The Return of Torture
After being made illegal in the 19th century, why did torture return in the 20th century and why does it continue into the present?
Traduttore, Traditore: Is Translation Ever Really Possible?
Translator, traitor, goes the Italian expression, although something may be lost in the translation.
Copernicus’s Body Identified by Stray Hair
Stuck in a book for centuries, strands of Copernicus's hair helped identify his body in 2005.
Cover Crops Are Making a Comeback
Farmers looking increase yields and maintain healthy soil are trying the old technique of planting cover crops again.
Suggested Readings: Human resilience, an ancient monster, and Vladimir Putin
Extra Credit: Our pick of stories from around the web that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
Misunderstanding the Book of Genesis
A short history of the literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis reveals it's largely a modern dogma.
The Urban-Rural Happiness Gradient
People with higher IQs may be happier in the city; they can adjust to the faster pace and more complex lifestyle there.
Reinterpreting The Chauvet Cave Paintings
Do France’s Chauvet Cave paintings depict a contemporary volcanic eruption? Recent research argues that they do.
Where Are You From? Check Your Parasites
People and birds carry their specific parasites around the world.