The hidden power of smiling
Source: TED
Your smile can predict how long you live. Would you believe it? Listen to one man give voice to his theory about smiling.
Arts & Entertainment
MIT ‘hackers’ turn Great Dome into Captain America’s shield
Source: The Boston Globe
Learn about a secret society of MIT pranksters and their quest to show their excitement over the release of the new Avengers movie.
Movies may cause special effects on the body
Source: The Chicago Tribune
Watching movies doesn’t just affect our brains; it also affects our bodies. Find out how the effects of horror movies compare with those of other genres.
Bedroom 360 Exhibit
Source: Emily Dickinson Museum
Explore a virtual exhibit of Emily Dickinson’s bedroom. Be sure to click on the information icons to learn more about the objects and surroundings in the author’s life.
15 Magic Tricks You Didn’t Know You Could Do
Source: Mental Floss
Has someone ever asked if you had a trick up your sleeve? The answer can literally be yes if you learn any of the 15 tricks detailed in this article.
Shirley Jackson: the US queen of gothic horror claims her literary crown
Source: The Guardian
Shirley Jackson, author of “The Lottery,” was largely overlooked by critics during her lifetime because she was viewed only as a horror writer. According to this article, she is finally being recognized as an important figure in American literature.
Ursula K. Le Guin Was a Creator of Worlds
Source: Humanities
This article remembers the life and literary accomplishments of science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin, author of “The Wife’s Story,” who learned from her father the importance of being curious about others who are different from ourselves.
Gabriel García Márquez remembers his dearest friend, Julio Cortázar
Source: Lit Hub
Great thinkers can change how we see the world. In 1994, Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez wrote a tribute to Julio Cortázar, author of “The Night Face Up.” The piece begins with the story of a memorable night on a train to Prague. Click this link to read.
8 books that wouldn’t exist without Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’
Source: Electric Literature
Learn about some of the literary offspring of one of the earliest horror stories.
A beautiful voice and cultural bridge
Source: CBS News
How did a young African American boy from Oakland become a featured performer in Chinese opera? Find out what the cultures share.