Explore the connections between the rhythms and ideas in Shakespeare’s plays and hip-hop music with British MC Akala, artistic director of The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company.
Author Archives: Mikki Gibson
America’s War on Language
As the United States entered World War I, fear of the enemy sparked suppression of the German language, resulting in effects that linger a century later.
Illusion: Nothing is as it seems
Take a look at the video for an exhibition that illustrates the theme of illusion at the Science Gallery, Dublin, Ireland. Our brains play a big part in helping us interpret the information we take in through our five senses. But the information we take in is not necessarily how our brains put the pieces together.
Do You Believe in Magic?
Why would the citizens of the small town depicted in “The Lottery” persist in the ritual the story describes? It’s human nature to cling to superstitions.
Causes and Effects of Hurricanes
Learn all about some of the most powerful natural disasters on earth.
Rings, dwarves, elves, and dragons: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Old Norse influences
J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpieces of fantasy, including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sprang from the rich storytelling traditions of the far north.
Richard and Mildred Loving Interview
Like Romeo and Juliet, Richard and Mildred Loving married despite overwhelming opposition to their relationship. But this mild-mannered Virginia couple’s love changed the law of the land. Watch an interview from the time of their Supreme Court victory.
Earth’s Magnetic Field Flip Could Happen Sooner Than Expected
If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that north is north, right? Not so fast.
Vigorous Exercise May Help Prevent Vision Loss
It may seem strange, but giving your muscles a good workout can actually contribute to keeping your eyesight strong as well!
Police geese: A Chinese crime-fighting plan isn’t quite as ridiculous as it sounds
Fighting crime isn’t just for dogs. Learn about another animal that can be trained to stop “fowl” deeds.
The night I helped my mother escape North Korea
Read an excerpt from the memoir of a woman who managed to escape from one of the most repressive regimes in the world. In this passage, she helps her mother escape while her brother faces a difficult choice.
The Desegregation of Sturgis High School
What was the first day of school like for the eight African American students who first attended one all-white Kentucky school?
East Aleppo’s last hospital destroyed by airstrikes
Even in a war zone, a hospital is supposed to be a safe place; but the lives of doctors and the patients they work to save are increasingly at risk.
Apartheid’s roots: The Natives Lands Act
Apartheid, the system of racial segregation that controlled South Africa until the 1990s, was set in place through a law from over a century ago that unfairly allotted land.
The Primitive, Complicated, Essential Emotion Called Fear
You and a mouse aren’t all that different when it comes to the way our brains experience fear.
8 animals helping humans save the planet
From rats to rubber duckies, you might be surprised to learn how animals (both real and man-made) are helping to reduce our impact on the earth.
Krubera Cave—The World’s Deepest Cave
Discover the challenges and wonders of exploring a cave over a mile deep in this first-hand account.
Opinion: We Didn’t Domesticate Dogs. They Domesticated Us.
How did prehistoric wolves gradually become domesticated dogs? The authors of the book The Genius of Dogs offer their view.
The Benefits of Fear
We expend a lot of effort trying to get over our fears, but some fears are healthy.
Oscars: “The Look of Silence”
Movies can be more than just entertainment. One recent documentary shines a light on state-sanctioned oppression and murder in Indonesia.