When Russia Conquered the World with White Oil
Russia was the first source of white oil, a Vaseline-like mix of hydrocarbons used in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and plastics.
The Secrets of Diamonds
Diamonds are sparkly. Diamonds are expensive. But diamonds are more than bling—they tell us a lot about the earth, itself.
Voodoo and the Work of Zora Neale Hurston
Author Zora Neale Hurston, born on January 7, 1891, is perhaps best known for Their Eyes Were Watching ...
Roxane Gay
An interview with award-winning author Roxane Gay, plus one of her short stories.
How the Netherlands Used Literature to Defy the Nazis
A new theory sheds light not only on the fate of the Franks, but on the extent of Dutch resistance to the Nazis.
The Dangerous Lessons Kindergarteners Learn About Being “Smart”
Kids develop images of themselves as "smart" or "not smart" at very young ages.
How Should Therapists Handle Patients Seeking Stimulants?
Patients called with no time for curiosity. They wanted stimulants, and they wanted them now. Then we could talk.
What Makes a Brain “Speech Ready?”
Can monkeys talk? According to new research, they could, if their brains would let them.
John Berger, 1926-2017
John Berger has died at the age of 90. Famous for his television series and book Ways of Seeing, he was a critic, artist, novelist, poet, and radical.
The False Promises of Wellness Culture
Wellness is everywhere today: juice cleanses, Soulcycle classes, self-care. The roots of the trend can be found in nineteenth-century health-consciousness.