When Teachers Stopped Beating Kids
Corporal punishment of students largely fell out of favor in the early 19th century. The preferred new system used prizes to encourage good behavior.
Dreaming of Spaceflight in 1920s Russia
Early in the 20th century, Cosmism was all the rage in Russia, inspiring a utopian and mystical view of interstellar travel.
Why Luddites Are Fashionable Again
Today we call anyone with a flip phone a Luddite. But the term has radical origins.
Three Ways to Turn Your Apartment into a Sustainable Garden
Even the smallest city dwelling has enough space for a mini-meadow or a few flower pots.
Chocolate Science, Boy Trees, and Robot Artists
Well-researched stories from Atlas Obscura, Slate, and other great publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
Women Clergy and the Stained-Glass Ceiling
Christian and Jewish women leaders transformed the U.S. religious landscape during the 1970s, but subtle discrimination has limited their opportunities.
An Unhealthy Obsession with Avoiding Sin
In the early 20th century, "scruples" meant a neurotic fixation on sin. It seemed to mostly affect Roman Catholics.
How Urban Agriculture Can Meet Its Potential
New York City's urban agriculture has not been found to provide benefits to either hungry people or the environment. How could city farms work better?
Colonialism Created Navy Blue
The indigo dye that created the Royal Navy's signature uniform color was only possible because of imperialism and slavery.
The Hidden Extinction Crisis
The extinction crisis might be even worse than we think, because we tend to mostly pay attention to terrestrial vertebrates.