Public Dissection Was a Gruesome Spectacle
Renaissance-era anatomists taught people to “knowe thyself” by reading the books of bodies.
Keeping Crickets for Luck, Song, and Bloodsport
Design can facilitate the worst of human instincts, including forcing animals into servitude and violence. Cricket cages tell stories about how people have treated the insects throughout time.
When Fireworks Told Stories
In Europe between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries, fireworks displays were performances that told a story or symbolized real-world battles.
The Secrets of Viking Sword Making
New research scans three Viking swords and finds that, while well-made, they were not strong enough to withstand a fight.
Sundials, Sentiments, and S-Town
The immensely popular podcast S-Town features some memorable sundial inscriptions. But where did the slightly morbid tradition come from?
Art, Technology, & Early Photography: William Henry Fox Talbot
The 175th anniversary of William Henry Fox Talbot's calotype photography.
F is for Falconry
Since so few do falconry in the U.S. today, and hawking hasn't made it to the wide world of TV sports, some background is probably in order here.
The Fall of Adam, Reversed
The 15th century marble statue of Adam, by Venetian sculptor Tullio Lombardo has been restored by the Metropolitan Museum.