William Blake, Radical Abolitionist
Blake’s works offer an alternative to the failures of the Enlightenment, which couldn’t muster a consistent argument for abolition.
A Mini History of the Tiny Purse
The purse has always been political, a reflection of changing economic realities and gender roles.
What Is a Tariff? An Economist Explains
A global trade war seems well underway as China and the US exchange targeted tariff attacks. An economist explains what they are.
The Quantum Random Number Generator
It’s real. And it will use quantum entanglement to generate true mathematical randomness. Here’s why that matters.
Chinese Peasants Taught the USDA to Farm Organically in 1909
A hundred years later, we are still learning.
The Font Detectives
For typography experts like Thomas Phinney, the history of the printed word is crucial to weeding out fraud.
What The Great Gatsby Reveals About The Jazz Age
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel embraced jazz, while also falling prey to the racist caricatures associated with it.
How YouTube Is Shaping the Future of Work
Americans expect our jobs to provide us with not just money but fulfillment. For many, YouTube represents exactly that promise.
Lee Smolin: Science Works Because We Care to Know the Truth
Lee Smolin speaks on quantum gravity, the nature of time, the role of ethics in science, and the importance of realism.