Subscription Art for the 19th-Century Set
How the American Art-Union brought fine art to the people, via a subscription service, in the 1840s.
Maps Showed People Their Worlds
In the 19th century, most Americans weren't used to seeing maps of their communities. New forms of color lithography changed all that.
The Seal That Flew 1000 Miles To Get Home
Found stranded on a subtropical beach, the mystery seal finally comes home to its North Atlantic waters.
How to Cure Groupthink
"Groupthink" describes the systematic errors groups can make when facing important collective decisions. How can it be avoided?
The Amazing Eyes of the Archerfish
The archerfish has an unusual skill: it spits water directly at its prey, knocking the bugs out of the sky. But how?
When Foster Care Meant Farm Labor
Before current foster care programs were in place, Americans depended on farmers to take care of kids in exchange for hard labor.
Camouflage Gets Weird
Some animals use chemical camouflage, even altering the way they smell in order to avoid predation.
The Revolutionary Past of Plastics
When plastics were first invented, they seemed to promise a utopian future.
How War Revolutionized Ireland’s Linen Industry
During the Napoleonic Wars, Irish women, who had traditionally only spun flax into thread, took over the traditionally male job of weaving linen as well.