History & Society

History & Society

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

earthquake
Some of the coastal areas were not repopulated for millennia afterward, showing that there was a long-lasting memory of this tragic event.
Can we stop mass shootings? The first step is collecting data, and these authors have done just that.
dark energy
The Universe is expanding, and the Hubble constant tells us how fast. But how can it be a constant if the expansion is accelerating?
multiverse
Quite a lot, actually, even though it has no identifiable value as a scientific concept.
words for love
You can love a romantic partner, but also a pet, a book, God, or the sound of someone’s voice. We need many more words for love.
Yorkicystis lived during the “Cambrian explosion,” 539 million to 485 million years ago – hundreds of million years before the dinosaurs.
personal branding
Brands manufacture meaning through consensus; people must strive to create their own.
the power of branding
6mins
Branding isn’t buzz — we’ve been doing it for thousands of years.
The ancient Maya enjoyed filling their teeth with gemstones. A new study reveals how the procedure was done and how it didn't kill them.
how many planets
Do you think you know the Solar System? Here's a fact about each planet that might surprise you when you see it!
Mater certissima est – the mother is always certain.
In terms of sheer productivity, “-gate” has no peer. Wikipedia’s list of -gates has over 260 entries.
Does your father say "I love you," or express it in another way?
climate change
Any alien civilization that grows to span an entire planet would spark the same effects that we have. So, what do we do about it?
start-ups
In New Zealand, ambitious Kiwis want to launch a lawn mowing business; in South Africa, it's cooking gas refills. Start-up dreams vary widely.
techno-optimism
Technology will not save the world, and it is inherently neither good nor bad. But, when tech is coupled to human virtue, good will prevail.
jwst
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will study many dangerous cosmic phenomena, knowledge of which may help save humanity.
Two hands in handcuffs, connected by a DNA double helix chain, symbolize genome blindness against a solid blue background.
3mins
Eugenics is bad – but understanding DNA is good.
John Templeton Foundation