The Sandhogs Who Built the New York Subway
Unlike other laborers, who toiled anonymously on bridges and buildings throughout the city, the sandhogs had an iconic status in New York City.
Cheng I Sao, Female Pirate Extraordinaire
Learn more about Cheng I Sao, a female pirate who dominated the coast of the Kwangtung Province between 1795-1810.
Nuclear Power Without the Meltdowns?
When it comes to nuclear power, one word in particular instills fear: meltdown. But what is a meltdown? Can one be avoided?
Is “Tiny Living” Really The Answer?
One response to the "bigger is better" trend has been the rise of microhomes: hyper-fashionable domiciles around 40 square meters in size.
When “Welfare Reform” Meant Expanding Benefits
50 years ago, Republican politicians proposed, and sometimes won, welfare reform programs that were actually more comprehensive.
The Pioneers in the Fight against Sexual Harassment
Some of the first precedent-setting sexual harassment cases were filed by women who were African-American, working class, or both
Suggested Readings: Usury, Weird Physics, and the End of the World
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.
John Calvin: The Religious Reformer Who Influenced Capitalism
Both the blame and the credit for capitalism has often been placed at the feet of a 16th-century Christian theologian named John Calvin.
Why Conservationists Shouldn’t Forget About Insects
Insect conservation can be a tough sell. Lots of people simply don’t like bugs, and an endangered bug simply doesn’t pull on the heart strings.
The Singing, Dancing Hormel Girls Who Sold America SPAM
SPAM was introduced 80 years, but it was a military-style corps of singing women that helped the canned meat skyrocket in the years after World War II.