The Myth of Phineas Gage (Aeon)
by Ben Platts-Mills
Phineas Gage is the poster child for the experience of “disinhibition” in people with brain injuries, but it turns out that little of what’s been written about him is true. Rethinking his story might help doctors give more respect to patients’ agency.

How to Remember the Alamo (Public Books)
by Emma Pask
Efforts to reshape the teaching and public celebration of Texas history lean heavily on the Republic of Texas that began its brief existence in 1836. Conservatism in the state has always been tied to nostalgia. But the real history, and the kinds of people and politics involved, is as wide and complex as the state itself.

How to Impress a Roman Dinner Party (Atlas Obscura)
by Dylan Thuras and Andrew Coletti
One guide to dining in ancient Rome offers recipes, information about social relations at the time, and bits of otherwise lost ancient texts. But why was it written to begin with?

The Big Bang Wasn’t a Bang at All (Big Think)
by Ethan Siegel
A lot of the conventional wisdom about the Big Bang is wrong. For one thing, it wasn’t a big explosion. Understanding the reality of it is a mind-bending task.

What is Enriched Uranium Anyway? (The Conversation)
by André O. Hudson
Despite its reputation as a dangerous substance, uranium is a common element found all around us. So how does it get transformed into weapons with the potential for horrifying destruction?

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