Why we love big, blood-curdling screams
The human scream – a response we share with our primate relatives – is more nuanced than you might think.
October 28, 2019
465
Arts
Day of the Dead: From Aztec goddess worship to modern Mexican celebration
It may sound like a solemn affair, but the Day of the Dead – which blends indigenous and Catholic ritual – is a convivial…
October 28, 2019
785
David Lynch's chillingly prescient vision of modern America
The famous director is receiving an honorary Oscar, and the timing couldn't be more appropriate.
October 25, 2019
477
How steak became manly and salads became feminine
In the early 20th century, women's food started being described as 'dainty,' meaning fanciful but not filling.
October 24, 2019
529
If you’re using 'millennial' as a meaningful measurement, you should probably stop
Millennials are now between about 23 and 38 -- and the group is more diverse than it often gets credit for.
October 22, 2019
489
Have we become too paranoid about mass shootings?
You're just as likely to be a victim of a mass shooting as you are to be struck by lightning. So why do nearly 50% of…
October 22, 2019
559
Your political views can predict how you pronounce certain words
How members of America's two parties view the country – and its place in the world – might explain this phenomenon.
October 21, 2019
484
How gambling built baseball – and then almost destroyed it
Up until the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, gambling and baseball had a marriage of convenience. A century later, gambling is again…
October 16, 2019
482
Why more places are abandoning Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples' Day
The official celebration of Native Americans represents the fruits of a decades-long effort.
October 10, 2019
547
3 questions about vodka, answered
To celebrate National Vodka Day, a food historian debunks myths and highlights unknown facts about one of America's…
October 3, 2019
581
The Beatles' revolutionary use of recording technology in 'Abbey Road'
As the album celebrates its 50th anniversary, an expert in sound recording details how the band deployed stereo and synthesizers…
October 1, 2019
514
Curious Kids: Why do old people hate new music?
Music doesn't get objectively worse over time. So why do older generations scoff at each new top 40 hit?
September 26, 2019
475
Could climate change fuel the rise of right-wing nationalism?
Some view a retreat from democracy and the escalating effects of climate change as an unfortunate coincidence. But a new…
September 25, 2019
790
4 reasons why we'll never see another show like 'Friends'
Since 'Friends' premiered 25 years ago, both the television industry and the sitcom genre have undergone huge transformations.
September 20, 2019
562
A digital archaeologist helps inaccessible collections be seen
Davide Tanasi, a digital archaeologist, thinks it's a pity when historical artifacts are locked away in storage. He's…
September 19, 2019
544
'Chernobyl' shows how mass mobilizations saved Europe and doomed the Soviet Union
Most of the time, these operations were not urgent – unlike the one following this disaster that summoned some 600,000…
September 19, 2019
509
We're increasingly bombarded with choices – and it's stressing us out
Freedom of choice is a pillar of Western culture. But can too much of it be a bad thing?
September 19, 2019
497
Is it even possible to connect '13 Reasons Why' to teen suicide?
Over the past decade, more teens are attempting suicide. The trend has vexed researchers, but it that much more difficult…
September 17, 2019
487
The bizarre social history of beds
Today's beds are thought of as bastions of privacy. But not long ago, they were the perches from which kings ruled and…
September 13, 2019
577
An artist's journey into the science of sweat
What is the smell of sweat? An artist recreates the pungent body odor as an art installation.
September 12, 2019
793