What Was Yeha’s Palace For?A ruler’s name, sealed storerooms, and ritual objects complicate the idea of a “palace” at Grat Be’al Gibri in ancient Yeha, Ethiopia.A ruler’s name, sealed storerooms, and ritual objects complicate the idea of a “palace” at Grat Be’al Gibri in ancient Yeha, Ethiopia.
What Gives a Black Hole Away?What can glowing gas reveal about a black hole? Boson-star simulations show why a convincing alternative must explain where the light originates.What can glowing gas reveal about a black hole? Boson-star simulations show why a convincing alternative must explain where the light originates.
Who Could Read the News in 1896 Korea?An 1896 Seoul newspaper reveals how script, spacing, price and shared reading shaped who could encounter the news in a changing Korea.An 1896 Seoul newspaper reveals how script, spacing, price and shared reading shaped who could encounter the news in a changing Korea.
How The Secrets of Sultana Shajarat Al-Durr Kept OrderSultan al‑Ṣāliḥ Ayyūb dies in his field pavilion at al‑Manṣūra, a garrison town on a Nile branch in the eastern Delta. The crusade rages and the front is brittle: Louis IX’s army waits across the canal and rumors already run the roads to Cairo.Sultan al‑Ṣāliḥ Ayyūb dies in his field pavilion at al‑Manṣūra, a garrison town on a Nile branch in the eastern Delta. The crusade rages and the front is brittle: Louis IX’s army waits across the canal and rumors already run the roads to Cairo.
Too Big, Too Soon — Testing the Laws of the Universe with JWSTThe James Webb Space Telescope began as an origami puzzle of gold mirrors and Kapton film. Now, parked at L2, it peers beyond Hubble’s reach—mapping star nurseries, weighing ancient galaxies, and nudging us to rewrite parts of the laws of the universe.The James Webb Space Telescope began as an origami puzzle of gold mirrors and Kapton film. Now, parked at L2, it peers beyond Hubble’s reach—mapping star nurseries, weighing ancient galaxies, and nudging us to rewrite parts of the laws of the universe.
Annie Jump Cannon and the Unseen Riddle of the Little Red DotsA gold‑plated mirror 1.5 million km out and a stack of 1901 glass plates share a problem: how to label the unknown. Follow Annie Jump Cannon’s OBAFGKM ladder as the James Webb Space Telescope mirror exposes hundreds of mysterious “little red dots” at cosmic dawn.A gold‑plated mirror 1.5 million km out and a stack of 1901 glass plates share a problem: how to label the unknown. Follow Annie Jump Cannon’s OBAFGKM ladder as the James Webb Space Telescope mirror exposes hundreds of mysterious “little red dots” at cosmic dawn.
A Nameless Soldier Remembers the Dunkirk EvacuationTrapped on the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940, a nameless British soldier witnesses chaos, courage, and the miracle of evacuation. This vivid, firsthand-inspired story blends real WWII accounts with the human cost of survival in Operation Dynamo’s darkest hour.Trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940, a nameless British soldier witnesses chaos, courage, and the miracle of evacuation. This vivid, firsthand-inspired story blends real WWII accounts with the human cost of survival in Operation Dynamo’s darkest hour.
Hannibal’s Tactics at Cannae – How 50,000 Romans Fell in One DayThe battle lines have been drawn—again. In this gripping continuation of Hannibal’s ruthless campaign against Rome, Part 2 plunges into the clash that would shake the Republic. Blood, strategy, and fate converge on the field. What did Rome learn—and what did it lose—when Hannibal came knocking?The battle lines have been drawn—again. In this gripping continuation of Hannibal’s ruthless campaign against Rome, Part 2 plunges into the clash that would shake the Republic. Blood, strategy, and fate converge on the field. What did Rome learn—and what did it lose—when Hannibal came knocking?
Hannibal Barca and The Second Punic War’s Road to CannaeBefore the bloodbath at Cannae, there was a vow, a mountain, and a march no sane general would attempt. This is how Hannibal shattered the rules — and nearly broke Rome before the real war even began.Before the bloodbath at Cannae, there was a vow, a mountain, and a march no sane general would attempt. This is how Hannibal shattered the rules — and nearly broke Rome before the real war even began.
What Gives a Black Hole Away?What can glowing gas reveal about a black hole? Boson-star simulations show why a convincing alternative must explain where the light originates.What can glowing gas reveal about a black hole? Boson-star simulations show why a convincing alternative must explain where the light originates.
How Apollo Samples Keep Rewriting the MoonOpening a sealed Apollo 17 core in 2022 showed how old rocks can teach new lessons. Here i'll explain the modern handling of fragile soils, the updated picture of the Moon’s age, water, and magnetism, and why those methods now support Artemis plans to bring back icy polar samples.Opening a sealed Apollo 17 core in 2022 showed how old rocks can teach new lessons. Here i'll explain the modern handling of fragile soils, the updated picture of the Moon’s age, water, and magnetism, and why those methods now support Artemis plans to bring back icy polar samples.
Too Big, Too Soon — Testing the Laws of the Universe with JWSTThe James Webb Space Telescope began as an origami puzzle of gold mirrors and Kapton film. Now, parked at L2, it peers beyond Hubble’s reach—mapping star nurseries, weighing ancient galaxies, and nudging us to rewrite parts of the laws of the universe.The James Webb Space Telescope began as an origami puzzle of gold mirrors and Kapton film. Now, parked at L2, it peers beyond Hubble’s reach—mapping star nurseries, weighing ancient galaxies, and nudging us to rewrite parts of the laws of the universe.
When 3I/ATLAS Sprints Past the Sun - Solar-System Facts Simply Explained3I/ATLAS will whip around the Sun this October, too dim for backyard scopes yet bright enough for astronomers to mine its alien chemistry. Thanks to panoramic surveys, smarter software, and a dash of luck, we can now flag these cosmic drifters in time to learn what they carry from beyond the stars.3I/ATLAS will whip around the Sun this October, too dim for backyard scopes yet bright enough for astronomers to mine its alien chemistry. Thanks to panoramic surveys, smarter software, and a dash of luck, we can now flag these cosmic drifters in time to learn what they carry from beyond the stars.
Annie Jump Cannon and the Unseen Riddle of the Little Red DotsA gold‑plated mirror 1.5 million km out and a stack of 1901 glass plates share a problem: how to label the unknown. Follow Annie Jump Cannon’s OBAFGKM ladder as the James Webb Space Telescope mirror exposes hundreds of mysterious “little red dots” at cosmic dawn.A gold‑plated mirror 1.5 million km out and a stack of 1901 glass plates share a problem: how to label the unknown. Follow Annie Jump Cannon’s OBAFGKM ladder as the James Webb Space Telescope mirror exposes hundreds of mysterious “little red dots” at cosmic dawn.
Beyond our world
SPACE
Astronomy changes our sense of place. Light carries stories across distances we can barely imagine, and careful observation lets us test what those stories mean. Learning how we know what lies beyond Earth brings the universe closer—and reminds us how much there is still to discover.
Now in focus
What Gives a Black Hole Away?
What can glowing gas reveal about a black hole? Boson-star simulations show why a convincing alternative must explain where the light originates.
Who Could Read the News in 1896 Korea?An 1896 Seoul newspaper reveals how script, spacing, price and shared reading shaped who could encounter the news in a changing Korea.An 1896 Seoul newspaper reveals how script, spacing, price and shared reading shaped who could encounter the news in a changing Korea.
They Carry the Oldest DNA. Now They’re Fighting to Protect it.They carry the oldest DNA ever recorded in humans. But when a famous study turned their genome into headlines, the San people pushed back—with their own code of ethics.They carry the oldest DNA ever recorded in humans. But when a famous study turned their genome into headlines, the San people pushed back—with their own code of ethics.
Hannibal Barca and The Second Punic War’s Road to CannaeBefore the bloodbath at Cannae, there was a vow, a mountain, and a march no sane general would attempt. This is how Hannibal shattered the rules — and nearly broke Rome before the real war even began.Before the bloodbath at Cannae, there was a vow, a mountain, and a march no sane general would attempt. This is how Hannibal shattered the rules — and nearly broke Rome before the real war even began.
Srinivasa Ramanujan: The Prodigy of Old That's Still Winning The RaceHere we explore the lives of mathematicians Srinivasa Ramanujan and Hussein Mourtada, showing how their revolutionary work on singularities and partition identities reveals hidden mathematical connections across diverse fields.Here we explore the lives of mathematicians Srinivasa Ramanujan and Hussein Mourtada, showing how their revolutionary work on singularities and partition identities reveals hidden mathematical connections across diverse fields.
The Four Heavenly Kings: Dhṛtarāṣṭra - Protector of the EastBuddhist cosmology can be pretty complex, but it's the values it embodies that count. The Four Heavenly Kings play the significant role of protecting the world and upholding Dharma. One of them is Dhṛtarāṣṭra - the Eastern King of musical harmony.Buddhist cosmology can be pretty complex, but it's the values it embodies that count. The Four Heavenly Kings play the significant role of protecting the world and upholding Dharma. One of them is Dhṛtarāṣṭra - the Eastern King of musical harmony.
Why history matters
TIME
History gives the present context. It reveals how beliefs, borders, and everyday lives were shaped by people facing pressures different from our own. Their choices were not inevitable—and neither are ours.
A closer look at the past
Who Could Read the News in 1896 Korea?
An 1896 Seoul newspaper reveals how script, spacing, price and shared reading shaped who could encounter the news in a changing Korea.
What Was Yeha’s Palace For?A ruler’s name, sealed storerooms, and ritual objects complicate the idea of a “palace” at Grat Be’al Gibri in ancient Yeha, Ethiopia.A ruler’s name, sealed storerooms, and ritual objects complicate the idea of a “palace” at Grat Be’al Gibri in ancient Yeha, Ethiopia.
What Gives a Black Hole Away?What can glowing gas reveal about a black hole? Boson-star simulations show why a convincing alternative must explain where the light originates.What can glowing gas reveal about a black hole? Boson-star simulations show why a convincing alternative must explain where the light originates.
Who Could Read the News in 1896 Korea?An 1896 Seoul newspaper reveals how script, spacing, price and shared reading shaped who could encounter the news in a changing Korea.An 1896 Seoul newspaper reveals how script, spacing, price and shared reading shaped who could encounter the news in a changing Korea.
How The Secrets of Sultana Shajarat Al-Durr Kept OrderSultan al‑Ṣāliḥ Ayyūb dies in his field pavilion at al‑Manṣūra, a garrison town on a Nile branch in the eastern Delta. The crusade rages and the front is brittle: Louis IX’s army waits across the canal and rumors already run the roads to Cairo.Sultan al‑Ṣāliḥ Ayyūb dies in his field pavilion at al‑Manṣūra, a garrison town on a Nile branch in the eastern Delta. The crusade rages and the front is brittle: Louis IX’s army waits across the canal and rumors already run the roads to Cairo.
The Four Heavenly Kings: Virūḍhaka - Protector of the SouthThe South is the direction of growth, heat, and excess. Virūḍhaka stands there armed and unmoved, guarding against overflow rather than invasion, reminding us that growth without restraint turns quickly into chaos.The South is the direction of growth, heat, and excess. Virūḍhaka stands there armed and unmoved, guarding against overflow rather than invasion, reminding us that growth without restraint turns quickly into chaos.
From the journal
Archives
A cinematic shelf of recent writing. Browse five essays at a time, moving forward or back through the same editorial gallery.
