"Historians will say, 'Everyone knows this 1833 law.' But our readers don't, and it's my job to bridge that gap." - Meilan Solly

Why are we so obsessed with shipwrecks, lost tombs, and ancient civilizations? What happens when historians write like they're still in the seminar room? And how is AI reshaping how we access history, sometimes before we click on a link?

This week on History Shorts, I sit down with Meilan Solly, digital editor at Smithsonian Magazine, whose work intersects scholarship and storytelling. We talk about:

• The secret sauce behind viral history articles (hint: archaeology and mysteries win every time)

• What it's really like editing historians—and why/how some resist cutting that one paragraph.

• How AI is rewriting the rules of research—and why that might spell trouble for your favorite publication.

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READ MEILAN'S WORK: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/author/meilan-solly/