order to ensure their individual and collective well-being. History has shown us, however, that it's not so easy to form societies or communities that fulfill these requirements for all members. The fight for human and civil rights has persisted for hundreds of years and remains alive today, both within the borders of nations and on an international scale. It has led to large-scale social movements and reforms concerning issues such as suffrage, slavery, women's rights, racism, environmentalism, gay rights, and much more.
Featured
-
John Locke
English philosopher
-
7 Bizarre Spa Treatments
Beauty may be skin deep, but the lengths we go to to...
-
7 Winter Solstice Celebrations From Around the World
Make Midwinter merry by learning some new traditions.
Literature
With the development of language, the human imagination has found a way to create and communicate through the written word. A literary work can transport us into a fictional, fantastic new world, describe a fleeting feeling, or simply give us a picture of the past through novels, poems, tragedies, epic works, and other genres. Through literature, communication becomes an art, and it can bridge and bond people and cultures of different languages and backgrounds.
Featured
- Latin American literature
-
Latin American Authors
How much do you know about the magical realists, poets,...
-
Periods of American Literature
Learn about the history of American literature.
Philosophy & Religion
Humans have long pondered not only how we came to be but also why we came to be. The earliest Greek philosophers focused their attention upon the origin and nature of the physical world; later philosophers have theorized about the nature of knowledge, truth, good and evil, love, friendship, and much more. Philosophy involves a methodical assessment of any and all aspects of human existence and experience. The realms of philosophy and religion have sometimes intersected in conducting such inquiries as these. As with philosophy, the study of religion underscores how humankind has long speculated about its origins. The possibility of a higher being (or beings) to which livings things owe their existence has long captived human thought. Many religions also offer their own views on the nature of good and evil, and they may prescribe guidelines and judgment on different kinds of human behavior.
Featured
- philosophy of art
-
A Persian festival, Yalda, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, with pomegranates, poetry and sacred rituals
Ancient Persians believed that evil forces were strongest...
-
How common is the ‘Common Era’? How A.D. and C.E. took over counting years
A history of England written by a medieval monk proved...
Politics, Law & Government
The world today is divided territorially into more than 190 countries, each of which possesses a national government that claims to exercise sovereignty and seeks to compel obedience to its will by its citizens. Governments can be classified in any number of ways. For example, they might be classified by the number of rulers, thus distinguishing government by one (as in a monarchy or a tyranny) from government by the few (in an aristocracy or oligarchy) and from government by the many (as in a democracy). Governments can also be classified by mode of succession; for example, ascension to governmental leadership may follow the rules of hereditary succession, or it may be determined through elections or by force. Governments also vary in terms of the laws and rules of conduct that each political entity follows.
Featured
- military aircraft
-
2020 census miscounted Americans – 4 questions answered
In 2020 the U.S. Census Bureau did not get an accurate...
-
Why Russia gave up Alaska, America’s gateway to the Arctic
A descendant of Inupiaq Eskimos shares his perspective...
Science
How can the sky be blue one day and stormy the next? Why do heavy objects tend to fall downwards when dropped? How are birds able to fly (and why can’t I do the same?)? Human beings have long been curious about the world in which we live, striving to identify connections among the phenomenons we witness and to understand how it all works. The field of science has developed over many centuries as a way of studying and understanding the world, beginning with the primitive stage of simply noting important regularities in nature and continuing through the rise of modern science. The modern-day sciences cover a vast range of fields, including biology, chemistry, meteorology, astronomy, physics, and much more.
Featured
-
evolution
scientific theory
-
Precious Metals and Stones: Fact or Fiction?
Is there any gold in the ocean? Are diamonds found...
-
Space Objects: Fact or Fiction
Are most meteorites that strike Earth unrecorded? Did...
Sports & Recreation
Physical contests and recreational games have long played a part in human society. In both team and solo sports, the human body has been pushed to its limits in the name of improving athletic performance and in order to break record upon record. The ancient Olympic Games are an early example of the contests in which humans have engaged to showcase physical prowess. In modern times, sports and games have evolved into a lucrative and competitive industry, while other leisure activities, such as card and video games, can be competitive or just serve as a way to unwind or socialize.
Featured
-
baseball
sport
-
Australian Open
The Australian Open, held in January every year, is...
-
Who Really Invented Baseball?
The history of “America’s pastime” is more convoluted...
Technology
Humankind has long striven to improve its living conditions through the development of tools, instruments, and transportation and communications systems, all with the goal of making our lives easier, more productive and—why not?—more fun, too. Thanks to human curiosity and technological research, many significant inventions have been made throughout history that in turn made a difference in our daily lives.
Featured
-
history of flight
aviation
-
Russian anti-satellite weapon test: What happened and what are the risks?
In the short term, little can be done to mitigate this...
-
Got Zoom fatigue? Out-of-sync brainwaves could be another reason videoconferencing is such a drag
A researcher explains how out-of-sync brainwaves could...
Visual Arts
These are the arts that meet the eye and evoke an emotion through an expression of skill and imagination. They include the most ancient forms, such as painting and drawing, and the arts that were born thanks to the development of technology, like sculpture, printmaking, photography, and installation art. Though beauty is in the eye of the beholder, different eras in art history have had their own principles to define beauty, from the richly ornamented taste of the Baroque to the simple utilitarian style of the Prairie School.
Featured
-
African art
visual arts
-
Why Is the Statue of Liberty a Woman?
Learn why the Statue of Liberty depicts a woman, including...
-
Who Was the Woman Behind the Statue of Liberty?
Read about the woman who inspired the Statue of Liberty....
World History
Does history really repeat itself, or can we learn from the mistakes of those who came before us? History provides a chronological, statistical, and cultural record of the events, people, and movements that have made an impact on humankind and the world at large throughout the ages.
Featured
-
American Revolution
United States history
-
7 Women Warriors
Seven women who weren’t afraid to fight.
-
The 6 Deadliest Earthquakes since 1950
Devastating quakes that caused tremendous loss of life.
More From Britannica
ProCon.org
Award-winning ProCon.org promotes critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship by presenting the pro and con arguments to controversial issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, freely accessible way.
Britannica Money
Discover all you need to know about retirement, investing, and household finance, without the jargon or agenda. Get reliable guidance, insight, and easy-to-understand explanations, written, edited, and verified to Britannica’s exacting standards.
Advocacy for Animals
Presenting Advocacy for Animals, a blog focused primarily on animal rights, wildlife conservation, environmental health and safety, and the legal and cultural issues related to these topics. This blog is a source of information and a call to action. It is meant to be a provocation and a stimulus to thought regarding humanity’s relationship with nonhuman animals.
Alain Elkann Interviews
Alain has been writing a weekly interview column for the Italian newspaper La Stampa since 1989. His interviews celebrate some of the best known and successful personalities of the present day.
