Lee Ferran

All Articles From Lee Ferran

45 Years Later, Mystery Endures in National Personnel Records Center Fire

The blaze destroyed millions of military records and sparked conspiracy theories.

Meet the Average (Alleged) U.S. ISIS Recruit

From the more than 160 people charged with ISIS-related crimes, a fuzzy picture emerges.

The U.S. Military’s Mad Scientists’ Shopping List

Contract requests shed light on what DARPA researchers want for "strategic technological surprises."

A Century Ago: When Paris Went Nuts for the Fourth of July

American flags fluttered as France cheered America's aid in the Great War.

Blow by Blow: The Epic Sword Fight That Finally Killed Pizarro

A band of assassins managed to murder the conquistador, but not before he put up a fight.

Another Star Wars Folly? Lawmaker Says “We’ve Been Here Before”

The House voted against an amendment that would keep taxpayer money away from a space-based shield.

Mandatory Military Service Looms for South Korean Star Despite World Cup Win

Son Heung-min could earn an exemption, but only with huge wins in coming soccer competitions.

Charles Sweeny, the Adventurer Ernest Hemingway “Wished to Be”

The American soldier of fortune shared a decades-long friendship with the famous writer.

The Not-So-Secret Tech the CIA Wants

The spy agency’s venture capital arm invests in everything from genome research to nanotech.

U.S. Says China Using Cheat Codes in Video Game Industry

Discriminatory trade policies cause U.S. game developers lose out to Chinese companies.

The “Herd” Didn’t Think the Trump-Kim Summit Would Happen

Crowds can be good at predicting geopolitical shifts, but not this time.

Modern Sea Piracy on the Decline, But Far From Dead

From hijackings off Nigeria to boardings on the South American coast, pirates are still hunting.

Meet the Gurkhas, Reported Guards of the Trump-Kim Summit

These Nepalese fighters are world-renowned for their steadfastness under fire, wicked knives.

What ‘The Americans’ Got Wrong (and Right) About Cold War Espionage

Real ex-CIA officers joined the show's cast to "demystify" the spy world.

The Last Time a Top North Korean General Came to America

In 2000, Jo Myong-Rok visited the White House. The "warm feelings" didn't last long.

Inside the Syrian Electronic Army

How a group of pro-Assad hackers tricked major news outlets. Here's what you can do to stop them.