Tag Archives: Culture & Society

Why ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’ Frightened So Many Parents in the 1990s

Read about the story behind one of the most banned books for children.

Dark patterns, the tricks websites use to make you say yes, explained

With the advent of more “personalized” ad experiences and the increasing value of personal data, companies have dirty tricks up their sleeves to manipulate users.

Huston middle-schoolers get tangible Civil War lesson

History lessons over the American Civil War are more engaging than ever as students interact with clothing, toys, and other objects from that era.

NASA announces crew for first trip back to the moon in over 50 years

It’s been over half a century since NASA last sent astronauts to the moon, and this crew of brave men and women is the first of its kind.

Since American Revolution, women have played part on front lines

Women in the United States have always been active participants in war efforts, dating all the way back to the American Revolution.

How To Make Eyewitness Testimony More Reliable

Eyewitness testimony can be really important when investigating crimes, but how can we make them more reliable? SciShow looks at the scientific and psychological evidence around several ways in which your memory can fail–and how we may be able to minimize these effects.

How Currency Works

Have you ever wondered just what, exactly, money is? We earn it. We spend it. But why do we all agree that one little piece of green paper is only worth a bag of chips and a different piece of green paper is worth a full, fancy dinner? This article takes a look at currency, what it is, how it got started, and what forms it might take in the future.

An 85-year Harvard study found the No. 1 thing that makes us happy in life: It helps us ‘live longer’

Researchers found that having positive relationships with the people in our lives is a key contributing factor to our overall health and happiness. Click here to learn more.

For Holocaust survivors in the U.S., more than remembrance is needed

Holocaust survivors have incredibly important stories to tell, and it’s imperative we protect those stories, as well as the people behind them.

3,000 migrants begin walk north from south Mexico

In the wake of a tragic fire, migrants rally to end the suffering caused by detention centers.

9 Legends of American Folklore

Words like “myth” and “legend” often make you think of stories from thousands of years ago, but new legends are always being created. America is no exception, with a number of popular myths spreading during the 1800s as the country expanded westward. This article provides a high-level summary of nine of the most well-known American frontier legends–some entirely fictional, but some based on exaggerations around real people and events.

A Brief Introduction to Gothic Literature

You may have heard of ‘Gothic horror,’ but do you know what makes a story ‘Gothic’ or not? This resources provides a quick, high-level breakdown of key elements, themes, and techniques that can earn a story the label of ‘Gothic,’ as well as a few examples of famous Gothic horror stories you can read on your own.

How do you make a mummy? Ancient Egyptians’ surprising formulas revealed

Have you ever wondered how ancient Egyptian mummies remain so well preserved? Recently discovered jars may hold the answer.

The shortest American Civil War summary you’ll ever read

Key dates and events are highlighted in this brief, informative overview of the American Civil War.

Surviving copies of Shakespeare’s First Folio to go on show

Many of Shakespeare’s works might be lost to us forever had they not been preserved in a collection of published manuscripts known as the First Folio.

1776 Musical brings vibrant nontraditional casting of founding fathers to stage at DCPA

Read about how 1776, a musical about the founding fathers, takes on a modern and thought-provoking twist through its most diverse cast to date.

The Dunning-Kruger Effect, or ‘why incompetent people think they’re amazing’

How good are you at basketball? What about playing an instrument? Psychological research suggests we’re not actually very good at evaluating our own abilities accurately. In fact, we frequently overestimate our own abilities thanks to something known as the Dunning-Kruger Effect.

What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it?

Feelings that one is a fraud who doesn’t deserve their success, known as imposter syndrome, is an extremely common phenomenon. Why can’t so many of us shake feelings that our ideas and skills aren’t worthy of others’ attention?