Arts and Humanities
The arts and humanities explore human experience through creative expression and critical analysis of history, literature, philosophy and religion
Why Do Rich People Wear Monocles?
Monocles have been the chosen eyewear of our cartoon rich people for a long time now
December 28, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
A History of Sequins from King Tut to the King of Pop
As you don your sparkly holiday fashions, think of the trend's start in an Egyptian tomb
December 28, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
A 24-Hour Movie That May Be the Biggest (and Best) Supercut Ever
Christian Marclay’s The Clock, now on view at MoMA, puts YouTube mashup artists to shame
December 28, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
The Last Working Copyist in Mali Is Trying To Save Timbuktu’s Manuscripts
180,000 medieval manuscripts are housed in Timbuktu, and only 23,000 of those ancient writings have ever been catalogued
December 27, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Events December 28-30: Ai Weiwei, Lincoln and Andy Warhol
This weekend, two artists and a president walk into a museum, sort of. Learn about Mr. Ai's activist art, explore Lincoln's Indian legacy and hear stories of an enigmatic artist
December 27, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Architecture to Watch in 2013
Whether they're breaking ground or topping off, these are the biggest building projects we'll be watching in 2013
December 26, 2012 |
By Jimmy Stamp
Canada And the United States Are Bickering Over Ownership of a Tiny Island
A tiny island with little more than a lighthouse and some puffins is the center of a border disagreement
December 26, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Think Apple Maps Are Bad? These Cartographics Blunders Were Way Worse
If you think Apple messed up big time, think again. The history of map making is full of far worse blunders
December 26, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Open For Business: The 3D Printed Gun Store
After Makerbot and Stasys pulled support, 3-D gun printers have found help elsewhere, and opened an online database of designs
December 26, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Cosmic Sans: a New Font Space Geeks Will Love to Hate
Merging iconic space imagery with everyone's (least) favorite font
December 26, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Super High Res Photo of Mt. Everest Shows Glacier Melt (But No Bodies)
Photographers from the organization Glacier Works just captured an interactive digital image of Mount Everest in astounding, gigapixel detail
December 26, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
This Beautiful Visualization Makes Prime Factors Dance
"I knew that I should take his lovely little dots and make them dance"
December 26, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
The Children Who Went Up In Smoke
A tragic Christmas mystery remains unsolved more than 60 years after the disappearance of five young siblings
December 25, 2012 |
By Karen Abbott
Was Yasser Arafat Poisoned by Polonium?
In November, the body of Yasser Arafat was exhumed from beneath several feet of concrete to determine whether or not the leader had been poisoned by polonium 210
December 24, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Take a Tour of Victor Hugo's Paris
As a film version of his Les Miserables hits theaters, consider traveling in the French writer’s footsteps
December 24, 2012 |
By Nina Fedrizzi
Frida Kahlo’s Closet Finally Opened for the World
After Frida Kahlo died, her eccentric husband, the painter Diego Rivera, refused to let anyone open her closet. Now, finally, Frida's closet is on display for the world
December 21, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Smithsonian’s Very Own Maestro David Baker is All That’s Jazz
David Baker, the leader of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, steps down, leaving a soaring legacy in his wake
December 21, 2012 |
By Joann Stevens
Slice of Life: Artistic Cross Sections of the Human Body
Artist Lisa Nilsson creates elaborate anatomical illustrations from thin strips of paper
December 20, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Russia Just Voted To Stop Letting Americans Adopt Russian Kids
The Duma - Russia's power house of Parliament - voted in support of a bill that would ban American citizens from adopting Russian orphans
December 20, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
What Will You Be Watching for on Watch Night?
With end-of-year watch and see anxieties lurking, it's important to know that the Watch NIght was a wait for news of freedom
December 19, 2012 |
By Joann Stevens
