The second page of Austen's The History of England, with illustrations by Cassandra Austen

Jane Austen’s Mock History Book

Working with her sister, Cassandra, the teenaged Austen composed a satirical send-up of England's monarchs.
A street scene, 1854

Street Harassment in Victorian London

Middle- and upper-class women complained about “so-called gentlemen” who stared at them, blocked their paths, and followed them as they tried to shop.
Foundation of the American Government by Henry Hintermeister

A Colorblind Compromise?

“Colorblindness,” an ideology that denies that race is an organizing principle of the nation’s structural order, reaches back to the drafting of the US Constitution.
A poster advertising polio research

Before Long COVID Came Post-Polio Syndrome

While the rise of long COVID and its many symptoms may be surprising and difficult to diagnose, post-viral diseases are nothing new.
Richard Nixon photoshopped to be wearing a "Pardon Me! Gerald..." button.

The Pardon of President Nixon: Annotated

President Ford’s unconditional pardon of Richard Nixon created political controversy. It also tarnished Ford’s own reputation with the American public.
Bookshelves in a library with marble busts

Dark Academia’s Roots Lie in the Campus Novel

Revolving around student life, campus novels present a microcosm of the outside world, staged far from the humdrum of middle-class realities.

The Lives Beyond the Life Sentences

Their lives didn't stop when the judge sentenced them to life in prison. Then what? A 1994 issue of The Angolite profiled the longest-serving Americans.
High angle view of businessman giving presentation colleagues in board room at office

Why Companies Are So Interested in Your Myers-Briggs Type

If you’ve looked for a job recently, you’ve probably encountered the personality test. You may also have wondered if it was backed by scientific research.
An illustration of a whale watch boat and a whale

Who Is Watching the Whale-watchers?

Whale-watching cruises can negatively affect the behavior of cetaceans, depending on species, environment, and population.
Amanda Gorman speaks onstage during the 2021 InStyle Awards at The Getty Center

Cell Shapes, “Poet Voice,” and Learning to Read

Well-researched stories from Aeon, Atlas Obscura, and other great publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.