Take a Nap, It’s Good For You
Like taking a nap? Exploring the research that finds a positive correlation between health and a short daily rest.
Suggested Readings: Private Embarrassment, Deadly Crowds, and Gender Quotas
Our pick of stories from around the web that bridge the gap between news and scholarship. Brought to you each Tuesday from the editors of JSTOR Daily.
The Truth Behind the Tower Ravens
Fakelore: the deliberate fabrication of a folklore. A term that perfectly describes the legend of the Tower Ravens, the birds of the Tower of London.
Consumerism: An Economic Critique
Consumerism, a hallmark of American life, may not be as beneficial as we all think.
Wordsworth and the Invention of Childhood
Prior to the 18th century, children were considered little adults. It was only during the Romantic Era that the concept of childhood emerged.
Homo Naledi: Our Newly Discovered Ancestor
Found in a cave in South Africa, the fossils have been determined to be from Homo naledi, a previously unknown ancestor of the human species.
“Victim Culture” and Victim Blaming
The critique of contemporary "victim culture" has parallels to the critique of "victim feminism" of the 1990s.
The Club for Growth and Political Polarization
Organized groups have arisen to enforce "party purity" and wider political polarization in American politics.
How Reforms to Rape Law Changed Our Understanding of the Crime
Reforms to rape law in the 1970s and 1980s transformed the definition of rape and brought the crime out of the shadows.
Salvage and Savior: Noah Purifoy’s Assemblage
Noah Purifoy transformed the wreckage from the 1965 Watts riots into art, and in doing so, he transformed much more.