gear Push settings
Republican ideals have evolved over millennia, shaping governance across the globe. Modern republics continue to adapt, but face challenges in upholding their foundational principles.
Executioners upheld law and order, but their grim profession came with a heavy price.
We like to believe we're in control, but there's much more randomness than we’d like to think.
In the 19th century, a man living in present-day Liberia dreamed of the first script for his native Vai language. Today linguistic anthropologists are digging into the script’s evolution—and what the changes over the past two centuries reveal about human cognition and society.
It's been 50 years since one of the most unethical studies in the history of science was exposed to the public.
Back in the 1830s, one bird’s nonchalant attitude won it the affection of the US Mint.
Sometimes, you just need an icebreaker and some classical music to make your day better.
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin was the first person to realise the abundance of hydrogen in the stars and the universe at large. She would overcome the adversity that faces women in academia to blaze a trail through physics and become one of the most important figures in the history of astrophysics.
Meet the brilliant mathematician who gave us the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.
Archaeologists have finally proven that Romans used black henbane. But how did they use it?
These kitchen dogs were no ordinary pets, but served a special purpose. They ran a wheel that helped their owners cook meat.
The dark story of a 17th-century Hungarian countess and her torturous escapades.
Life experiences, such as high inflation, significantly shape our financial decisions even in other circumstances.
We love carving pumpkins... but why do we do it?
Halloween season is upon us, and this holiday has never been more popular.
Luckily for the Allies, this formidable jet plane wasn't fully completed before the war ended.
It's the most wholesome thing you'll read all day.
Emmy Noether revolutionized our understanding of the universe by linking the concept of symmetry to the fundamental laws that conserve quantities like energy and momentum.
The notorious Blackbeard's sunken flagship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, offers more than just tales of piracy—its treasures expose the desperate measures taken to maintain a crew's health in a perilous era.
Stop worrying about overpopulation. There's something more important that should get your attention.
Rare historical photos of a mind-bending telephone line hub.
During the Great Emu War, Australian soldiers attempted to control the emu population but were ultimately defeated.
This is the outlandish story of cargo cults who build mock airplanes made out of rope and straw so they can claim gifts from their ancestral spirits.
The terms equity and equality are often used interchangeably. But they are not the same.
Even though you look different, you share 99% of the same genes with most other apes.
Some of these are centuries before their time.
Although people call it a theory, it's really just a hypothesis. But -- a very alluring one.
The fact that Marx was able to propose a theory that can still fit so well in today's modern world is remarkable.
Einstein never took an IQ test but some academics have estimated his score based on historical records.
Spoiler: It wasn't Ben Franklin.
Christ was most likely born a few years Before Christ (BC). Which is definitely impressive.
Race is a very weak proxy for genetic diversity. It's something we could do without.
The history of a powerful Christmas symbol.
Ah, Christmas is just around the corner. There’s so much going on with gifts and celebrations and meeting up with loved ones that it’s hard to keep up. Then, of course, there’s Santa Claus. The embodiment of the Christmas spirit, Santa Claus, has undergone quite the metamorphosis over the years, and much of it is […]
How a famous opera proliferated one of the most enduring myths in popular culture.
The unbelievable story of a Bavarian knight who lost a hand in battle but gained a mechanical prosthetic hand that was way ahead of its time.
One of the world's most famous scripts is also one of its most mysterious.
This medicinal plant was so coveted, it was worth its weight in gold. But this ultimately brought its downfall.
Celebrating the work of female scientists.
Russia's nuclear forces have been put on "high alert" after the country decided to invade Ukraine.
A word on the Life and career of one of the first dames of modern astronomy
For centuries, hundreds of oversized heads have looked over this small speck of land. But to what purpose?
There's a reason why the saying 'All roads lead to Rome' is still a thing.
Inuits are undeniably resourceful and capable, but something about this story smells.
The sinister uniform represents a fascinating trip into history, during a time when humans were still struggling to understand infectious diseases.
This spirit had a very busy history.
Not the kill you or doomsday kind of cults, but weird nonetheless.
The condom is more important and storied than most of us realize.
One of the most unique among all ancient empires.
The maze-like underground city resembles an ant colony.
