What happened on this day in history: Edgar Allen Poe dies in Baltimore, Anna Politkovskaya is assassinated in Moscow, and more important events from October 7th. 1821: William Still Is Born William Still is born in Burlington County, New Jersey. An abolitionist known as the “Father of the Underground Railroad,” Still helped rescue some 800 enslaved people from bondage. He later wrote The Underground Railroad Records (1872) the original firsthand account of this chapter in history that was written by a Black American.

In November 1963, President Kennedy was shot and killed as his motorcade passed in front of the "Umbrella Man." Did this shadowy figure conspire in the President's assassination?The afternoon that President John F. Kennedy was shot was a sunny one. The skies were clear with no clouds in sight. So when investigators pouring over the footage of the horrific assassination noticed a man opening a large black umbrella and waving it toward the heavens, they took an interest.

Though believers say that the prophet Moses, Paul the Apostle, and God Himself are the main authors who wrote the Bible, the historical evidence is more complicated.Given its immense reach and cultural influence, it’s a bit surprising how little we really know about the Bible’s origins. In other words, when was the Bible written and who wrote the Bible? Of all the mysteries surrounding this holy book, that last one may be the most fascinating.

The book contained incantations for the deceased so that she could ward off evil spirits and demons in her journey toward the underworld.Harco WillemsFragments from a Book of Two Ways discovered on the coffin of a woman named Ankh inside the necropolis of Deir el-Bersha. Even those who know little of ancient Egypt’s mysteries have heard of the infamous Book of the Dead. And now, researchers have found a similar text that not only predates that one, but may also be the oldest illustrated book ever uncovered.

Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program spent three weeks traversing the thick rainforests of Honduras, discovering and documenting hundreds of species. Some are entirely new to science.Conservation International“I’m fascinated with the smaller creatures that represent so much of the biodiversity around us,” Larsen explained. Seen here is the male Harlequin beetle. Conservation International’s Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) spent three weeks trudging through the Mosquitia rainforest in Honduras, and found a treasure trove of rare and endangered species — some of which were thought to be extinct.