Mystery airship The Saint Paul Globe (Minn) April 13 1897

The History of UFOs

UFOs are much older than the Cold War's flying saucers. These 1897 and 1909 sightings of flying machines were the talk of the town. 
Uraba lugens Walker, 1863, larva on juvenile Eucalyptus melliodora foliage, Black Mountain, Canberra, ACT, 8 February 2010 Note head capsules from previous instars stacked on head.

The Gothic World of Insect Defense

From an Australian caterpillar that carries around its old heads to exploding ants, insect defense isn't all that different from Game of Thrones.
Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) on branch

Birdstor Daily

Once upon a time, it felt appropriate to make April Fools' jokes...
Anne's Tablet (1916) by William Ordway Partridge to honor Constance Fenimore Woolson, Mackinac Island, Michigan.

The Submerged Sexuality of Constance Fenimore Woolson’s Fiction

Constance Fenimore Woolson was a renown American Realist writer in her day, but has since almost disappeared. Two new books attempt to change that. 
Astronaut in space

What Happens To The Body in Orbit?

Scott Kelly has returned from a year in orbit. How has he fared? Turns out space flight really does do a number on the body.
Mrs. Reagan hosts the First Ladies Conference on Drug Abuse, 1985 in the White House East Room

Nancy Reagan and the Paradox of Being First Lady

The role of the First Lady is undefined and dependent on the woman in the role, but it's a politically fraught one for all of them. 
Flying Penguin

Zoological Jokes and Hoaxes

The humor in inventing fake animals comes from the fact that the audience is in on the joke. Nevertheless, the line between satire and hoax can be fuzzy.
Installation view at Elmhurst Biennial

Artist-Designer John Preus

Artist John Preus maintains a professional design studio that uses 2nd hand materials, including discarded furniture from closed Chicago Public Schools.
introverted children

In Defense of Introverted Children

As the mother of an introverted child, I felt unnerved by the reactions of adults around me to my daughter’s quietness.
Playing go in the garden

Games of Artificial Intelligence

Chess and artificial intelligence have been matched almost since the beginning of AI research, but now there's a new game in town.