The Trouble with Absinthe
When temperance advocates won the ban on absinthe in 1915, many of them saw it as the first step in a broader anti-drinking campaign.
Anthropologists Hid African Same-Sex Relationships
Sex between people of the same gender has existed for millennia. But anthropologists in sub-Saharan Africa often ignored or distorted those relationships.
Mount Everest’s Death Zone
The zone above 8,000 meters is known among mountaineers as the “Death Zone.” Why do most deaths in the high mountains occur at these extreme heights?
Smells Like Divine Spirit
The 4th century was a turning point for the role of scent in the Christian church.
A Century After They First Appeared, Electric Boats Are Making a Comeback
In the late 1800s, electric boats were a promising new technology. They are now enjoying a revival.
Celebrity, Video Games, and Refugee Law
Well-researched stories from Vox, Yale e360, and other great publications that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
Restaurants Built Modern Japan’s Identity
In the early 20th century, Japan's embrace of exotic cuisines helped strengthen its connections both to China and to the West.
The High Environmental Costs of Cruise Ships
Cruise ships pose many environmental concerns, from waste disposal to toxic paint to the creation of noise that can harm marine life.