The Art of the Thousand Bloom Chrysanthemum
How do horticulturists coax more than 1,000 flowers from a single plant? The answer lies in a centuries-old Japanese tradition.
Ghosts, Witches, and Other Halloween Stories
A spine-tingling roundup of historical mysteries, supernatural folklore, and the strange things that have frightened us for centuries.
The Forgotten Stories Behind Presidential Campaign Buttons
The race for the White House has always inspired unusual publicity stunts. A vast collection shows just how strange they could get.
Frankenstein, The Vampyre, and the Spirit of the Humanities
How one ghost story competition continues to haunt the humanities—just in time for Halloween.
Why Washing Machines Took Decades to Catch On
Early electric laundry appliances promised to make housework easier. But convincing American households to buy them was another matter.
The Women Breaking the Rules of Balinese Dance
Middle-aged performers are taking on roles once reserved for men, challenging expectations about age and gender in Bali.
Ten Poems about Sleep and Dreaming
Visions of the unconscious by Emily Dickinson, Louise Glück, Lucille Clifton, Carl Phillips, and more.
The Photographer Who Preserved Everyday Architecture
Frances Benjamin Johnston looked beyond grand estates to document the ordinary buildings that defined American life.
What Do Cops Train For?
Research on police training finds that realistic simulations may reinforce expectations of violence instead of preventing it.
Why English Colonists Called Indigenous Dogs Wolves
A 1621 encounter reveals a history of Native animal domestication that colonial accounts obscured.