Discovery of Penicillin

How scientists turned penicillin into the world's first anti-biotic medicine.

• 10 mins

Stalin's Daughter

The daughter of the Soviet dictator, Svetlana defected to the West in 1967

• 10 mins

The Theremin

In 1929 a Russian inventor brought an electronic musical instrument to the USA.

• 10 mins

World War II concerts

Throughout World War II, Myra Hess organised concerts in London's National Gallery.

• 10 mins

The Romans In Britain

In 1982 a British director found himself in a court battle over sex and nudity on stage.

• 10 mins

Farzad Bazoft

On 15 March 1990, a young British journalist was executed in Iraq.

• 10 mins

The My Lai massacre

On 16 March 1968, US soldiers went on the rampage through a Vietnamese village.

• 10 mins

The Torrey Canyon disaster

Forty five years ago it was the biggest oil spill the world had ever seen.

• 10 mins

The bombardment of Baghdad

On 20 March 2003 the US and its allies began their air strikes against Iraq.

• 10 mins

Sarin gas attack in Tokyo

In March 1995 members of a Japanese cult released nerve gas in the metro.

• 10 mins

How Little America was built in Afghanistan

In the 1950s, US engineers were sent to Afghanistan to build a dam.

• 10 mins

The US Peace Corps

In 1961 President Kennedy set up a scheme to send idealistic young Americans abroad.

• 10 mins

Pope John Paul II Visits Cuba

The Pope's visit changed relations between the Catholic Church and Cuba's government

• 10 mins

Apartheid attack

In 1990 an Anglican priest living in Zimbabwe was the victim of a letter bomb.

• 10 mins

Manolo Blahnik

How a young designer became a legend in the world of shoes.

• 10 mins

Scott of the Antarctic

A 100 years ago the British explorer died after failing to be the first to the South Pole.

• 10 mins

Sudan's Lost Boys

How thousands of children stranded during war in Sudan were finally resettled in the USA.

• 10 mins

The Falklands War

It is 30 years since Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands.

• 10 mins

The Falklands War - Part Two

An Argentine soldier's account of invading the Falkland Islands in 1982.

• 10 mins

Active Birth Movement

In 1982, women took to the streets to demand the right to give birth naturally

• 10 mins

Sarajevo peace protests

How thousands of Bosnians tried to stop their capital falling under siege in 1992.

• 10 mins

Good Friday Agreement

The frantic negotiations that led to a historic peace deal for Northern Ireland in 1998.

• 10 mins

Eichmann on Trial

In 1961, Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi in charge of concentration camps, was tried in Israel.

• 10 mins

Fidel Castro in the USA

Castro met Richard Nixon and addressed large crowds to win over critics of the revolution

• 10 mins

The death of Primo Levi

It is 25 years since the great Italian author and Auschwitz survivor died.

• 10 mins

Pulitzer Prize scandal

In 1981 a Pulitzer Prize was awarded to a young journalist who had made-up her story.

• 10 mins

The sinking of the Titanic

It is 100 years since the great ocean liner sank on its maiden voyage.

• 10 mins

Dissidents Declared Insane

How dissidents in the USSR were routinely declared insane and kept in mental institutions.

• 10 mins

Japanese embassy hostage crisis

In 1997, left-wing rebels held 71 people hostage for over four months in Peru.

• 10 mins

Auschwitz Convoy Escape

How a group of Jews escaped from a train bound for the Auschwitz death camp in 1943.

• 10 mins