The Inner Life of Neoliberalism
Does it seem like left-wingers have a monopoly on therapeutic ideas? Not so fast.
White Hollywood’s Romance with the N-Word
It would have been easy for censors to just ban the racist epithet during the classical era of film. Here's why it didn't happen.
A Brief History of the Calorie
The measure of thermal energy expended by exercise was adapted from the study of explosives and engines.
Are Insects Capable of Moral Behavior?
Some 19th-century naturalists believed that bugs could think and should therefore definitely know that biting is out of line.
Plant of the Month: The Sensitive Plant
This plant’s animal-like behavior and alleged love-provoking abilities have sparked the imagination of everyone from early modern yogis to today’s scientists.
How Safe Is BPA-Free Plastic?
With BPA gone from many plastic products, researchers are concerned about other environmental chemicals, which might cause reproductive harm.
The Jim Crow Army in the Philippine-American War
Some African American soldiers of the conflict thought fighting against fellow people of color was unjust.
The Theory of Cuss Word Relativity
Which words are considered taboo varies by place and time, scholars find.
How Public Schools “Americanized” Hawai‘i
Colonial education administrators recruited teachers from the mainland, but soon realized another strategy was in order.
Puffins Seen Using Tools, Breaking Dumb-Puffin Stereotypes
Reputed to be a less intelligent bird species, puffins have been observed scratching themselves with sticks.