It’s easy to think of the two sides in the Civil War as monoliths, in which everyone supported the side where they lived. But many Southerners opposed secession and even fought as part of the Union Army.
Author Archives: Mikki Gibson
The Holocaust Train That Led Jews to Freedom Instead of Death
In the waning days of World War II, a group of prisoners from Bergen-Belsen did something that seemed unthinkable: They boarded a train to leave the camp.
A beautiful voice and cultural bridge
How did a young African American boy from Oakland become a featured performer in Chinese opera? Find out what the cultures share.
The distracted teenage brain
Maybe you’ve played a game for so long that it wasn’t even fun anymore, but you just couldn’t put it down. A psychological study looks at why adult brains and teen brains respond differently to disappearing rewards.
Linda Brown obituary
At age 9, Linda Brown was at the center of a landmark school desegregation fight. Learn about her life and accomplishments.
How frigid polar vortex blasts are connected to global warming
The weather extremes associated with our rapidly changing climate sometimes seem paradoxical. Here’s the explanation for how global warming can put some locations into a deep freeze.
J.K. Rowling wrote a new fairy tale
The author of the Harry Potter series threw herself a birthday party that featured a “lost manuscript” displayed in an unexpected way.
Behold, the power of a good idea!
If you attend a school with a Student Council, consider getting involved! Here are some ways to make a big impact in student government.
Dolphins often seem to want to befriend us — do they know something we don’t?
Even when it doesn’t seem to benefit them, dolphins will often go to great lengths to help and interact with humans. Read about some well-known examples and possible reasons for this behavior.
Cross-cultural bonding leads to higher creativity
Read about a recent study that links in-depth cross-cultural relationships with higher scores on measures of creative thinking.
Teens struggle to combat conformity
A middle-school student shares her thoughts about the challenges today’s teenagers face.
Peer-pressure fears make teens dance to same tune
Why do you love the songs you love? In some cases, the cause might be concern about whether your friends like the same songs.
High score, low pay: why the gig economy loves gamification
How do rideshare companies attract drivers to work unpredictable hours for minimum wage? By turning work into a game.
Holocaust and memory: An alarming new study shows growing ignorance
If it’s true that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat its mistakes, then young Americans may have a big problem.
Stop making second American Civil War clickbait
Pundits from both political extremes sometimes bring up the idea of the United States having a new civil war. Here’s why that’s not going to happen.
How to write a horror story: 6 terrific tips
Have you ever wanted to write your own horror story? Get some practical tips to jump-start your ideas.
Laughter in the Dark: A History of Dark Rides
Early amusement parks may not have had high-tech thrill rides, but they managed to frighten people in simpler ways. Find out about the horror potential of a dangling string and other tricks of “dark rides.”
Fear in Chemnitz
Read about the startling recent rise in neo-Nazi sentiment in one German city.
Psychology says you need to achieve these 3 goals to become an adult
Being an adult is less about obvious markers like driving a car or owning a home and more about the way a person approaches life.
The Importance of Scaring Children
Most of the stories we remember hearing as young children avoid content that is gruesome or unsettling. But some writers feel that it’s healthier to share stories with a more frightening side.