The daring exploits of a legendary hero have captured human imagination for centuries. Read about why Beowulf stays with us.
Author Archives: Mikki Gibson
Reconstruction and Its Aftermath
View artifacts from the Reconstruction era, including artworks, pamphlets, maps, and more.
Tool Use Found in Octopuses
When we think of intelligent animals, we usually think of mammals, such as dolphins and dogs. So it might be surprising to learn that a creature that seems much more primitive—the octopus—is capable of planning, strategizing, and using tools.
Anne, from Diarist to Icon
A professor explores how a teenager who kept a diary has transformed into a symbol of what the Holocaust stole from the world.
Ten Ways to Fight Hate
A civil rights organization shares practical tips for creating unity in the face of conflict.
Ben Franklin’s Famous ‘Liberty, Safety’ Quote Lost Its Context In 21st Century
Benjamin Franklin famously said that those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. What did he really mean?
Would Shakespeare’s poisons and drugs work in reality?
Several Shakespearean plots points, including the climax of Romeo and Juliet, focus on powerful potions. Did the bard dream them up, or might they have really existed?
What happens in the brain when you learn a language?
One great way to expand your worldview is to learn a new language. It turns out that the benefits of doing so reach far beyond simply being able to communicate with more people.
Online social change: Easy to organize, hard to win
Author Zeynep Tufekci looks around the world at how social media can both power freedom movements and weaken them.
How Anne Frank’s Diary Changed the World
See pages from Anne Frank’s diary with explanatory notes in this excerpt from the book 100 Documents That Changed the World.
Re-imagining Shakespeare’s plays in virtual reality game
It’s not likely that you think of Shakespeare and video games at the same time, but that may be about to change!
The History of the American Flag
Learn fun facts about the symbol that represents all Americans, regardless of background or politics.
Dogs Know When You’re Praising Them. That Doesn’t Mean They Understand Human Speech
How much of what you say to your dog is really understood?
The Purges in the USSR
The systematic elimination of people viewed as political enemies is nothing new. Learn about Stalin’s ruthless purges during the 1930s.
Who Decided to Put 60 Seconds in a Minute?
Watch this video to learn how an ancient civilization still influences how we view something as fundamental as time.
Tightrope Between the Towers
The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City were once the tallest buildings in the world. Read about a daring highwire act spanning the tops of these skyscrapers.
‘Going with the Crowd’ Causes Us to Make the Wrong Choices
While it’s often important to get along with others, we sometimes follow the crowd at the expense of common sense.
Holocaust survivor denounces French protesters who compared COVID-19 vaccines to Nazi horrors
Survivors and loved ones of victims of the Holocaust recently pushed back against protesters who trivialized it.
The past is the past? How slavery still benefits white Americans
A sociologist shares the results and repercussions of an in-depth data analysis.
Confederate Pride and Prejudice
Well over a century after the South lost the Civil War, its battle flag is showing up in a surprising place: the North. This article explores the causes and effects.