Why Retirement Age Is 65 (And Why It’s Getting Higher)
Is there something magical about age 65? The history behind the retirement age involves economics, aging, and Otto von Bismarck.
Race and Labor in the 1863 New York City Draft Riots
In July 1863, over a thousand Irish dockworkers rioted against the Civil War draft in New York City in a four-day upheaval, targeting black workers and citizens.
Why You Love the Smell of Old Books
Scent carries significant psychological meaning. A recent paper proposed that scent be included in a proposed intangible heritage list recognized by UNESCO.
The Ongoing Practice of Female Genital Mutilation
Female genital mutilation seems totally foreign to the U.S., but versions of the long-outlawed surgery have seen a recent resurgence.
Frederick Law Olmsted: The Complicated Man Behind Central Park & The Nation
Struck by something naturally beautiful in an American city? Odds are that you have stumbled across the work of Frederick Law Olmsted.
How We Construct Our Online Identities
What does a successful mom blogger have to do with a character from James Joyce's Ulysses? The way we construct our identities has always been artificial.
U.S. Attorneys and the Struggle for Justice
The U.S. Constitution’s system of checks and balances have made the judiciary President Trump’s key foe in his first 100 days. ...
Are We Spoiling Our Kids with Too Much Praise?
Is the “gold medal for all” approach fueling a generation of narcissists?
“Inner City” Myths and Realities
The history behind why urban black neighborhoods face much higher rates of poverty, crime, and overburdened schools than white suburban areas do.