Culture & Society

How the Costumes of ‘American Born Chinese’ Straddle Fantasy and Reality

Source: CNN

The imprint of Greek and Roman mythology is all around us, from the names of our shoes (Nike, the goddess of victory) to the names of the planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, etc). And maybe a certain recent movie series has made you familiar with a little Norse mythology, like Thor and Loki, too. Now a new show is introducing Western audiences to Chinese mythology. Find out how costume designers approached dressing ancient Chinese gods for a modern American audience.

Future Filters: Giving Young People a Voice in Policymaking

Source: Institute for Global Change

Young people are largely unrepresented in policymaking, but some countries and organizations are looking to change that.

What is the Future of Communication?

Source: How Stuff Works

There was a time when there was no written language and almost all communication was spoken. Even when language evolved, it was often written on stone and not very portable until the invention of paper. History is full of such advances. Even the now ubiquitous smartphone was thought to be science fiction just a couple of decades ago. But have you ever asked yourself what advances may come next?

Kentucky Man Finds ‘Hoard’ of Civil War Gold Coins Worth Millions in Cornfield

Source: The Guardian

Extremely rare Civil War era coins both represent and make history. Read about how gold coins discovered in a Kentucky cornfield mark a significant historical moment.

Shakespeare-Fan King Charles Celebrates 400 Years Since the First Folio

Source: Reuters

Shakespeare, an iconic figure in English history, is celebrated and beloved by another significant English figure, King Charles. Read about how and why King Charles celebrates the 400-year anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio.

Was the Last Battle of the American Revolution Fought in India? A Growing Number of Historians Think So

Source: CNN

For centuries, history books have told us that the Battle of Yorktown was the final victory of the American Revolutionary War. However, many historians now believe the last battle was fought on an entirely different continent.

Why Popcorn Tastes Better When You Eat It with Chopsticks

Source: The Irish News

How do you make something old and familiar feel fresh and new? Science suggests the trick is to interact with it in new ways. Something as simple as eating popcorn–but doing so with chopsticks–can result in people rating the popcorn as tastier and more enjoyable than eating the same popcorn with their hands. Read the article and think of ways you may make things you already own feel new again.

Tales of Migration Explore Modern-Day Odysseys and ‘Hyphenated Identities’

Source: WUWM

Many contemporary authors are inspired to explore the themes of immigration. Often drawing from their own experiences, they write about meeting different kinds of people and reconciling the past with the future.

What happens in the brain when you learn a language?

Source: The Guardian

One great way to expand your worldview is to learn a new language. It turns out that the benefits of doing so reach far beyond simply being able to communicate with more people.

How Anne Frank’s Diary Changed the World

Source: Smithsonian Magazine

See pages from Anne Frank’s diary with explanatory notes in this excerpt from the book 100 Documents That Changed the World.