Rudyard Kipling’s Buddhism
Long read as an imperial novel, Kim also reflects Britain's changing ideas about Buddhist thought and spiritual practice.
The Return of Florida’s Wild Flamingos
New sightings suggest a surprising ecological comeback—and a chance to reexamine the state's environmental past.
The Hidden Rules of Fine Dining
Research shows restaurant critics reward technique, creativity, and authenticity differently, shaping which cuisines earn prestige and higher prices.
How Indonesia’s Feminists Use the Internet
Online platforms help Muslim scholars and activists share feminist interpretations of Islam, expanding access to new audiences.
Dorm Life Forever? The Problem with Micro-Living
Research suggests compact housing may normalize economic insecurity rather than address the roots of the affordability crisis.
The Crime That Wasn’t Called Sodomy
In the American Philippines, officials used vagrancy laws to police same-sex relations while avoiding explicit bans.
How the Himalayan Blackberry Took Over the Pacific Northwest
The tangled history of an invasive plant and a scientist’s troubling quest to engineer a more efficient natural world.
The Making of the Muscular Farmer
As automation transformed agriculture, advertisements increasingly celebrated physical strength and traditional masculine ideals.
The Rise and Fall of Britain’s Muskrat Empire
A fur-farming experiment unleashed a prolific rodent—and sparked one of the rare successful eradications of an invasive species.
The Nuclear Test Site That Advanced Oceanography
A postwar expedition to Bikini Atoll helped confirm Darwin’s theory of coral reef formation and reshaped the future of marine science.