The Racialized History of “Hysteria”
Even three decades after “hysteria” was deleted from the DSM-III, some of the word’s diagnostic power obviously still remains.
Inventing the “Illegal Alien”
What’s an illegal alien? The idea that the most important question about immigrants is their legal status is a relatively new one.
How Credit Reporting Agencies Got Their Power
Early credit reporting companies urged people to “Treat their credit as a sacred trust” and argued that keeping a good credit record was a moral concern.
Suggested Readings: Lovecraft’s Legacy, Hurricane Refugees, and AI Gaydar
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.
When Packrats’ Hoards Are Helpful
Packrat nests, preserved by a combination of the chemistry of urine and the desert air, open a window into centuries of local climate change.
The Most Important Rule for Startup Success
Startups often don't play by the rules. But a wifi-enabled juicer may have been "trying to solve a problem that didn't exist."
Plastic in Your Beer, Toxins in Your Air, and Heavy Metals on Your Doorsteps
From household plastic to industrial waste, anthropogenic activity has created compounds that poison ecosystems from water to air.
The Inequality Hidden Within the Race-Neutral GI Bill
While the GI Bill itself was progressive, much of the country still functioned under both covert and blatant segregation.
When the Sea Recedes
When caused by storms, receding oceans are result of an inverted storm surge, a “negative surge.” Storm surges have a few causes.
Fire Ants Form Rafts to Float on Water
Floating masses of fire ants have been observed drifting in the floodwaters resulting from Hurricane Harvey. How does a swarm of fire ants float?