Stones. Beads. Feathers. Shells. Fur. Salt. No, we’re not assembling supplies for a weird craft project. These were different forms of currency used throughout history, before people settled on the forms of money we use today. The History of Money The global monetary system has lagged behind the large technological gains that we’ve enjoyed more […]
On polar expeditions, pack extra snacks
Planning is so important when you travel. And planning is particularly important when you’re headed to cold reaches of Antarctica. Unfortunately, polar explorers aren’t known for crafting careful itineraries or thorough packing lists. The crew of the Belgica learned this lesson the hard way when they crashed into polar ice in 1897. Lights Out Spending the winter with your […]
Shipwrecked! 🌴
Maritime historians have their work cut out for them, especially when they’re writing about shipwrecks. Reconstructing the story of not one, but two, shipwrecks in 1864, Joan Druett has retraced the steps of the crews using survivors’ journals and historical records. Today’s Instaread navigates the dangers of the past. An Inauspicious Beginning It’s one thing […]
Let’s avoid another arms race
Max Tegmark is a professor of physics at MIT. He’s also the president of the somewhat sinister sounding Future of Life Institute, the group that authored the letter asking for a six-month pause on the development of advanced artificial intelligence. You know, to preserve the future of humanity. What Needs Sorting? It’s easy to get […]
The next best thing to the Zuckerberg-Musk cage match
In all the reporting about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s promotion of conspiracy theories — yes, he thinks the CIA killed his uncle — it’s easy to forget that the long-shot presidential hopeful has a pretty normal day job. Kennedy draws on his background as an environmental lawyer to critique George W. Bush’s presidency in our […]
How soccer became big business
Twenty teams. Thirty-eight games a team. Billions of people watching. The Premier League, England’s soccer entertainment empire, has enormous global reach—and it’s expanding every season. Our new Instaread looks at how the game has changed since the league was established in 1992. The Birth of an Industry In the 1980s, English soccer was struggling with […]
The history of easy money
Before there were coins or bills, there was interest. Creditors have been lending money (and before that, seeds and animals) since the eighth century BC. The Mesopotamians recorded their loans on clay tablets, not unlike your credit card companies or the bank that services your mortgage. The First Financial Crises We don’t know exactly when […]
Do you care about the future?
Human civilization is relatively young—and it could last for a very long time. If humanity manages to persist for millions of years, it means that those of us living today will be considered the ancients, living at the very beginning of history. Choose Wisely Ask yourself, are you a good ancestor? Or the type whose […]
A daring rescue mission in Ukraine
Benjamin Hall had dragged himself away from the fiery explosion when he noticed that his right leg was gone. On assignment last year to cover the war in Ukraine, Hall and his team for Fox News were driving to a village that had been destroyed by Russians the week before when their caravan was attacked. […]
When Ignorance Ain’t Bliss
When did ignorance become a virtue in American politics? Comedian and satirist Andy Borowitz says that US media clearly favors politicians who are entertaining and extreme over classic qualities like intelligence and competence. In his latest book, Borowitz traces this disappointing heritage. The Guy Who Dumbed Everything Down Poor old Dan Quayle. No politician wants […]
