In a Word: Bissextus: A Short History of Leap Years
Romans invented the leap day, but they didn’t call it that — and it isn’t the day you think it is.
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In a Word: A Carnival of Names for Mardi Gras
For Christians, the last day before Lent is a time of celebration, and it goes by many names.
The Splendor of Ruins
Archaeological sites have a form and presence never anticipated by the original builders.
The Negro National League Broke More Than One Barrier
As the first league of its type to survive past one season, The NNL proved the viability of a new kind of baseball.
You Be the Judge: No Love Lost
A romance, a divorce and a mortgage. What could go wrong?
News of the Week: Jeopardy Screws Up! Mr. Peanut Dies! A Bold Super Bowl Prediction!
In the news for the week ending January 31, 2020, are a game show mistake, an odd logo, a dead peanut, top-of-the-line football snacks, and more.
We Are the World: 10 Things You Didn’t Know
One song brought together more than 45 artists to fight famine and make history.
“Bear Knob” by Will Levington Comfort and Zamin Ki Dost
“Creatures of the wild move in mysterious ways.”
Hacking Darwin
We are on the verge of perhaps the greatest innovation in the history of our species — a genetically altered future in which many of us will conceive our offspring in labs. If we want to control this future, now is the time to question what we want it to be.
5 Things You Forgot About The Simpsons
Looking Back on 30 Years of Springfield’s Most Famous Family
“The Enchanted Hour” by Sinclair Lewis
“Sometimes it is the face of a woman known long ago; sometimes a high adventure, war or perilous voyaging undertaken in the day when youth was not made irritable by discomfort or anxious by danger; but always to every man there is one vision that is a nucleus for dreams.”
Shut Up and Compost
For the new year, resolve to finally cut down on waste and feed your garden. Hot composting is easier than you think.
The Art of the Post: The Artist Who Kissed a Painting by Botticelli in the Dark
In war-torn Italy, in an abandoned villa outside of Florence, one painter has a transformative moment with a kiss with the goddess of spring.
The 5 Craziest Rankin/Bass Holiday TV Specials
They made holiday classics. Sometimes, they made them weird.
Your Health Checkup: Air Pollution — Your Zip Code Can Affect Your Health
Air pollution is an avoidable risk to health that affects nearly every person on the planet.
“The Thieves of Christmas Eve” by William Fay
“In the plaza, as he entered, Wilbur rejoiced at the Christmas tree that rose gigantically for several floors — its glowing lights bespeaking warmth and good cheer in a cold and unbelieving world.”