Demonizing Immigrants in the 1880s
American newspapers portrayed members of immigrant groups as potential anarchists, linking the ideology to other anxieties and stereotypes about foreigners.
Politicizing Intelligence: Nixon’s Man at the CIA
James R. Schlesinger was only head of the CIA for six months, but he nevertheless ranks as the least popular director in the agency’s history.
What Did the COVID Pandemic Do to Our Minds?
The pandemic’s transformation of daily lives around the world led to a loss of the bodily feeling of social trust across entire communities at once.
Police Misconduct and State Legitimacy in Central America
In countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, police corruption and misconduct have eroded public support for the political order.
Lite Intermediate Black Holes
Meet the supermassive black hole’s smaller, much more mysterious cousin.
An Untimely Death at Sycamore Gap
The outcry over the violent felling of a beloved tree in 2023 affirms the power trees hold in our cultural memory.
King James I and the Macbeth Witches
The ever-pragmatic Shakespeare added witches to the Scottish play to please his new patron, King James I of England.
A Canine Star, Micrometeorites, and Superconsciousness
Well-researched stories from Smithsonian Magazine, Eos, and other great publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
Hamilton’s Real Immigration Story
The popular musical poses Alexander Hamilton as a symbol of the value of immigrants brought to America, but over time, his party became increasingly xenophobic.
Moral Economy and the Causes of Wage Inequality
How important are labor unions for combating wage inequality in the United States?