Settlements
City Birds Are Evolving To Be More Flexible and Assertive Than Their Country Cousins
Animals are adapting to life in the big city
October 17, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
This Helmet Knows When You’ve Crashed And Calls for Help
A new helmet, registering the impact of a mini-van's passenger door on your body, has sent out a signal for medical assistance
October 12, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Traumatic Birth of the Modern (and Vicious) Political Campaign
When Upton Sinclair ran for governor of California in 1934, new media were marshaled to beat him
October 11, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
Four Surprising Places Where Local Wines Thrive
Almost everywhere European explorers went, vineyards grew behind them. Here are a few places tourists might never have known there was wine to taste
October 11, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
Elevator Awkwardness Explained
You stand there silently, reach awkwardly past people to push buttons, and immediately end any conversation you were having as soon as a new person comes into the elevator. But why?
October 10, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Where Travelers Go to Pay Their Respects
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum is not a fun place to go, yet tourists flock here, and to
other somber sites around the world
October 09, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
What (or Who) Caused the Great Chicago Fire?
The true story behind the myth of Mrs. O'Leary and her cow and how the scapegoating ruined one woman's good name and spawned a folk song that would last for decades
October 04, 2012 |
By Karen Abbott
Foreclosed Homes in Los Angeles Will Be Transformed Into Parks
L.A. is transforming foreclosed homes into much-needed urban green spaces
October 03, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Snakes: The Good, the Bad and the Deadly
With venom so potent it can kill a person in just 30 minutes, the black mamba is a snake to avoid—while others are worth learning about before you cast your judgment
October 03, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
Health Hazards of the Traveler
Russian scientist Leonid Rogozov was the only doctor within 1,000 miles when, in 1961, he was struck by appendicitis in Antarctica. Fortunately, he had Novocain and a scalpel
September 28, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
The Silence that Preceded China’s Great Leap into Famine
Mao Zedong encouraged critics of his government—and then betrayed them just when their advice might have prevented a calamity
September 26, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
How Bad Is Air Travel for the Environment?
A large passenger jet may consume five gallons of fuel per mile traveled. Is it possible, then, that planes are more efficient than cars?
September 26, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
The Equinox: See It for Yourself This Weekend
There are many great spots around the globe to observe the celestial phenomena, from Machu Picchu to the Yorkshire moors
September 21, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
The Copper King’s Precipitous Fall
Augustus Heinze dominated the copper fields of Montana, but his family's scheming on Wall Street set off the Panic of 1907.
September 20, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
Six Things to Do and Places to See Before Climate Change Swamps the Party
Get out and view a wild polar bear and visit Tuvalu and other low-lying islands while you have a chance
September 20, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
Lunch Atop a Skyscraper Photograph: The Story Behind the Famous Shot
For 80 years, the 11 ironworkers in the iconic photo have remained unknown, and now, thanks to new research, two of them have been identified
September 20, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
50 Years of the Jetsons: Why The Show Still Matters
Although it was on the air for only one season, The Jetsons remains our most popular point of reference when discussing the future.
September 19, 2012 |
By Matt Novak
An Ingenious Way of Shaming Politicians Into Fixing Potholes
A group of annoyed citizens in Yekaterinburg, Russia, reached their wits' end with the many potholes dotting city roads, so decided to take action
September 14, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Will Hound Hunting in California Be Banned?
Hunters say that the practice brings to life a natural drama between black bears and canine predators. But to many others, the practice is little more than wildlife harassment
September 13, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
America’s Smaller Cities Are Becoming More Diverse
The U.S. is becoming increasingly diverse outside of its traditional "melting pot" urban centers, according to a new study from Brown University
September 11, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
