Phenomenology
The science of experience
What happens when you cross introspection with the scientific method? You get phenomenology, the philosophical science of experience.
Helioseismology
Listening to the inside of the Sun
By using a technique somewhat reminiscent of a sonogram, astronomers can study not only the currents of plasma on the surface of the sun, but its interior structure as well.
Sarlat-la-Canéda
Time travel, French style
The French town of Sarlat looks much the same as it did in medieval times, except that now there are more foie gras shops and internet cafés.
Linguistic Categories
Women, fire, and dangerous things
Most languages have one or more mechanisms of dividing nouns into groups that express meaningful categories for the language's speakers. Some of these groupings yield insights into subtle cultural and mental processes.
Weather Station Kurt
Nazi weather forecasts from Canada
A secret automated weather station, installed by the Nazis in Canada during World War II, was discovered in the 1980s.
The Story of Toilet Paper
What goes around, comes around
Where would modern civilization be without toilet paper? And yet, it was invented only in the late 19th century. How it came to have its current form is a delicate story.
Traveler’s Palms
Compass, canteen, and canopy in one
This fascinating tropical plant, not really a palm at all, tells travelers what direction they're facing and stores enough water in its hollow trunk to quench their thirst.
The Grolla
Coffee, grappa, and friendship
This traditional Italian bowl lends itself to a friendship ritual that involves drinking a mixture of coffee and grappa. It may also have been inspired by the Holy Grail.
The Stone Balls of Costa Rica
Mystery spheres as lawn ornaments
All over Costa Rica, you can find stone spheres of various sizes. They're old, but no one seems to know who made them, when, why, or how.
Tabasco Sauce
The pickled pepper potion
The famous hot sauce from Avery Island, Louisiana, has a great deal in common with wine, and a history that's intertwined with that of a salt mining operation.