History
The Ancient Architecture that Defies Earthquakes
Stone buildings in northern India reveal secrets of old structures that could save lives.
The Strange Life of Glass
This essential substance has a history—and future—that’s far from clear.
The Explosive Chemist Who Invented Smokeless Gunpowder
James Dewar, the creator of cordite, likely helped win World War I. But why never a Nobel?
How Was Abortion Understood Historically?
One question for Claudia Ford, an herbalist and midwife turned environmental historian at SUNY.
When the Surgeon Was an Uneducated Barber
A medical student confronts the history of surgery.
Termination of Pregnancy Has Always Been Part of Women’s Health
Plants, prejudice, and history lessons for a post-Roe nation.
One of the Most Egregious Ripoffs in the History of Science
A new history of the race to decipher DNA reveals Shakespearean plots of scheming.
The Disneyfication of Atomic Power
Inside America’s propaganda campaign, “Atoms for Peace,” launched in the wake of Hiroshima.