Ancient Gardens Persist in British Columbia’s Forests

Indigenous-managed landscapes retain higher biodiversity than surrounding areas a century after the people who kept them were displaced.

Jun 9, 2021 | 800 words, about 4 minutes

Whale Bone Weapons Hint at World’s Earliest Coastal Economy

Thousands of years before the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution, a widespread trade network carried large whale bone spears from Spain to France.

May 17, 2021 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

That Time Hitler’s Girlfriend Visited Iceland and the British Invaded

The location of this small island nation, along with its people and economy, played an unexpected and crucial role in the outcome of the Second World War.

May 11, 2021 | 4,500 words, about 22 minutes

For a Peek Inside Wisconsin’s Watery Past, Thank the Microbes

Since its discovery in the 1980s, a fossil site in a Milwaukee suburb has borne some of the best-preserved soft-bodied organisms from the Silurian.

May 5, 2021 | 950 words, about 4 minutes

Making Amends with Makatea

On this French Polynesian island dramatically scarred from mining, locals grapple with whether a new mine will heal or harm the landscape.

May 4, 2021 | 3,100 words, about 15 minutes

An Ancient Turtle Was Just Discovered in the Remains of a Collapsed Church

The rest of the turtle is missing—though there’s a good chance it hasn’t gone far.

Apr 28, 2021 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

The Unlikely Success of Fish Sticks

From unappetizing “fishbricks” to cultural darlings, the 1950s convenience food has enjoyed a winning streak—no less so than during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apr 23, 2021 | 1,100 words, about 6 minutes

The Sunken Dinosaurs of Alberta

A massive graveyard lies at the edge of an ancient sea. What caused so many horned dinosaurs to perish on the coast?

Apr 21, 2021 | 500 words, about 2 minutes