When Birds Play Tricks (The Atlantic)
by Katherine J. Wu
Thousands of species of birds are born tricksters, using mimicry to scare off larger enemies, steal food, and even find mates. But do they think they’re being funny?

Brutality in Birmingham (AL.com)
by Greg Garrison
Birmingham is among the most violent cities in the US, and that’s nothing new. From its beginnings after the Civil War, easy access to weapons, racist policing, and brutal working and living conditions contributed to shocking murder rates.

The Trouble with Conservation by Outsiders (The Republic)
by Aby L. Sène
Huge parts of many African countries are being protected as wildlife sanctuaries and tourism magnets. In the process, millions of Indigenous people—the humans with the closest relationship to these places—are losing their homes and sometimes their lives.

The Rhythms that Move Us (NPR)
by Mia Venkat and Christopher Intagliata
What makes music danceable? A new study suggests that one factor is something we can’t even hear.

The End of Napoleon (History.com)
by Una McIlvenna
After the dramatic end of his plans for global domination, Napoleon Bonaparte spent his final years in a run-down estate on a tiny island, surrounded by a well-dressed entourage and a lot of rats.

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