An illustration of the continent of Africa slowly being drained of oil

Is the “Resource Curse” a Myth?

Countries like Liberia and Chad have a lot of oil, and yet little of their wealth has translated into public welfare. Some blame the "resource curse."
The google G drinking champagne with balloons

Google Is Old Enough to Drink

Since its first birthday, in 1999, the celebrated technology company has defined how we allocate our attention.
Viverra bengalensis

The Strange Case of Daniel Defoe’s Civet Scheme

In the 17th century, these animals were prized for their musk. So when the not-yet-famous writer Daniel Defoe needed quick cash, he turned to civets.
Kathak

Indian Classical Dance and the Power of “Oneness”

Kathak is a classical form of Indian dance. Its practitioners use movement and gesture to tell stories, transcending gender and selfhood.
A forest floor

Forest Economies, Spy vs. Spy, and Nuking Hurricanes

Well-researched stories from Quanta, Wired, and other great publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
A falling leaf

Eleven Poems for Fall

Cozy up to autumn with verse from Dylan Thomas, Rainer Maria Rilke, Robert Frost, Rita Dove, and more.
A banana on a pink surface

The Beloved, Bedeviled Banana

The Cavendish banana is currently threatened by a fungal disease. A similar disease all but wiped out its predecessor, the Gros Michel banana.
German troops parade through Warsaw, Poland, 09-1939

The Dawn of WWII, According to the Chief of British Secret Intelligence

An original essay from 1939.
Source: John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Richard Prum: How Does Beauty Evolve?

Prum speaks on Darwin’s idea of sexual selection, the importance of arbitrary traits, and why he could never choose a favorite species of bird.
Three women wearing corsets

How Colonialism Shaped Body Shaming

When did heaviness and curviness in women become connected with the idea of "savagery"? It has a lot to do with 19th-century imperialist world views.