The Last Vigil of the Octopus Parent
For some species of octopus, reproducing is a lonely act that ends in death.
The Hidden Life of Modal Verbs
A linguist explains why we get so distracted by the fiery language of politics, while ignoring urgent information reported by scientists.
Visiting “Soul of a Nation”
A new exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum asks: Is there a Black aesthetic?
Marking the Grave of the First African American Landscape Artist
Robert S. Duncanson was among the first African American artists to gain international fame. And yet his grave has stayed unmarked for 146 years.
It’s Time to Reinvent Food Waste!
Startups worldwide convert refuse into energy, biomaterials, and more food.
Valentina Tereshkova and the American Imagination
Remembering the Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, and how she challenged American stereotypes.
Real Placebos, Brutal Progress, and Paleolithic Myths
Well-researched stories from Longreads, The Atlantic, and other great publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
Superfans in the Nineteenth Century
Americans have long obsessed over their favorite musicians.
100 Years of Fox News
When it began as Fox-Movietone News, the company was known for appealing to viewer's tastes by leaving out upsetting news, including the rise of fascism.
When Is Cooking Fun?
Is cooking a daily grind necessary to keep a family fed, or a fun hobby? The answers lies largely in how home cooks approach the tasks at hand.