New Study Finds Insects Speak in Different “Dialects”
Different fruit flies species can learn each other’s language to warn against parasitic wasps.
The Pirate Creed
Examining the 18th-century social contract of Captain Bartholomew Roberts and his men shows just how organized and codified pirate societies could be.
The Horse Skulls Hidden in the Dance Floors of Ireland
Old houses in Ireland often have horse skulls buried beneath the floors, but folklorists and archaeologists disagree on exactly why.
Africa’s Mighty Baobabs
Sub-Saharan Africa's iconic baobab trees are experiencing die-offs at an alarming rate. What makes these distinctive trees so unique?
What Exactly Is Jane Austen’s Sanditon?
An unfinished, fragmentary Austen novel is being adapted for television. Can we ever know what Austen meant for this book to eventually become?
Why Europeans Have Such Long Summer Vacations
In the 1920s, politicians saw workers’ time off as a way to mold society, encouraging workers to engage in politics and patriotism during their time off.
Maroon Societies, Down Syndrome, and Food Justice
New books and scholarship from academic publishers.
Summertime Poems and Paintings
Summery poems by Mary Oliver, Matthew Zapruder, and other poets, along with seasonal paintings by Claude Monet and other artists.
The Complicated Politics of… Refrigerators
When American kitchens started getting high-tech in the 1950s, the refrigerator seemed to alienate and frustrate many men.
What Drives American Disenchantment with the NSA
The National Security Agency's surveillance of citizens flew under the radar for decades. Why is there now so much mistrust of the NSA?