How different was the world? More than you think.

Then What Now

How different was the world? More than you think.

Articles — Page 3

Cocaine in Your Cough Syrup: The Surprisingly Recent History of American Medicine
Health

Cocaine in Your Cough Syrup: The Surprisingly Recent History of American Medicine

For most of American history, you could walk into a pharmacy and buy heroin for a headache, cocaine for a toothache, or arsenic as a general tonic — no prescription required. The system that regulates your medicine cabinet today is far newer than most people realize, and the road to get here was stranger than you'd expect.

Mar 13, 2026
No GPS, No Guarantees: What a Cross-Country Drive Actually Meant in 1955
Travel

No GPS, No Guarantees: What a Cross-Country Drive Actually Meant in 1955

Driving across America in 1955 meant paper maps, unmarked roads, and absolutely no guarantee you'd find a gas station before dark. Today's road trip is a different animal entirely — guided by satellites, cushioned by apps, and almost impossible to get truly lost on. But something changed along the way.

Mar 13, 2026