On Celebrating Cinco de Mayo
Thinking of celebrating Cinco de Mayo at your school this year? Learn from history about some of the potentially insensitive pitfalls.
A Critical Look at Gilded Age Philanthropy
The 125th anniversary of the opening of Carnegie Hall on May 5th provides an opportunity to examine Andrew Carnegie's legacy and philanthropy.
Complexity in Simplicity: The Three Technologies Behind Ceramics
More than two thousand years ago, the Mayans of eastern Guatemala used ceramic teapots to pour themselves hot ...
Charles Dickens and the Linguistic Art of the Minor Character
Charles Dickens' characters are famous for their elaborate, often hilarious names. Even for bit parts, Dickens' naming conventions were linguistically rich.
Jane Jacobs and the American City
Jane Jacobs, who would have been 100 today and is the focus of the Google Doodle , was a big part of why cities like New York City and Toronto look and feel
Let’s Talk About Dying Well
Physicians and family members still have trouble talking candidly about dying and what it means to die well.
Are We Entering a New Golden Age of Guano?
A history of civilization could be written in fertilizers. And the history of guano—bird poop—tells us a lot about slavery, imperialism, and U.S. expansion.
How Victorian Writers Eroticized Mormons
Victorian anti-Mormonism meant 19th-century Americans were both fascinated and frightened by Mormons' marriage and sexual practices.
An Asteroid Killed the Dinosaurs. Right?
What killed the dinosaurs? An asteroid wiped them out, right? New research suggests that even before that cataclysm, dinosaurs weren't doing so well.
Happy Mother’s Day: Kids’ Screen Time is a Feminist Issue
Portable electronics like smartphones and tablets are indispensable tools for mothers and caregivers. Why do we shame them for allowing kids screen time?