How Hobbies Changed the Home
Basements, sheds, and workshops found their way into American homes because leisure activities pursued by men and boys were often loud and smelly.
Making Egypt’s Museums
The world’s largest archaeological museum is poised to open on the Giza Plateau, building on two centuries of museum planning and development.
Luna Park and the Amusement Park Boom
The fortunes of Coney Island have waxed and waned, but in the early twentieth century, its amusement parks became a major American export.
SUV: Stigmatized Urban Vehicles?
Skeptics in Sweden voiced concerns from the get-go. Even automotive industry journalists wondered why anybody needed an SUV to go to the opera.
What’s Behind the Pandemic Puzzle Craze?
Puzzles, or “dissected maps,” were invented in Georgian-era England, probably by a mapmaker named John Spilsbury in the early 1760s.
Why We Will Never Hear What Mozart Heard
Modern pianos are the product of a 600-year evolution—from Hermann Poll's 1397 clavicembalum, to clavichords, harpsichords, and the modern grand piano.
Why We Give Children Toys for Christmas
Giving children toys for Christmas first became a thing in early nineteenth century England.
The Pneumatic Subway That Almost Was
New York almost had a pneumatic subway system, but political, legal, and financial reasons kept the system from expanding.
Who’s Afraid of Killer Robots?
Two recent DARPA projects have sparked fears about killer robots, machines that can decide whether to engage a target without human oversight.