tea
How Chileans Turned British Tea Time Into a ‘Fourth Meal’
You might want to try it, too.
All Stories
vaccines
How the 1896 Bombay Plague Changed Mumbai Forever
It reshaped the city and inspired a revolutionary vaccine.
birthdays
Zoos Make Birthday Cakes From Bugs, Bamboo, Melons, and More
Henry the Aldabra tortoise turned 60 with a massive fruit-and-veggie confection.
plastic
These Bugs Armor Themselves in Tiny Shards of Colorful Trash
Caddisfly larvae are adapting to polluted waterways, but their recycling strategy has its drawbacks.
home-cooked history
Make a Colonial American Cocktail With Ale, Rum, and Fire
The smoky, creamy Hot Ale Flip is a testament to crude ingenuity.
obscura academy
Dig This: An Online Field School for Junior Archaeologists
At-home lessons and pro tips could help quarantined kids hit pay dirt.
african-american
How a West African Woman Became the ‘Pastry Queen’ of Colonial Rhode Island
Duchess Quamino was the embodiment of creative survival.
gender
Tips for Responsible Drinking, From 16th-Century Germany
The writer was concerned about the rise of binge-drinking bros.
storms
The Slippery Problem of Measuring Enormous Hunks of Hail
They’re huge, rare, and melting all the time.
pandemic
The Strange, Smelly Chores That Keep Natural History Museums Running
Even during a pandemic, someone's gotta feed the flesh-eating beetles.
coronavirus
The Israeli Hotel Where COVID-19 Recovery Meets Standup Comedy
When every guest is a coronavirus patient, you're allowed to hug, hang out in the lobby, and gather for meals.
agriculture
India’s Mother Earth Cafés Shine a Spotlight on Indigenous Crops
Rural restaurants are providing a market for endangered edibles.
archive
This Vast Photo Archive Is Hidden Inside a Cold, Heavily Guarded Limestone Mine
Over 11 million Getty images are on ice near Pittsburgh.
gambling
All You Need to Play the Alaskan Lottery Is an Ice Guess
The Tanana River's annual melt has thrilled gamblers for over a century.
forensics
Inside the Strange World of Coral Reef Crime Scenes
How scientists and law enforcement officers pioneered a new brand of underwater justice.
taco
How 'Taco Friday' Became a Swedish Tradition
Toppings include pineapples, peanuts, and cucumbers.
quarantine
The Black Death in Venice and the Dawn of Quarantine
Archaeological research is unearthing how the Italian city created a vast public health response 700 years ago.
hygiene
A Brief History of TP, From Silk Road Hygiene to Pandemic Hoarding
An author's end-game expertise has never been more timely.
