A vintage photograph of a Turkey Dinner

Thanksgiving Stories

Turkey or Tofurkey? Stuffing or dressing? Whatever the controversy, these Thanksgiving stories will slake your appetite!
An ancient glacier channel at Lake Tenaya in Yosemite National Park, 1872

Living Laboratories: Science and the National Parks

National parks in the US are filled with glaciers and volcanoes, which isn't an accident, as the parks developed alongside the sciences of glaciology and volcanology.

The Tamest Grizzly of Yellowstone

Adored by tourists and studied by scientists, a grizzly mother named Sylvia became an emblem of the fragile balance between humans and the wild.
Three colorful shapes against a black background demonstrating the idea of national parks and public lands

The Victory of Public Lands

Most Americans agree on the value of preserving public lands. How did the idea of public lands come about, and how can we ensure they exist in the future?
Tonka beans

Tonka Bean: The Tale of a Contested Commodity

The rise and fall of the sweet-smelling seeds of Dipteryx odorata stands in stark contrast to the tree’s lasting presence in global markets.
A collage of colorful shapes that include images of different public spaces.

Perspectives on Public Space: A JSTOR Daily Podcast

What is public space? How does it function? Whom does it benefit, and whom does it harm? These are just a few of the questions we put to experts on the subject.
A colorful collage that includes a family feeding pigeons in a city square, friends relaxing in a park, and an example of hostile architecture

On the Meaning and Value of Public Spaces

What is public space? How is it produced, and why is that production important for our social and political lives?
Massacre of the Innocents by Bartolo di Fredi

A Fierce Devotion to the “Empress of Hell”

Medieval dramatizations of the confrontation between the Virgin Mary and King Herod offered a symbolic resistance to tyranny.
An old oyster bed now lying exposed on a beach in South Carolina. The oysters are no longer alive, but many shells remain in their original position.

Shucking the Past: Can Oysters Thrive Again?

Dredging and pollution devastated the once-bountiful reefs. Careful science may help bring them back.
Amy V. Margaris

Amy V. Margaris on the Role of the Archaeologist

Anthropological archaeologist Amy V. Margaris argues that to do our best science, we need a diverse group of practitioners—in the field and in the museum.