Why We Cringe
What makes someone else's behavior so embarrassing? The answer lies in our expectations of how people should act.
The Disappearing History of America’s Nuclear Weapons
Once a key site of Cold War arms production, Rocky Flats is now a wildlife refuge. What happened to its troubled past?
The Rise and Fall of Shanghai’s “Sing-Song Girls”
How did celebrated entertainers become associated with a profession increasingly defined by exploitation?
Mental Hospitals at the Movies
The horror films of the 1970s captured a cultural shift from fears of institutional abuse to anxieties about psychiatric patients living freely.
How Big Oil Shaped America’s Parks
John D. Rockefeller Jr. wanted Americans to experience nature from their cars. His vision helped transform conservation.
Teaching Students to See What They Miss
A classroom exercise in slow looking uses art to sharpen observation skills and encourage more attentive listening.
Ghosts, Witches, and Other Halloween Stories
A spine-tingling roundup of historical mysteries, supernatural folklore, and the strange things that have frightened us for centuries.
Why Washing Machines Took Decades to Catch On
Early electric laundry appliances promised to make housework easier. But convincing American households to buy them was another matter.
The Women Breaking the Rules of Balinese Dance
Middle-aged performers are taking on roles once reserved for men, challenging expectations about age and gender in Bali.
Ten Poems about Sleep and Dreaming
Visions of the unconscious by Emily Dickinson, Louise Glück, Lucille Clifton, Carl Phillips, and more.