Books
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Teen ‘Sick-Lit’ Should Leave Parents Feeling Queasy
The newly defined genre of "teen sick-lit" is awash with tear-jerking stories of ill adolescents who seek only to find the love of their life during their final days, but researchers say it reinforces negative stereotypes of the ill
August 29, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Fake Science: A 100% Fact-Free Alternative
Who needs accurate information when you can simply make it up? A fake scientist explains
August 28, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
“Paleo” Isn’t Extinct Yet
After a long hiatus, the series Paleo returns in webcomic form
August 27, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
Data Mining the Classics Clusters Women Authors Together, Puts Mellville Out On a Raft
A new macroanalysis method compares thousands of books in order to identify systems of influence, school of thought or other groupings that human scholars might have missed
August 27, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Is Portland, Oregon the Best City for Bikes in the Country?
With dedicated bike lanes and businesses catering to cyclists, the Oregon city is a true pedaler's paradise
August 22, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
Today We Celebrate the Short, Unhappy Life of H.P. Lovecraft
"Weird fiction" fans toast today to the birth of Howard Phillips Lovecraft, aka H.P. Lovecraft
August 20, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
From the Page to the Plate: Bringing Literary Dishes to Life
Authors like Roald Dahl or James Joyce never could have predicted that their words could be spun into these tantalizing meals
August 20, 2012 |
By Jeanie Riess
Through the Lens of Cosmo Covers: Remembering Helen Gurley Brown
With her magazine, the longtime editor sold sex as well as the latest, often provocative fashions
August 17, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
The Scene of Deduction: Drawing 221B Baker Street
From pen-and-ink sketches to digital renderings, generations of Sherlock Holmes fans have undertaken to draft a version of the detective's famous London flat
August 14, 2012 |
By Jimmy Stamp
The History of the Exclamation Point
Everyone likes to complain that we're using too many exclamation points these days. Here's where the punctuation came from.
August 09, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Artists Bring Dinosaurs Back to Life
A forthcoming book showcases the best of modern dinosaur art
August 08, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
A Modern Sherlock Holmes and the Technology of Deduction
A modern Sherlock Holmes requires a modern tool. Today, his iconic problem-solving magnifying glass has been replaced by the indispensable cell phone
August 02, 2012 |
By Jimmy Stamp
More Great Books and Where Best to Read Them
A continuation of last week's list of the author's favorite reads
July 27, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
How Aldous Huxley, 118 Today, Predicted the Present Far More Accurately than George Orwell
One of the pillars of science fiction would have turned 118 today.
July 26, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Deerstalker: Where Sherlock Holmes’ Popular Image Came From
The literary detective's hunting cap and cape came not so much from the books' author as from their illustrators
July 26, 2012 |
By Sarah C. Rich
Great Books—and the Best Places to Read Them
Reading while traveling can serve as a sensory supplement to one's surrounding environment. Here's a list of some of my favorite books and where to read them
July 21, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
The Mystery of 221B Baker Street
Our series on Design and Sherlock Holmes begins with an investigation into the location of the famous detective's London flat
July 18, 2012 |
By Jimmy Stamp
The Swimsuit Series, Part 4: A Competitive Swimmer’s Musings
In Leanne Shapton's Swimming Studies "Bathing" chapter, there's a story behind every suit
July 17, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
Round 1 of the Dinosaurs vs Aliens Throwdown
Does the first issue of Dinosaurs vs Aliens live up to the hype?
July 12, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
Packing List Series, Part 1: Joan Didion
In 1979, "The White Album" gave smart women a straightforward guide to what to bring on a trip
July 11, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
