After waging a thirteen-year revolution against slavery in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, the island’s Black freedom fighters declared their independence on January 1, 1804. In the country’s …

Sin-eater, hokey-pokey man, and pure finder are all actual jobs from the past that no longer exist.

"I have found two or three rich guys, but I found a couple hundred middle class and even some desperately poor people who made it out and left records. And that shocked me."

Albert Camus was a phenomenal French philosopher, playwright, novelist, and political theorist whose works have profoundly influenced 20th-century thought.

By stripping away the fabric tape that’s held zippers together for a hundred years, Japanese clothing giant YKK is designing the future of seamless clothing.

Meet the “criers of the dead,” professional mourners who once roamed medieval towns announcing deaths with bells and prayers. Explore how these strange but vital figures shaped the soundscape of mourn...

Back in April I wrote about Kagi, a premium search engine that I found fixed many of my gripes with the state of the modern internet. Kagi recently launched Kagi News, and it’s designed to make keepin...

In some areas of Japan, they installed special signs that warn that cats may jump out suddenly.Cats first arrived in Japan around the 6th century, likely brought from China or Korea by Buddhist monks to protect temple scrolls from mice. Over time, they became symbols of both good fortune and mystery. In Edo-period folklore, cats were often portrayed as supernatural beings (bakeneko or nekomata) creatures capable of shapeshifting and even avenging mistreatment. Yet they were also cherished as domestic companions, their graceful movements and aloof charm celebrated in art and poetry.In the modern era, this affection has evolved into something close to cultural devotion. The maneki-neko, or “beckoning cat,” is a ubiquitous talisman of luck, found in homes, restaurants, and shops. Contemporary Japan is also home to cat cafés, “cat islands” such as Aoshima and Tashirojima, and an abundance of cat-themed merchandise and mascots.

Near real-time publication of GOES-East and GOES-West images from NOAA/NESDIS/STAR

The Bodleian Library in Oxford brings together manuscripts, photos and notes by the author that demonstrate his meticulousness and research

William Hogarth published a series of satirical engravings ridiculing the existing morals and warning young men and women against destructive life choices.

From “dinosaur” to “galaxy,” these 13 English words with Greek origins reveal how ancient myth and learning shaped modern language.

Too much soybean oil may quietly sabotage gut health, turning a “healthy” fat into a hidden trigger for inflammation.

Bram Stoker’s creative process behind his iconic Gothic novel was shrouded in mystery for nearly a century.

According to linguist David Crystal, once a person has learned to read, it is almost impossible to process the graphic marks that make up a letter as anything but a letter. At some point, we stop l…

From Ithaca to Troy, discover the real places behind The Odyssey, where ancient myths, sun-drenched ruins, and untamed landscapes bring Homer’s epic to life.

YouTube video by Coded Chambers

Dioramas avant la lettre that depict local life in Suriname.

A show at the Society of Illustrators demonstrates his mastery at turning ghastly scenarios deadpan and winkingly absurd.

Which versions of ‘Matilda,’ ‘The Witches,’ and ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ will make the cut?

“Entanglements” March 28 Black cat, amiable visitor, let’s give each other all the pleasure we can, quick, yes, sitting on each other in the sunlight and stroking each other with our hands and face…

Musical instruments are used to create a variety of sounds to evoke emotions. Japanese instruments frequently emulate the sounds of nature.

Three finalists competed in the World Championships of Shoe Shining, where they had 20 minutes to buff a mirror shine on an Oxford shoe.

Japanese literature is rich and complex, with a unique style that endears it to many literary enthusiasts.