When the Girl Scouts Were Accused of Being Commies
In response to right-wing attacks during the Cold War, the Girl Scouts changed their tone. Somewhat.
Bezos in Space, Ice Cream Science, and Trash Parrots
Well-researched stories from Slate, Smithsonian, and other great publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
How Oysters Became a Food Fad Way out West
Oysters in Wyoming and Arizona? In the nineteenth century? Yes, and mighty tasty too!
How Pigeons Helped Fight World War I
At ten weeks old, many of the birds headed to the trenches, carrying back messages over distances of about ten miles.
The Return of Hemp
Even though it's made from cannabis plants, you can't get high on hemp. But it was classified as an illicit drug for nearly 50 years.
How Poor Women Shaped the War on Poverty
Bridging the gap between policy and people was a central aim of the War on Poverty. Often, women were the ones who linked the government to the community.
Guns in America: Foundations and Key Concepts
This non-exhaustive list of readings on the role of guns in US history and society introduces the field as a subject of scholarly inquiry.
Smoke Pollution from Prescribed Burns vs. Wildfires
Government can regulate air quality. But some policies on smoke might be self-defeating.
Peter the Great’s Beard Tax
Why did the Russian tsar seek to ban beards?
Space Medicine for the Inexperienced Astronaut
The promise of commercial spaceflight raises questions about how untrained travelers will endure the extreme hostility of space.