History & Society

History & Society

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

a close up of a cookie monster holding a banana.
As Abraham Lincoln famously said, “If you want to test a man’s character, give him power and a plate of cookies.” (Something like that.)
two hands reaching towards each other in the dark.
Some would say AI is immortal and all-knowing — Godlike, even.
a close up of a blue substance on a white surface.
Marburg virus, like its cousin Ebola, causes severe disease, with fatality rates ranging from 22% to 90%.
A map and timeline of Flight MH370
Instead of giving the 239 suffering families and the public a true story, Netflix exploited a horrifying tragedy to push conspiracy theories.
Albert Einstein and Isidor Kohn
How scientists found out that we live in a cosmic aquarium.
nasa merge black hole
When supermassive black holes merge, they emit more energy than anything else to occur in our Universe except the Big Bang.
a collage of a monkey with a pink triangle
In all mammals, there are two brain pathways for processing information from the eyes: an evolutionarily ancient one and a more modern one.
a pie and a slice of pie on a pink background.
We bake pies for Pi Day, so why not celebrate other mathematical achievements.
Worldwide, 15% of children are born out of wedlock, but the figure varies from less than 1% in places like China to 69% in Iceland.
impact crater
Many impact craters on Earth have been erased thanks to wind, water, and plate tectonics. But scientists have clever ways to find them.
The first "running machine" — later known as the bicycle — symbolizes a key design idea.
pi day cover image
It's the best-known transcendental number of all-time, and March 14 (3/14 in many countries) is the perfect time to celebrate Pi (π) Day!
Virtually anyone can now create convincing deepfakes. That doesn't mean you should.
The nature of civilizational threats has changed in a mere decade.
Green algae on a lake
Civil engineer Martin Lebek has a brilliant plan to redress the world’s phosphorus imbalance.
A map of Paris depicting access to bakeries, pharmacies, and news agents.
Quelle horreur! Paris isn't just a 15-minute city; it's a five-minute city.
Are anti-workers the lazy children of privilege or the brave vanguard of a utopic upheaval?