Swimming through the Centuries (Literary Hub)
by Vicki Valosik
Medieval Europeans considered swimming dangerous and adjacent to sin. It took scientifically minded men like Benjamin Franklin to revive the enjoyment of water known to the ancient Greeks and Romans.
True Crime in 1924 (Smithsonian Magazine)
by Chris Klimek
A century ago, two wealthy young men decided to commit “the perfect crime.” Leopold and Loeb’s cold-blooded murder of a fourteen-year-old fascinated the nation and showcased new ways of bringing science to bear in criminal cases.
The Sacred Forests of Ethiopia (Mongabay)
by Solomon Yimer
Ethiopia’s ancient Christian traditions are deeply concerned with the natural world. Today, church forests protect the country’s oldest trees, create space for community gatherings, and provide medicine for local people.
Tracing Zealandia’s History (Eos)
by Kate Evans
Earth’s eighth continent is so mysterious it was only fully mapped last year. Now, geologists are beginning to investigate the history of this mostly underwater land mass and the ancient forces that shaped it.
The Illusion of Rising Crime (Vox)
by Abdallah Fayyad
After rising sharply during the pandemic, crime rates have resumed the downward trend of the previous two decades. So why do so many Americans think crime is rising?
Got a hot tip about a well-researched story that belongs on this list? Email us here.