Stories by Daniel Hautzinger

Fifty years ago, on July 20, 1969, humans landed on the moon for the first time. To celebrate that epochal achievement, we have a whole lineup of space-themed programming this summer. Get a preview of our new Summer of Space programming here!  

June 1 is the birthday of not one but two beloved Sesame Street characters: Oscar the Grouch and the more recently introduced Rudy. Celebrate by taking a look at some of the best-known Muppets and the issues each is meant to address for children. 

The exterior of the McGraw-Hill Building on Michigan Avenue may look the same as it did when it was built in the twenties, but it underwent a controversial "façade-ectomy" after a battle between developers and preservationists – and it features sculptural panels by a neglected female artist.

Emily Graslie, the creator and host of the endlessly enlightening science YouTube channel The Brain Scoop and the Field Museum's Chief Curiosity Correspondent, is making a show with us exploring the fossils and incredible geology of the Northern Plains region where she grew up.

Watch the official trailer for the upcoming Downton Abbey film, which will be in theaters on September 20. It's 1927, and the King and Queen of England are planning a visit to Downton. And much of the cast will still be there. 

The latest Frontline documentary from Michael Kirk, Supreme Revenge, covers the history of increasingly contentious Supreme Court nomination battles over the past few decades. "The tree that has grown is truly misshapen and very, very worrisome,” Kirk says about the Court today.

In the final part of Les Misérables, Jean Valjean tries to atone for his past mistakes and has a decisive encounter with Javert that deeply affects the police inspector. The rebels make a last stand at the barricade while Marius wonders if he will survive to marry Cosette.

Valerie is placed in a terrible position in relation to her family, and Sister Frances wants to do more to help both her and Poplar's women. The Nonnatans try to give a young girl suffering from cancer a normal life as Shelagh organizes a charity ball. 

Stream a stranger-than-fiction story of a wife who discovers her former intelligence officer husband had hidden lives. Revisit an infamous miscarriage of justice with Ken Burns. Map family histories with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. And enlighten yourself with NOVA. 

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Sesame Street is coming to Chicago for a free family festival that includes live performances, fun kid-friendly activities, and much more! 

Cassie and Sunny try to find evidence to conclusively prove their suspect is Hayley Reid's murderer, and discover a dark, large history that is more than they reckoned with, causing Cassie to question her career.

Marius pursues his romance with Cosette while revolution percolates in the streets amongst workers and students. Éponine helps Marius out of her unrequited love for him, while her father schemes to take revenge on Jean, who makes plans to escape Javert once and for all. 

The Turners prepare for Mae's departure while a proposed reproductive clinic in Poplar inspires debate. Sister Frances goes through her first delivery, a husband struggles with his willpower, and Valerie is stunned and horrified by a revelation in her family.

Pullman was supposed to be an idyllic worker's town. But the restrictions and deprivations imposed by the wealthy George Pullman on his workers eventually led to one of the biggest labor actions in American history: the Pullman strike, which began 125 years ago. 

Mother's Day is May 12, and if you're realizing that you forgot all about it or just want a quirky way to celebrate your mother, Sesame Street is here to help, with five fun cards for the holiday.