Annie M. Alexander: Paleontologist and Silent Benefactor
An unsung patron of science whose deep pockets and passion for exploring led to the founding of two influential natural history museums.
The “Scientific” Antifeminists of Victorian England
Nineteenth-century biologists employed some outrageous arguments in order to keep women confined to the home.
How Scientists Became Advocates for Birth Control
The fight to gain scientists' support for the birth control movement proved a turning point in contraceptive science—and led to a research revolution.
The Decapitation Experiments of Jean César Legallois
This French scientist conducted a series of gruesome experiments in his quest to discover the true limits of life and death.
When Royals Perfumed Themselves with the Excretions of Musk Deer and Civet Cats
In the era of Louis XV, it was fashionable to drench oneself in “animal scents.”
When Coffee Cargo Was Quarantined
In the 1800s, sick passengers weren’t blamed for disease epidemics—their baggage and cargo was.
The Woman Agrostologist Who Held the Earth Together
When government wouldn't fund female fieldwork, Agnes Chase pulled together her own resources.
That Time a Woman Rode Aristotle Around Like a Horse
In the Middle Ages, the legend of Aristotle and Phyllis exemplified the “Power of Women” trope.
What Do We Lose When We Lose a Species?
Debates about the moral value of biodiversity are longstanding in the world of environmental ethics, and the issue is far from settled.