Humanities
Critical analysis and thought in the fields of history, law and philosophy
Archaeologists Discover 1000-Year Old Hyper-Caffeinated Tea in Illinois
Unearthed from a site near modern day St. Louis, Missouri, archaeologists found tea residue in pottery beakers that dates back to as early as 1050 A.D.
August 08, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Iconic American Buffalo are Actually Part Cow
Though plains bison are icons of America's cowboy past and rugged West, new research findings show that most of the mighty buffalo have common cow ancestors from the 1800s.
August 08, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Old School Games Make a Comeback – How Arcades and Rubik’s Cubes Are Becoming Cool Again
In Brooklyn, you can drink beer while you do just about anything at some themed bar. Shuffleboard, darts, pool, mini-golf, horror movies, steampunk, old school arcade games; you name it and you can find it. And now the hipsters have an unlikely ally: Rubik’s cube obsessives. Together, this not-so-odd couple is bringing back the games [...]
August 08, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Swimsuit Series, Part 5: Olympic Athletes, Posing
Vintage styles cycle in and out of favor among medal-winning racers
August 08, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
Julia Child’s Italian Tour: Angering Chefs and Riding on Motorcycles
Author Bob Spitz recounts his trip traveling through Italy with the culinary legend
August 06, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Landing Curiosity on Mars was Way Harder and Way Less Expensive than the Olympics
Landing a car-sized rover on a distant planet using a sky crane is really hard, and really awesome.
August 06, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Only Footage of Mark Twain in Existence
This silent film footage was taken in 1909 by Thomas Edison at Mark Twain's estate
August 06, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
170 Years of America’s Evolution In One Animated Gif
In one click, the drifting lines and changing colors take you through 170 years of history.
August 03, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
I Put Ice in My Wine Because You Don’t Serve it at the Right Temperature
Is there one perfect temperature to serve red or white wine? Perhaps not, but here are some good guidelines
August 02, 2012 |
By Kat J. McAlpine
The Double Dinosaur Brain Myth
Contrary to a popular myth, dinosaurs didn't have butt brains
August 02, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
Old-Timey Olympians Show How Things Have Changed
Clendenin's photos evoke the feeling that for all the changes seen by the modern Olympic games, the athletes themselves could easily be transposed across time.
August 01, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
What the Heck is a Chork?
The new trend of modifying cutlery has a new look with the Chork, which combines the scandalous fork with age-old chopsticks to produce a seemingly more effective modern hybrid
August 01, 2012 |
By Ayesha Venkataraman
Vietnam’s Dogs are Both Humans’ Best Friends and Snacks
In Vietnam, dog lovers had best keep their pooches behind high, locked fences if they don't want their pets to wind up boiled in a pot, served fried with a sprig of cilantro or twirling over a barbecue pit.
August 01, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Read a 2007 Essay in Smithsonian by Gore Vidal, Last Writer of His Kind
Why more writers should be as fearless, and as prickly as Vidal.
August 01, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
"The Flying Housewife" of the 1948 London Games
Voted female athlete of the 20th century, Fanny Blankers-Koen won four gold medals while pregnant with her third child
July 31, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
Why Experts are Almost Always Wrong
No one, not even the experts, really knows what's about to happen.
July 31, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
A Brief History of Hidden Dinosaurs
Even though scientific interest in dinosaurs is relatively new, our species have been puzzling about the prehistoric creatures for centuries.
July 30, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
When LBJ Ordered Pants From the White House
Johnson liked his Haggar slacks slack—and colorfully described a special custom-cut
July 30, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
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
If Syria Uses Chemical Weapons, Here’s How They’ll Work
Amidst the turmoil of an ongoing civil war, Syrian President al-Assad has been threatening to use chemical weapons if faced with international intervention.
July 26, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
