Susan Fenimore Cooper, Forgotten Naturalist
Susan Fenimore Cooper, known as her father James Fenimore Cooper’s secretary, is now being recognized as one of the nation's first environmentalists.
Fixing the Grassroots of the American Lawn
A citizen scientist bred low-mow, slow-grow grass that needs little water and fertilizer.
Hidden Poisons of the Royal Court
How noble lords and ladies, terrified of poison, unknowingly poisoned themselves on a daily basis.
Atoms for… Peace?
Iran's nuclear program is in the news, again. But what's the backstory on how the country went nuclear in the first place?
When Prison Time Meant Rhymes
The “gay, frolicsome and amusing" rhymes of 1970s American prison slang.
Fighting Bias, Nuclear Summits, and Fava Beans
Well-researched stories from Vox, Atlas Obscura, and other great publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
Why Are Medieval Lions So Bad?
The inaccuracy of medieval lions may have been a stylistic preference, particularly in a bestiary, or compendium of beasts.
John Snow and the Birth of Epidemiology
Even though this physician pre-dated germ theory, he was able to track a London outbreak of cholera to one particular water pump.
The Campaign for Child Labor
Why did David Clark lead a successful campaign to keep kids working in the early 20th century? For one thing, child labor benefited his interests.
How Ellen DeGeneres Changed TV
In 1997, Ellen DeGeneres publicly came out on her show, Ellen. It was a cultural turning point for many.