The way Americans compliment is maximalist and enthusiastic, but it may not always be sincere. Our resident linguist unpacks the language of politeness.

New research shows our brains place more weight on vision than hearing in identifying the source of a sound. But why?

Presidents have always chosen Supreme Court nominees who agree with their political beliefs. But they've gotten savvier about the selection process.

On July 12th, 1979, a promotional event turned into a violent fracas, marking the beginning of the end of disco. Some say it was fueled by anti-gay anger.

Stunned marine biologists watched a young mother orca desperately trying to save her baby.

Well-researched stories from the New York Times, Washington Post, and other great publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.

One day in 1971, the hard-drinking Beat poet Lew Welch walked into the woods of Nevada County and disappeared, possibly angling to be eaten by vultures.

A study of successful entrepreneurs finds a high level of emotional intelligence and sociability, along with a marked need to dominate.

Some political philosophers suggest that arguments about civility are a distraction from the real political issues.

Sunday mail delivery was hugely controversial in the early 19th century, inspiring one of the U.S.'s first efforts to rally public opinion around a cause.