The Strange History of Masons in America
Often the subject of conspiracy theories, Masons captured the allegiance of much of the early American elite.
Jeanne Moreau and the Birth of Cool
The French actress Jeanne Moreau worked with directors Truffaut, Duras, Buñuel, Renoir, Antonioni, Fassbinder, and Orson Welles.
The Books that Taught the Seventies to Have Sex
What can 1970s sex manuals tell us about the height of the Sexual Revolution? The 1970s was a distinctive sexual decade that’s well worth studying today.
What Herman Melville Can Teach Bob Dylan about Plagiarism
Bob Dylan delivered his Nobel Prize lecture on June 4, just days before a deadline that would have ...
Suggested Readings: Editing Embryos, Meditation Psychology, and Unoriginal Art
Well-researched stories from around the web that bridge the gap between news and scholarship. Brought to you each Tuesday from the editors of JSTOR Daily.
The Ecology of Death
In nature, death creates its own unique ecosystem. These carcass-based mini-ecosystems are extremely dynamic.
Failure Has Always Been a Key to Success
Failure is in fashion, but this isn't some new passing trend. How universities and the medical profession have embraced the idea of "failing better."
When Jimmy Hoffa Vanished, He Took Union Strength With Him
The July 30, 1975, disappearance of labor leader Jimmy Hoffa sparked public fascination because he was an important cog in the nation's economy.
Pioneers Were America’s Original Artisanal Bakers
Why were cowboys and pioneers so obsessed with their baked goods? A look at the birth of sourdough culture (har har) in the United States.
Maybe Earthworms Aren’t So Great For Soil After All
Earthworms are often portrayed as beneficial to the environment, but in North America's temperate forests, they are a disaster in action.