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

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

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

Our Friday Reads are these new books out this week, and related content you won't find anywhere else.

Neanderthals, suggest recent studies, had complex societies and even some culture.

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

Killing wildlife to save it isn't a viable strategy. We can create diverse, self-sustaining ecosystems without trophy hunting.

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

The "sparrow war" in the United States in the 1870s ended with a resounding victory… for the sparrows. 

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