Why Ancient Doctors Prescribed Disgusting Remedies
Greek and Roman physicians used bodily waste to treat illness. The disgust it inspired may have been part of the appeal.
How the Phone Book Taught America to Ask for Answers
A collection of Texas directories from 1913 to 1959 shows how phone books—and the people who used them—helped invent “information” as we know it.
The Disappearing History of America’s Nuclear Weapons
Once a key site of Cold War arms production, Rocky Flats is now a wildlife refuge. What happened to its troubled past?
The Rise and Fall of Shanghai’s “Sing-Song Girls”
How did celebrated entertainers become associated with a profession increasingly defined by exploitation?
London’s Railway for the Dead
As London's graveyards overflowed, a private company proposed a remarkable new way to bury the dead.
How Big Oil Shaped America’s Parks
John D. Rockefeller Jr. wanted Americans to experience nature from their cars. His vision helped transform conservation.
The Women Breaking the Rules of Balinese Dance
Middle-aged performers are taking on roles once reserved for men, challenging expectations about age and gender in Bali.
The Photographer Who Preserved Everyday Architecture
Frances Benjamin Johnston looked beyond grand estates to document the ordinary buildings that defined American life.
What Do Cops Train For?
Research on police training finds that realistic simulations may reinforce expectations of violence instead of preventing it.
Why English Colonists Called Indigenous Dogs Wolves
A 1621 encounter reveals a history of Native animal domestication that colonial accounts obscured.