Lightning Gods, Staticky Bugs, and Modern Genetics
Well-researched stories from Vox, SAPIENS, and other great publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
Gae Aulenti: An Independent, International Architect
One of the best-known female architects to come out of Italy, Aulenti found fame with her transformation of a dated Parisian train station into the Musée d’Orsay.
The Merchants of Venice—In Code
Sixteenth-century Venice conducted its affairs in code, so much so that cryptology was professionalized and regulated by the state.
Building a New Virginia in Liberia
Black American voluntary migrants to Liberia were eager to embrace their African roots, but their vision for the country was very much an American one.
What Is the Cost of Sustainability?
In a global financial system dedicated to profits, a growing number of voices are suggesting that sustainable practices can pay off financially.
Hooray, Hooray for Badger Day!!
Striped-faced, short-legged badgers appear in folklore and tall tales around the world.
Francis Bacon’s Fables of Life Extension
In his retellings of ancient myths, Bacon called for research to extend human lifespans, but only if those longer lives were spent in the pursuit of knowledge.
Global Gentrification
The transnational mobility of lifestyle migrants and digital nomads has led to the globalization of rent gaps and the pricing out of locals in some cities.
New Atheism and the Trouble with Literalism
Gaining strength in the early 2000s, the New Atheism movement was fueled by a fear of Christian fundamentalism and a belief that secularism was under attack.
Did Romans Really Fight Rhinos?
A sports historian explains the truth behind the battle scenes in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II.