🍷 Europe

• 🖨️Reclaiming the Cliché

  What is it that makes the output of large language models and other varieties of generative AI so interesting, and then so boring? For me the most useful operative metaphor for AI’s promise and problems is the cliche.

• 🌉Doves Type

  In 1909 T.J. Cobden-Sanderson laboriously destroyed the renowned typeface he had helped create for the Doves Press, lest it ever be used in mechanized reproduction. The destruction didn't take, though, and these words are set in Doves Type. Here's why I chose it (with fear and trembling) for my own dredged-up, AI-reinvigorated online repository.

• 🕊️Forgiveness

  Exploring the science of forgiveness.

• 🍦Who Invented Ice Cream?

  From ancient China to American tables, uncover the frosty journey of history's favorite frozen delight.

• 🕯️What the World Has to Learn from the Philosophy of Afro-Brazilian Religions

  Explore how Afro-Brazilian religions blend diverse spiritual elements to address modern life’s complexities.

• 🌀What Does a 1,800-year-old Buddhist Classic Have to Say about Quantum Physics and the Nature of Reality?

  A renowned physicist discusses the philosophy of emptiness with the Dalai Lama’s doctor

• 🔗Writers and Intellectuals Under Threat

  A New Toolkit for Activists Fighting to Document Repression and Protect Free Expression

• 🧠Unfolding Quantum Intuition

  Citizen scientists are using gameplay to help scientists understand more about what makes us uniquely human.

• 🌌Space and Time After Quantum Gravity

  String theory, quantum loop gravity, and the philosophy of describing the indescribable

• 🌍Accurately Measuring Religious Belief and Attitudes Around the World

  Want to find out the prevalence of atheism? Maybe don’t ask.

• 📚Bringing the EES to the Classroom

  There’s more to inheritance than genes, and more to adaptation than selection

• 🔬Five Questions with Betül Kaçar

  Join Betül Kaçar as she explores the frontier of astrobiology and ancient DNA, shedding light on life’s cosmic journey and evolutionary constraints.

• 📜Rediscovering the Greek Revolution’s Roots in Classical Liberalism

  Explore the classical liberal roots of the Greek Revolution as KEFiM illuminates the ideals that shaped modern Greece through a dynamic bicentennial campaign.

• 🌉Learning with L’Arche

  The groundbreaking community centered on people with intellectual disabilities will examine how to foster humility and compassionate love

• 🧬Hidden Depths - The ancestry of our most human emotions

  Many of the social virtues we think of as unique to modern humans may have developed far earlier than previously thought.

• 🙏The Philosophy, Theology, and Psychology of Christian Trust in God

  Historical perspective meets cutting-edge practice in new investigations into a central but little-understood aspect of religious life

• 🏺Consciousness and creativity in the Neolithic at Çatalhöyük, Turkey

  Searching one of the world’s oldest settlements for clues about the development of human cognition

• 🕊️The Case of “Secret Society” Religions

  Claiming supernatural power for their members and wielding lasting economic influence, secret societies may represent a key stage in human institution-building

• 🤔Does Self-Giving Love Require an Evolutionary World? Evolutionary Theodicy in Light of the Mystical Tradition

  A harsh natural world may be a necessary condition for the practice of sacrificial love

• 🤔Theologically-Engaged Anthropology

  Anthropologists are sometimes ill-equipped to interpret the religious motivations of their subjects. A new initiative is trying to change that.

• 👵Encouraging independence and enterprise for a healthy old age

  Demographic shifts and rising costs may soon push a number of long-standing social safety nets into peril. An analysis of healthcare in the U.K. and its neighbors explores the problem — and some potential ways forward.

• 📜Articles | Lists, Questions and Culinary Delights

  Over the past few months, I've been diving into the fun facts and intriguing stories of history for the History Channel's website.

• 🎅Who Was St. Nicholas?

  Explore the origins of St. Nicholas, from a miracle-working saint to the inspiration behind Santa Claus.

• 🥧The History of Pumpkin Pie

  Discover the rich history of pumpkin pie, a staple that dates back to 5,500 B.C. and symbolizes American tradition and celebration.

• 🧱How Long Was the Berlin Wall?

  Explore the history and impact of the Berlin Wall, a stark Cold War symbol that split a city and its people for three decades.

• 🏛️What is the world’s oldest democracy?

  Explore the roots and debates surrounding the world’s oldest democracies, from ancient Athens to Viking-led parliaments.

• 🏛️Six Modern Capitals With Ancient Roots

  Explore how six capitals, including Athens and Beirut, have evolved from ancient roots to modern metropolises, blending rich histories with contemporary life.

• 🏆Who Were the First Women to Win Nobel Prizes?

  Explore the pioneering women who shattered Nobel Prize ceilings, from Marie Curie's double win to trailblazers in peace, literature, and medicine.

• ⚡Nine Things You May Not Know About Nikola Tesla

  Discover nine surprising facets of Nikola Tesla's life, from mystical visions to fierce conflicts with Edison.

• 🍔Where Hamburgers Began—and How They Became an Iconic American Food

  Discover the hamburger's journey from ancient Mesopotamia to American icon, tracing its roots through centuries of history and culture.

• 🥫How Canned Food Revolutionized The Way We Eat

  Explore how a 1795 French innovation contest sparked the canned food revolution, forever changing our culinary landscape.

• 🐘Ten Famous Elephants From History

  Explore the colossal impact of 10 historic elephants, from war behemoths to symbols of regal diplomacy.

• 📏Who invented the metric system?

  Discover how French revolutionaries standardized measurements and gave us the metric system, simplifying everything from science to daily life.

• 🐎Eight Surprising Facts about Alexander the Great

  “If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.”

• 📜Articles | European History for History.com

  I had quite a bit of fun writing these pieces on European topics for History.com, exploring figures and events that shaped the continent.

• 🌍Man/Woman/Boy/Girl

  Exploring the juxtaposition of creative discipline and artistic representation in a global context.

• 📖Citation Needed

  Reflecting on the quirks and community-driven nature of Wikipedia's content and editing processes.

• 🎶Secular praise songs from Western Kenya

  A fascinating exploration of The Kawere Boys, a popular Benga group from Kenya, showcasing the interwoven relationships between artist and patron through music in Luo culture.

• 🎶Mix CD | NY/ROBI

  An exploration of the connections between Africa and New York through music, including a unique take on Babatunde Olatunji's "Akiwowo."

• 🎸My charango

  A journey into the world of the charango, a unique Andean instrument, as I reflect on my musical exploration and the cultural significance behind it.

• 🎨Guarding Matisse, photo by Andy Freeberg

  An exploration of the unique experiences of women who oversee Russian art museums, specifically highlighting the patience required to engage with art on a deep level.

• 🎭It creates no wealth or goods

  Exploring the complexities of play, work, and art through Roger Caillois' insights on the nature of leisure and productivity.

• 📚Love and language

  Elif Batuman reflects on her journey through love, literature, and the unexpected choices we make.

• 🎬Subtleties

  Reflecting on the complexities of subtitles and their role in film enjoyment and cultural exploration.

• 👧🏽🎉Play more

  IKEA's PlayReport highlights that kids prefer playing with family and friends over screen time, while parents have a different viewpoint on the purpose of play.

• 🎨The polychromatic Middle Ages

  Exploring the splendid visual motifs of the Middle Ages through the vibrant aesthetic of Auguste Racinet's _L'Ornament Polychrome_, showcasing art from ancient to 18th-century Europe.

• 🍲If you can’t control your moustache ..

  A fascinating collection of proverbs about women and soup from cultures around the world reveals both humorous and thought-provoking insights. Here are some intriguing examples

• 🏘️The bottom of the urban planning bag

  An exploration of how cul-de-sacs contribute to the depersonalization of suburban life and the challenges they pose for walkability in neighborhoods.

• 📚Open Air Library, Magdeburg, Germany

  A thoughtful architectural innovation transforms an unused space into a vibrant community library.

• 🌍The right book at the right time

  A fascinating journey unfolds as Tété-Michel Kpomassie escapes a jungle snake cult in Togo and embarks on his dream to experience the icy landscapes of Greenland.