The Bizarre Theories of the American School of Evolution
The paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope condemned women's suffrage and Black Americans through an evolutionary lens.
How Yellowstone Extremophile Bacteria Helped With Covid-19 Testing
The heat-resistant enzyme from Thermus aquaticus is used in PCR testing to detect pathogens.
Smelly Science, Long Lives, and Queen Calafia
Well-researched stories from NPR, Aeon, and other publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
The Horseshoe Crab: Same as It Ever Was?
The seemingly static appearance of these ancient-looking arthropods presents a challenge for scientists who want to study their evolutionary history.
Why Would Parents Oppose Compulsory Education?
In Victorian England, reformers thought all children should go to school. That didn't sit well with everyone—and not just kids.
The Mockumentary: A Very Real History
What's the appeal of humor masquerading as seriousness? An entire movie genre stands ready to shed light on that question.
Bringing France Back into American History
The current arrangement of nation-states in North America has made the role of the French in colonial history seem less important.
Do Sunspots Explain Global Recession, War, or Famine?
Maybe it's something about the number eleven?
Black Americans in the Popular Front against Fascism
The era of anti-fascist struggle was a crucial moment for Black radicals of all stripes.
How Scientists Became Advocates for Birth Control
The fight to gain scientists' support for the birth control movement proved a turning point in contraceptive science—and led to a research revolution.