Why We Give Children Toys for Christmas
Giving children toys for Christmas first became a thing in early nineteenth century England.
The Legacy of Anders Celsius
Happy birthday, Anders Celsius! The astronomer and geographer was born on November 27th, 1701, in Uppsala, Sweden. Most ...
The Weimar Republic: Gone But Not Forgotten
The Weimar Republic is famous for failing, but considering its turmoil and crisis, it's surprising how long it actually lasted.
Remembering Wounded Knee at Standing Rock
Have you been wondering about the history of Standing Rock protests and the American Indian Movement? Learn why and how we “Remember Wounded Knee.”
“The Simpsons”: More Than Just a Cartoon
"The Simpsons" is the longest-running scripted series in television history, full of canny satire and the occasional prophecy.
Why Do Pandas Have Thumbs?
Some panda species have strange thumb-like appendages, but their thumbs evolved for strikingly different reasons.
Hasty Pudding: The Original American Comfort Food
Puddings can be surprisingly nationalistic.
Synesthetic Adjectives Will Make You Eat Your Words
Fragrant. Sweet. Tangy. Certain synesthetic adjectives actually trigger cognitive simulations of eating.
A Black Sea Shipwreck Trove
A remarkable discovery has been made in the Black Sea: 42 extremely well-preserved ships spanning a millennia from the ninth to the nineteenth century CE.
Thanksgiving Is a Feast of Things Forgotten
Thanksgiving is a feast so complex and semiotically dense that things are very often forgotten and rarely go according to plan.