Slave Collars in Ancient Rome
The objects purported to speak for the wearer: "Hold me! I have run away."
QAnon as Neo-Noir
The popular conspiracy theory has intriguing parallels with classic noir by Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett.
The Charities That Gave Flowers to the Poor
Presenting impoverished city dwellers with a fresh bouquet might seem condescending. On the other hand, flowers are awesome.
Tree Bark and Fire
A tree's hard outer bark helps it survive. Studying why it's thicker on some trees than others could help scientists understand how to protect them.
Video Games, Vegetables, and Black Home Schoolers
Well-researched stories from Wired, Aeon, and other great publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
The Summer of Love Wasn’t All Peace and Hippies
Articles in the underground press capture what's missing from our romanticized memory of that fateful season.
Stokely Carmichael, Radical Teacher
The civil rights leader who changed his name to Kwame Ture encouraged students in the Mississippi Freedom Schools to think critically.
Smoking Banana Peels to Get High Was Briefly a Thing
But it didn't work. The rumor, spread by the underground press in 1967, probably led to many disappointed hippies.
What Does It Mean to Call Helen Keller a Fraud?
A TikTok trend is only the most recent example of how people often question the abilities of marginalized groups.
When Tornadoes Strike at Night
Injuries and fatalities tend to be higher if people are asleep.