In this article, technology and innovation researcher James Bessen discusses how the inventions of the Industrial Revolution may influence the innovations of today.
Tag Archives: Culture & Society
‘Shadow Divers’: True Story of Solving WWII Mystery
The quest undertaken by John Chatterton and Richie Kohler to identify a sunken ship they came to believe was a German U-boat from WWII was a huge risk in many ways. Listen to Robert Kurson, author of the book Shadow Divers, talk about why the two men pushed themselves beyond their limits to solve this mystery.
Sherpas Take Steep Risks for Life-Changing Pay
For Sherpas working as professional guides on Mount Everest, a bad day at work can result in death. Though the Sherpa people have worked as mountain guides for over a hundred years, no one can deny how dangerous the job is, especially in light of the most recent accident on Everest which killed 10 Sherpas in a single day.
Science of Love: Heartbreak
We use the word heartbreak to describe what it feels like when love is lost, but what actually happens to the body during this process? Watch this short video to learn about some of the science behind a broken heart.
Dogs at War: Smoky, a Healing Presence for Wounded WWII Soldiers
Corporal Bill Wynne had a special bond with his dog, Smoky. That bond helped Wynne recover from a serious illness during WWII. Smoky and Wynne later spent years touring hospitals together, helping other ill or wounded soldiers heal.
Holocaust Remembrance Day Grows Roots: Anne Frank & the Sapling Project
Anne Frank saw the chestnut tree that stood outside of her window as a symbol of beauty, despite the ugliness that pervaded the world around it. Read about how the Anne Frank Center USA’s Sapling Project is giving new life to this special tree and all it stands for.
Scientists study the thrill of a chill
What is it that makes certain types of fear fun? Researchers have uncovered a few explanations for the attraction of a good scare.
150 Years Later, Newspaper Retracts Gettysburg Address Diss
President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address is one of the most influential speeches in our nation’s history. It’s hard to believe, but when it was first delivered in 1863, one newspaper wrote that the speech was nothing more than “silly remarks.” Now, more than 150 years later, the paper has apologized for its dismissive words.
Letting it go: Take responsibility, make amends, forgive yourself
A recent study by Baylor University psychology researchers shows that people are more likely to forgive themselves if they gain forgiveness from the people they wronged.
Meet McKenna Pope, ‘Foot Soldier’ challenging gender stereotypes
In this interview, McKenna Pope shares how and why she petitioned a giant toymaker to change the way they create and market one of their top-selling toys.
19 Native American Authors You Need to Read
This list compiles some of the best Native American writers, including Sherman Alexie and Joy Harjo. Which author are you most interested in reading?
Atlantis—True Story or Cautionary Tale?
The legend of the lost island city of Atlantis is thousands of years old. But is it true? This article explains some of the theories behind Atlantis, and what the story of the city may really mean.
Romeo, Romeo, what’s Julian Fellowes done to you?
Julian Fellowes’s film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet has drawn criticism for altering the lines of Shakespeare’s most famous love story. Read the article to find out why critics and scholars feel that Fellowes’s adaptation is misleading.
‘Life is beautiful’
Alice Herz-Sommer was the oldest known Holocaust survivor until her death at the age of 110. She was also much more: a talented pianist, a friend of famous literary figures, a subject of biographies and documentary films, and an unrelenting optimist.
A Jazzed-Up Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes made his voice heard by writing poetry about the African American experience. One of those poems has become the core of a multimedia jazz performance, helping young people hear Hughes’s voice in a new way. Read about the performance, watch a video clip, and see pictures from a rehearsal.
Participatory Theater
Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding new ways to help end conflict around the world. In SFCG’s participatory theater program, actors interact with audiences for whom conflict is an inescapable part of everyday life. Watch this video to find out more about the program.
“I Will be Heard!”: Abolitionism in America
Americans known as abolitionists played a crucial part in the fight to end slavery in the United States. This site offers a wealth of information about abolitionists and their cause as well as art and personal narratives from former slaves.
Woman with Down syndrome prevails over parents in guardianship case
People struggle for freedom and equal rights in many different ways. Jenny Hatch is a woman with Down syndrome who recently won the right to decide where and how she lives, after having had that right taken away from her for over a year.
Art in the aftermath: healing the victims of trafficking and slavery
For many victims of human trafficking and slavery, art can be an important part of the healing process. In this article, we learn about why art matters and how it can help.
Opinion: Remove the blindfold, fight injustices when they occur
In this piece, Jan Urbano, a senior at the University of Tennessee, shares his opinion about the importance of fighting against injustice, rather than turning a blind eye. Do you agree or disagree with his thoughts?