Ditch the Smartphone and Smell the Roses This Valentine’s Day
Digital detox services may be just as important for your health as a chemical detoxification
Crowded Skies, Disappearing Bees, and Romney’s Vote
Well-researched stories from The Atlantic, The Verge, and other great publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
The Rebellious, Scandalous Origins of Polka
The dance is often associated with the traditions of immigrant communities in America. But it emerged in Europe during a time of radicalism.
The Myth of the Noble Racehorse
Despite all the whips and spurs involved, nineteenth-century Americans believed racehorses loved a little manly competition.
Is Emma Really the Heroine of Emma?
Jane Austen gave her character Emma Woodhouse plenty of off-putting qualities. So does she even deserve her popularity?
This Wrench Smashes Patriarchy: Women and Tools
After World War II, many women in industrial jobs put down their wrenches. But the spirit of Rosie the Riveter couldn't be denied.
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.