Author Archives: Hilary Woods

Coming from nothing makes giving all the more important to refugees

A group of adult students are giving to other refugees who are just arriving in the United States. Having been in their shoes themselves, they do everything they can to make the transition easier for others.

Embracing My Chinese-American Identity

An Rong Xu describes how she uses photography and art to explore Chinese-American culture, and what it means to her.

How Cesar Chavez Changed the World

Through hard work and dedication, Cesar Chavez created a labor union for farm workers. His intense desire to make things right came from his own struggles as a child of farm workers.

Overview of the Gilded Age

In this online digital museum, you will find information and interesting facts about the Gilded Age. Be sure to browse through the various tabs to learn about the people, music, and film of the time.

10 Offbeat Things Humans Have Launched into Space

Did you know that Buzz Lightyear has really been to space? Most of the more than 100 space trips have included an odd item or two on board. Read to find out more about the interesting, and sometimes wacky, items that have traveled to space.

I’m an engineer, not a cheerleader. Let’s abandon silly rules about gender roles.

In this article, 17-year-old science student Sara Sakowitz shares her experience being a girl who loves science.

Why First Amendment still matters to students

At age 13, Mary Beth Tinker wore a black armband to school and ended up in court over her freedom of speech. Now, 48 years later, Tinker is traveling the country to talk to students about their first amendment rights.

The Benefits of Optimism Are Real

In this article, Emily Esfahani Smith examines two films, Silver Linings Playbook and Life of Pi, to delve into the relationship between optimism and resilience.

The Most Amazing Optical Illusions (and How They Work)

Thanks to modern neuroscience, we can understand the brain processes that take place we encounter some visual illusions. Explore this collection of popular illusions and find out how they work.

Holocaust survivors reunite with the woman who cared for them after the war

Andra and Tatiana Bucci, who were 4 and 6 years old when they were taken to a concentration camp, traveled to the U.S. as adults to reunite with their former caregiver, a kind woman they called “Manna.” Read this article about the reunion.

Professor Says He Has Solved a Mystery Over a Slave’s Novel

Gregg Hecimovich, a professor of English in South Carolina, may have successfully identified the woman who wrote The Bondwoman’s Narrative. The novel is thought to be the first written by an African-American woman. Until now, no one knew the author’s true identity.

The Benefits of Digging in the Dirt

In this article, Laura Wright Treadway, environmentalist and mom, talks about the importance of playing—and learning—outdoors.

Chimps Can’t Cook, But Maybe They’d Like To

According to new research, chimps have all the brainpower needed to cook — except for the ability to control fire. Read about it here.

One Man’s Epic Quest to Visit Every Former Slave Dwelling in the United States

Joseph McGill, Jr., a descendant of slaves, has slept in 41 of the remaining slave dwellings so far. He hopes to bring awareness to the small buildings that housed slaves before the buildings all disappear.

Can early computer science education boost number of women in tech?

Computer engineering and related fields are historically—and continue to be—dominated by men. Many universities are now looking to increase the number of women who graduate with programming degrees.

The emergence of nature phobias: Why more people are afraid of the outdoors

As more and more people live in urban areas and have limited exposure to the outdoors, more people are becoming afraid of nature. Read this article to find out about the dangers of nature phobias on people and the planet.

Before Rosa Parks, A Teenager Defied Segregation On An Alabama Bus

Meet Claudette Colvin, the teenager who inspired Rosa Parks.

Abigail Adams, Founding Mother

In this review of Woody Holton’s book Abigail Adams, we learn more about the First Lady who often reminded her husband to “remember the ladies.” Although the changes of her time had yet to extend to women, Abigail Adams was standing up for her own and other women’s rights.