Joseph Lister’s Antiseptic Revolution
Joseph Lister's landmark articles on antiseptic surgery in the Lancet were published 150 years ago. The revolution was not immediate.
Was Andrew Jackson Really a States’ Rights Champion?
On the 250 anniversary of Andrew Jackson's birth, a look at his squashing of the first great nullification crisis in American history.
Will Engagement in the Middle East Change China?
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah visits China this month, marking China’s increasing involvement in the Middle East. China has long had a Muslim minority group.
Suggested Readings: Lying Dogs, Brilliant Inventions, and the Value of Narcissism
Well-researched stories from around the web that bridge the gap between news and scholarship. Brought to you each Tuesday ...
Automation in the 1940s Cotton Fields
Automation is a bit of a Rorschach test for anyone interested in workers’ rights. In the 1940s, the mechanization of cotton farming changed the US economy.
NATO Survives its Identity Crisis
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) began on April 4, 1949, creating an alliance promising mutual defense against potential Soviet aggression.
The Rise and Fall of the Shopping Mall
Is the shopping mall a thing of the past? A look at how the suburbs helped to create the mall--and what is now killing those same shopping centers.
Power, Resistance, and Katy Perry’s Hair
It's not just Katy Perry's "breakup haircut." A woman's hair is always symbolic of something, whether it's an attitude towards femininity or a power play.
The Craziest Ways Animals Escape Their Predators
From shedding skin to making slime to shooting blood out of their eyes, these animals have defense mechanisms that are convincing, to say the least.
Elizabeth Bishop
Exploring the text and subtext of Elizabeth Bishop’s poems, inspired by a new biography called Elizabeth Bishop: A Miracle for Breakfast.