History & Society

History & Society

Trace how culture, power, and ideas shape societies across time.

Map highlighting an area in Europe, centered on the Netherlands and surrounding countries, with a red overlay labeled "PDF.
Common knowledge says the maximum size of a PDF is as big as 40% of Germany — but that’s a gross underestimate.
A retro computer displays a ghost on the screen as pixelated chains drift across the foreground, reminiscent of a scene from a Ken Liu short story. This digital haunt unfolds against a vivid orange background.
The first in a series of short stories by the Hugo- and Nebula-winning author that inspired the cult hit "Pantheon."
A colorful, spinning galaxy with a bright orange core, existing for 12 billion years, is surrounded by smaller galaxies and star clusters against a black space background.
Large, massive, rotating galaxies like the Milky Way are common today. So how could one form a mere ~2 billion years after the Big Bang?
A close-up of an oiled muscular arm flexing on the left and a vibrant peacock feather with blue and green hues, symbolizing sexual selection, on the right, both set against a stark black background.
Science writer Matt Ridley joins us to discuss how “Darwin’s strangest idea” makes us all a bit feather-brained (in a good way).
Abstract design featuring the words "The Nightcrawler," red palm trees, a stylized map, and a large apple symbol—all compelling you to rethink modern aesthetics.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
globular cluster terzan 5
For centuries, even after we knew the Sun was a star like any other, we still didn't know what it was made of. Cecilia Payne changed that.
A graph titled "The Long Boom 2000-2025" shows intersecting curves from 1975 to 2025, depicting a transition from an old to a new world. Text reads "I was here" at the intersection around 2005.
The latest from Peter Leyden's "The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050", an essay series published by Freethink.
A satin bowerbird stands on the ground, artfully surrounded by blue objects like an artist's palette, with dried twigs in the background, a testament to nature's evolution.
In his book, "Birds, Sex and Beauty," Matt Ridley explores why learning isn't always nature versus nurture.
Colorful galaxy with dark dust lanes and bright stars, set against a deep space background.
Someday, we'll look back and see a young galaxy forming stars for the first time. JADES-GS-z14-0, the farthest ever, isn't early enough.
Yellow background with halftone globe and bold text: "The Great Progression 2025-2050.
Tech expert Peter Leyden argues that we have a historic opportunity to harness AI and other transformative technologies in order to make a much better world over the next 25 years.
round Earth messenger
All scientific theories are limited in scope, power, and application, being mere approximations of reality. That's why consensus is vital.
Collage featuring a historical emergency hospital photo, a palm tree silhouette, and an L.A. County fire helicopter soaring above the cityscape—a testament to build better, resilient urban landscapes.
The history of catastrophe shows that true resilience comes not from restoration, but from reinvention.
A grid of six Hubble Space Telescope images showcases different types of colorful nebulae with intricate shapes against a starry backdrop.
Some nebulae emit their own light, some reflect the light from stars around them, and some only absorb light. But that's just the beginning.
A tilted spiral galaxy gracefully tipped towards the viewer reveals a bright core and dark, dusty rings, set against the infinity of deep blue space.
When we see spiral galaxies, some are face-on, others are edge-on, but most are tipped at an angle. But which side is closest to us?
A red star is at the center, with five orbiting paths marked by yellow dots, resembling exoplanets around the nearest single star, set against a starry night backdrop that illustrates a planetary system.
Barnard's star, the closest singlet star system to ours, has long been a target for planet-hunters. We've finally confirmed it: they exist!
A group of five men in suits pose with model rockets, showcasing their commitment to fundamental research. Beside them, an illustration depicts a space station orbiting Earth and the Moon, highlighting their visionary investment in space exploration.
Back in 1970, Sister Mary Jucunda wrote NASA, decrying large investments in science. A former Nazi's legendary response is still relevant.
Illustration shows a supermassive black hole with a captured star and hypervelocity star, near the Large Magellanic Cloud, with double star orbits labeled. Earth is visible in the foreground.
Just 165,000 light-years away, the Large Magellanic Cloud is suspected to house a supermassive black hole. At last, evidence has arrived.
Green glowing orbs and funnel-shaped structures with light patterns floating in a vibrant green misty background.
There are some 26 fundamental constants in nature, and their values enable our Universe to exist as it does. But where do they come from?
A miniature tank made from rolled and stacked U.S. hundred-dollar bills is displayed on a red background.
By weaponizing the global economy, the U.S. initiated a new era of economic warfare and transformed how major powers compete.