A brief history of black names, from Perlie to Latasha
A scholar disproves the long-held assumption that black names are a recent phenomenon.
January 23, 2020
553
Arts
If the Romance Writers of America can implode over racism, no group is safe
The group seemed to be doing all of the right things to diversify its ranks. It wasn't enough.
January 22, 2020
442
Bill de Blasio's bagel gaffe and the fraught politics of food
Food might seem like an easy way to appeal to the masses. But when politicians wade into local food customs, they do so…
January 18, 2020
795
Why teen depression rates are rising faster for girls than boys
New research finds that the different ways boys and girls use digital technology might explain the discrepancy.
January 16, 2020
442
'Uncut Gems' celebrates Manhattan’s Diamond District, a neighborhood that's a window into the past
Surrounded by skyscrapers and high-end boutiques, 47th Street continues to operate like an Old World bazaar, with million-dollar…
January 14, 2020
471
Weinstein jurors must differentiate between consent and compliance – which research shows isn't easy
As the Harvey Weinstein trials start, a psychology scholar explains why jurors may be biased on the question of consent.
January 10, 2020
754
We're living in the bizarre world that Flaubert envisioned
Is a 19th-century French author’s cosmic joke turning into a real-life global nightmare?
January 10, 2020
483
Matching Vietnamese brides with Chinese men, marriage brokers find good business – and sometimes lov
China has 24 million more men than women of marriageable age, putting some bachelors in a tough spot. Some are now looking…
January 10, 2020
838
For linguists, it was the decade of the pronoun
Pronouns rarely, if ever, change. Then along came the gender nonbinary 'they,' which was just anointed ‘word of…
January 8, 2020
462
The dark side of supportive relationships
Your partner might think they're providing valuable encouragement, but a new study shows how it can backfire.
January 7, 2020
449
How to use habit science to help you keep your New Year's resolution
It's incredibly difficult to will away bad habits. But two simple strategies can make things easier.
January 3, 2020
448
3 internet language trends from 2019, explained
As the year winds down, we'll get you up to speed. Plus, there's no better way to kill a trend than to bring it…
December 23, 2019
701
Exploring the data on Hollywood's gender pay gap
A new analysis of over 400 actors shows that gender discrimination plays a major role in Hollywood salaries.
December 20, 2019
478
How old would you want to be in heaven?
Most religions depict the afterlife as Club Med for young people.
December 19, 2019
958
Nonprofits that empower leaders of color are more apt to do something about racial inequality
Leaders like Ford Foundation President Darren Walker are the exception.
December 19, 2019
759
How Crisco toppled lard – and made Americans believers in industrial food
Crisco's main ingredient, cottonseed oil, had a bad rap. So marketers decided to focus on the 'purity' of factory…
December 18, 2019
502
The dangers of depicting Greta Thunberg as a prophet
Some have started to frame Thunberg's activism in messianistic terms – and this can serve as fodder for climate deniers.
December 12, 2019
470
‘Richard Jewell’ is only the latest film to depict a female journalist trading sex for scoops
The persistence of this trope might say something about the barriers women in media continue to face.
December 12, 2019
441
Like 'Little Women,' books by Zitkála-Šá and Taha Hussein are classics
Reading books from people with diverse backgrounds is good for kids.
December 11, 2019
784
NPR is still expanding the range of what authority sounds like after 50 years
From the beginning, National Public Radio vowed that it would speak with 'many voices.'
December 6, 2019
532