Cornelius Vanderbilt II House

Why We Obsess Over Other People’s Mansions

Gilded Age mansions were remarkably public places. Newspapers breathlessly followed their construction and the social lives that happened within them
James Baldwin by Allan Warren

Gay Culture: Ancient Wonder or Modern Creation?

Even at more open-minded times, gays and gay culture is always seen as a frivolous—a decorative, added bonus of civilization.
American Eel

For the Endangered American Eel, A Long, Slippery Road to Recovery

The endangered American eel, once abundant along the U.S. East Coast, is critically important in keeping rivers ecologically sound.
JSTOR Daily Friday Reads

Video Games, Italian Revolutionaries, and Anne Tyler

Our Friday Reads are these new books out this week, and related content you won't find anywhere else.
Black and white drawings of Neanderthals and other early men

Neanderthals Were Smarter Than You Think

Neanderthals, suggest recent studies, had complex societies and even some culture.
An updated periodic chart divided into a cube bookcase

What’s in a Name (Of An Element)?

Chemists recently announced the names of four newly discovered elements. Naming elements is serious business, and not without controversy.
Cecil the Lion

No, Trophy Hunting Won’t Protect Wildlife

Killing wildlife to save it isn't a viable strategy. We can create diverse, self-sustaining ecosystems without trophy hunting.
The inside of a quant Victorian parlor with mustard wallpaper, an intricately carved piano, and decor ranging from colorful flowers to vases

“The Culture of the Copy”: Victorians’ Obsession With Wax Flowers

Wax flowers were a major obsession of Victorian women, allowing them to combine art and industry.
Illustration of two house sparrows

The Great Sparrow War of the 1870s

The "sparrow war" in the United States in the 1870s ended with a resounding victory… for the sparrows. 
A group assembling to welcome asylum seekers

The Ongoing Legal Plight of LGBTQ Refugees

Until governments recognize the right to freely express sexual and gender identity, safe haven for LGBTQ refugees is uncertain at best.