Culture

This week, we’ve got stories about altered perceptions, gazing towards the future, and red queens. So, if you’re looking to believe six impossible things before breakfast, come with us. Read More...

From the emerald greens of The Wizard of Oz to the yellow slickers in Singing in the Rain, Hollywood owes a big thanks to three geeks in a railway car. Read More...

Ever wondered what the greatest number of socks ever put on a human foot is? You can actually find that out, thanks to a book imagined by a guy named Hugh Beaver. Read More... 

Thinking about our mortality can change the way we vote, how we dole out punishment, and who we sit close to. Sheldon Solomon tells us about research into this phenomenon. Read More...

There’s a reason you’re giving your cab driver a 20% tip. Author Nir Eyal explains how companies use psychology and technology to squeeze more money from you. Read More...

The mafia, pirates, gangs, and hackers. What can we learn from them? According to author Alexa Clay, turns out a whole lot — including creativity. Read More...

Move over, Britney – there’s a new kind of celebrity in town. American University's Declan Fahy explains the rise of the celebrity scientist, and why they're important to all of us. Read More...

As Medicare turns 50, Yale Professor Jennifer Klein explains how the social program changed America - and why it almost didn’t happen. Read More...

The Internet was supposed to revolutionize democracy and make government more responsive.; so far, that hasn’t really happened. Author Micah Sifry tells us what went wrong, and what could still go right. Read More...

What if you could learn about your relationship by examining big data? Statistician Emma Pierson did just that, by combing through all the emails she and her boyfriend had sent each other over the years. She found some… interesting data points. Read More...