Have humans ever truly lived in harmony with the natural world? According to recent research, the activities of early human ancestors may have caused animal extinctions, not unlike the way human actions threaten many species today.
Author Archives: Chandler Gifford
Revisiting Ursula K. Le Guin’s Novella About Interplanetary Racism
Notable science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin wrote a novella about a far-off world that reflects the history of racism and colonization on our own planet. Click here to see graphic novelist Ben Passmore’s rendering of this story.
‘Promiscuous treatment of nature’ will lead to more pandemics – scientists
What does cutting down trees have to do with global pandemics like the coronavirus? Click this link to find out.
‘Life may change for us all’: How we respond to the coronavirus crisis will be defining, historians say
Could the coronavirus crisis compel a divided America to become more unified? According to this article, we’re living in “a national defining moment.”
How the news changes the way we think and behave
This article presents the findings of recent research that suggests the news can make us see the world in a negative light, which has a harmful impact on our mental and physical health.
‘Out damned spot’: the Lady Macbeth hand-washing scene that became a Coronavirus meme
How can you tell the works of Shakespeare are timeless? They have a way of showing up in the popular culture of every era, sometimes in surprising ways.
How to Protect Civil Liberties in a Pandemic
COVID-19 has stripped us of some of our basic freedoms, forcing us to stay in our homes, wear masks, and observe social distancing guidelines. Now some people are worried about how government policies crafted in response to the crisis could restrict civil liberties.
Nearly half of all video-gamers are women
Video games have mostly featured male characters, but women are increasingly playing video games as well. Learn how the video game industry is changing to be more inclusive of female gamers.
U.S. immigrants get supersized
In 2011, researchers conducted a study to find out why people often gain weight after moving to the United States. They found that immigrants often choose unhealthy foods because they want to fit in to American culture.
The Courage And Ingenuity Of Freedom-Seeking Slaves In America
In their desperation, runaway slaves found creative ways to hide and escape. This article tells the stories of slaves who shipped themselves to freedom in crates and of others who found safe haven in the Great Dismal Swamp of North Carolina.
When Does Adulthood Really Begin?
What is the biggest step toward becoming an adult? A poll taken in 2015 suggests that many people believe it has to do with financial independence.
Adults are remembering Elie Wiesel. But his testimony mattered most for youths.
Elie Wiesel, author of Night and human rights advocate, died in July of 2016. The author of this opinion post suggests that Wiesel’s work has a particularly strong impact on young people.
This 14-year-old turned down a $30M buyout offer
Have you ever thought about starting your own business? Read to learn about 14-year-old Taylor Rosenthal, whose idea to create a vending machine to sell first aid supplies has made him a successful young entrepreneur.
Poe Taunts Filmmakers Evermore
Edgar Allan Poe’s dark, intense stories seem like they would make great horror movies. Read this article to explore why filmmakers have found it so difficult to capture the essence of Poe’s work on the big screen.
Group Working To Publicize 1867’s ‘Fourth Of July To Remember’
On Independence Day in 1867, an estimated 10,000 African Americans gathered in Lexington, Kentucky, to hear prominent civil rights leaders speak. Read this article for an account of the almost-forgotten event.
Frederick Douglass On How Slave Owners Used Food As A Weapon Of Control
This article examines some of Frederick Douglass’s writings in which he describes how slave owners made use of food (and hunger) as a way of manipulating their slaves.
Is 8th Grade Too Early to Pick a Career?
Think you’re too young to start thinking about your professional life? Read this article to learn about a program in South Carolina that offers career counseling to eighth-grade students.
6 takeaways about teen friendships in the digital age
Check out this article to see the findings of a 2015 report that examined how digital technology affects friendships between teenagers.
Anne Frank Who? Museums Combat Ignorance About the Holocaust
Will Anne Frank ever be forgotten? As the Holocaust fades further into history, some historians are working to make sure that future generations don’t get the facts wrong or lose sight of its importance.
Lovecraft tribute still haunting on a beautiful spring day
In Providence, Rhode Island, birthplace of H.P. Lovecraft, horror fans gather at Ladd Observatory each year to pay tribute to “the father of modern horror fiction.”