Plant of the Month: Cinnamon
Of early modern medicinal monopolies and the nature of a "true" product of empire.
Was the Capitol Attack Part of a New Wave of Terrorism?
A political scientist suggests that the right-wing violence of recent years might be a new current in a longer history.
How Racist Cartoons Helped Ignite a Massacre
In 1898, a North Carolina newspaper cartoonist weaponized white fears and tropes of Black predation to stoke a coup d'etat.
Zora Neale Hurston
In a controversial letter, the versatile author expressed frustration with critics of segregation.
Have Chinese Restaurants Always Looked “Chinese”?
In some places, that red-and-gold flair might not fly.
Plant of the Month: Agarwood
Agarwood has long been prized for its olfactory splendor. Its essential oil is even known as liquid gold today.
Cults on TV!
How stereotypes influence our ideas about what is and isn’t legitimate religion.
The Hidden Meaning of a Notorious Experiment
In Stanley Milgram's studies of obedience, people believed they were giving shocks to others. But did their compliance say much about the Nazis?
Verbatim: Jonas Salk
Virologist Jonas Salk led the team that developed the breakthrough vaccine for polio. He was also a social critic.
Plant of the Month: Venus Flytrap
The carnivorous plant, native to the Carolinas, has beguiled botanists and members of the public alike since the eighteenth century.