Ancient Cultures
The True-Life Horror that Inspired Moby-Dick
The whaler Essex was indeed sunk by a whale—and that's only the beginning
March 01, 2013 |
By Gilbert King
Don’t Believe the Guy Who Claims He’s Descended From Vikings
The good news is that you can probably claim Viking or whatever other heritage of choice you prefer and have a good chance of hitting the mark—without forking over $200
February 26, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Prehistoric Humans Had Better Teeth Than We Do
We have straighter teeth, whiter teeth, more beautiful, shimmery teeth than our parents. But it turns out that we actually have less healthy teeth than our ancestors
February 25, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Scientific American in 1875: Eating Horse Meat Would Boost the Economy
Where did our aversion to horse meat come from, and why did Scientific American think we should eat it anyway?
February 25, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Men Are Better Navigators Than Women, But Not Because of Evolution
Navigational abilities may be a side effect of higher testosterone levels
February 20, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
In the Entire History of the Catholic Church, Only a Handful of Popes Have Resigned
Today, Pope Benedict XVI told the world that he would resign
February 11, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
China’s Terracotta Warrior Army Is Deteriorating
If China doesn't take steps to better preserve the relics, they may eventually turn into dust
February 08, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Archaeologists Found a Mysterious, Dense Cluster of 35 Pyramids in Sudan
The pyramids hail back to the days of the kingdom of Kush, which occurred around 2,000 years ago
February 08, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
How to Revive a Lost Language
By the year 2100, the human race will have lost about 50% of the languages alive today. Every fourteen days a language dies. There are some success stories though
February 08, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Timbuktu’s Priceless Manuscripts Are Safe After All
Rebels set fire to the library, but the precious documents were already gone
February 04, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Scientists Think They’ve Found Richard III’s Body Under a Parking Lot
Researchers announced this morning that the bones found beneath a parking lot in England are likely those of King Richard III
February 04, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
New Research Disproves Prehistoric Killer-Comet Theory (Again)
Maybe the problem here is that other prevailing theories of the Clovis’ decline are just super boring by comparison
January 31, 2013 |
By Lauren Kirchner
People Have Been Eating Curry for 4,500 Years
Thanks to new research methods and a pile of (very old) dirty dishes, archaeologists have discovered the very ancient origins of a globally popular cuisine.
January 30, 2013 |
By Lauren Kirchner
Here’s What Three Mummies Might Have Looked Like While Alive
For the first time in over 2,000 years, these three mummies' faces now stare back at viewers, much as they might have appeared just before their deaths
January 30, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Library Full of Precious Manuscripts Burned in Timbuktu
The main library in Timbuktu is full of cultural relics, manuscripts that have survived since the 1200's hidden in wooden trunks, buried in the sand, and finally housed in the small library. But recent reports from the country say that rebels might have burned that history to the ground
January 28, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Dogs May Have Evolved From the Wolves Who Liked Eating Trash the Most
There may be an evolutionary reason that your dog eats everything, including the trash
January 24, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Sweet Potato Genes Say Polynesians, Not Europeans, Spread the Tubers Across the Pacific
Sweet potato samples preserved in centuries-old herbariums indicate that Polynesian sailors, rather than Spanish or Portuguese explorers, introduced the now-ubiquitous yam across Southeast Asia and the Pacific
January 23, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Geneticist Does Not Seek Woman to Give Birth to Cloned Caveman Baby
Geneticist George Church says he's already extracted enough DNA from Neanderthal fossils to create an embryo, but lacking a uterus himself he needs to find the right lady
January 22, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
In Ancient Rome, Children’s Shoes Were a Status Symbol
From a trove of ancient Roman footwear, a rethinking of military life
January 21, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Inauguration Day 2013
All you need to know for the day: where to eat, rest and what to see
January 21, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
