Close-up of sourdough starter and flour in jars

The Science of Sourdough: How Citizens Are Helping Shape the Future of Fermented Foods

Citizen scientists are drawing on personal experience to help researchers create new plant-based fermented foods and maximize their health benefits.
A mom looks at the teenage friend of her daughter and listens intently to her explaining an idea during a homework session.

Your Best Friend’s Mom

Parents, teachers, and family income affect educational and life outcomes for teenagers, but so does their best friend’s mother.
Portrait of Atisha

The Therapeutic Side of Tibetan Buddhism

Along with teachings on liberation from the cycles of death and rebirth, the Tibetan Buddhist tradition contains guidance on removing impediments to compassion.
Catholic Church of the Saviour,also called Xishiku Church or Beitang in Beijing, China

Building Notre Dame in Beijing

Chinese church architecture progressed from initial setbacks to reflect a two-way transfer of design and building techniques as East met West.
El Aquelarre by Francisco Goya

Accused as a Witch? Sue ’em!

That’s what they did in the Kingdom of Navarre, where some of the victims brought suit against their accusers for defamation and other offenses.
Interior courtyard at the Thian Hock Keng Temple in the Tanjong Pagar area of downtown Singapore, a traditional Taoist temple established in 1839

Debating the Definition of Taoism

Taoism and Hinduism are two different spiritual systems, but one thing they have in common in Singapore is that they’re both very difficult to define.
A graphical illustration of a man with a wad of cash and an airplane

Are Millionaire Taxes Self-Defeating?

A common argument against increasing taxes on high earners is that the wealthy will simply move out of the city or state with higher taxes.
Pliny the Elder

The Numinous World of Pliny the Elder

As a follower of Stoic philosophy, Pliny used sensory experience to try to understand the divine.
Piece of Roquefort cheese, made from sheep milk in the caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon

Cheesy Terroir-ism: The ABCs of AOCs

Whether it supports the production of wine or cheese, terroir is a “particularly French conception of cultural territory” says historian Tamara L. Whited.
A series of posters created by the American Forces Information Service (AFIS)

Life Advice From the Armed Forces

These American Forces Information Service posters shared via JSTOR by The University of Alabama in Huntsville offer us the wisdom we didn’t know we needed.