What Do Ex-Presidents Do? Ask John Quincy Adams.
Many are speculating about what former president Barack Obama will do in his retirement. Perhaps he will stay as politically involved as John Quincy Adams.
The Incredible Unsung Karst Ecosystem
One of the world’s most incredible, yet unsung, ecosystems, karsts are home to a remarkable biological diversity.
Mary Shelley
Someone discovered a handful of previously unpublished letters written by Mary Shelley, stashed in private house in a small English village.
Humor and Race in Dear White People and White Chicks
Black producers and entertainers use the concept of physically appropriating another race to discuss racism in "Dear White People" and "White Chicks."
America’s State Secrets and the Freedom of Information Act
The Freedom of Information Act of 1966 (or FOIA) was the result of a struggle by Congress and private business for information from the executive branch.
Mostafa El-Abbadi
Mostafa A. H. el-Abbadi was the visionary behind the revival of the Great Library of Alexandria, the vast Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
Why Do We Have “Free Trade” For Televisions, But Not For Corn?
While the U.S. opens industries to market competition at home and abroad, we give our agricultural producers a lot of protection, including big subsidies.
The Agonizing Death of the Aral Sea
After decades of environmental disaster, fish and wildlife may rebound to Central Asia's Aral Sea, but the lake will never be restored to its former glory.
The Constitution Most Americans Have Forgotten About
The Articles of Confederation set off the long-running feud between states' rights and Washington, a debate that still rages today.
The Bitter Controversy Over Nebraska’s State Capital
Lincoln or Omaha or... Neapolis? The fight over where to put the capital of Nebraska was much more heated than you may have imagined.