The Dubious Art of the Dad Joke
Is it really only dads who can tell dad jokes? And is this corny humor universal? Our linguist takes a deep dive.
The Stonewall Riots Didn’t Start the Gay Rights Movement
Giving Stonewall too much credit misses the movement’s growing strength in the 1960s, sociologists note.
Maps Showed People Their Worlds
In the 19th century, most Americans weren't used to seeing maps of their communities. New forms of color lithography changed all that.
The Seal That Flew 1000 Miles To Get Home
Found stranded on a subtropical beach, the mystery seal finally comes home to its North Atlantic waters.
How to Cure Groupthink
"Groupthink" describes the systematic errors groups can make when facing important collective decisions. How can it be avoided?
D-Day, Cricket Gourds, and Modern Lesbians
Well-researched stories from Longreads, the New York Times, and other great publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
The Amazing Eyes of the Archerfish
The archerfish has an unusual skill: it spits water directly at its prey, knocking the bugs out of the sky. But how?
When Foster Care Meant Farm Labor
Before current foster care programs were in place, Americans depended on farmers to take care of kids in exchange for hard labor.
Camouflage Gets Weird
Some animals use chemical camouflage, even altering the way they smell in order to avoid predation.
The Revolutionary Past of Plastics
When plastics were first invented, they seemed to promise a utopian future.