Human Interest Story

Obesity has been on the rise since the 19th century, and the recent uptick since the 1980s is just a continuation of a long-term trend. The puzzle of why Americans have been gaining weight over the past decades is not actually a mystery – it’s a result of the increasing availability of food, its tastiness, and our general affluence. The food security issues of the past have been replaced with a new focus on food insecurity, which is defined as having access to food but not being able to afford enough of it to avoid disruption to eating patterns. Read full article here

Charles Henry Turner, the son of a nurse and a church janitor, dedicated his life to investigating insects, focusing on proving that insects are far more intelligent than previously believed. He was the first to prove that insects can hear and distinguish pitch, and the first scientist to achieve Pavlovian conditioning in insects. He also illuminated sex differences in ant intelligence and discovered that ants, bees, and wasps learn, remember, and recognize landmarks to get home. Unfortunately, despite his groundbreaking research, he was turned away from every university post he applied to on account of his race; Turner lived through the harsh climates of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Read full article here

Join Dr. Sascha Freigang on his thrilling adventure to Antarctica’s Concordia research station, where he’ll spend 12 months studying the effects of isolation and extreme temperatures on the human body and mind. After hopping on an 80-year-old DC3 Basler, he lands in a white desert to marvel at the endless snow and ice. With cold weather gear making -45°C strolls feel cozy, he’s reminded of another planet as he adjusts to station life. Soon, he’ll form and train a rescue team, preparing for the long winter ahead! Read full article here

This February, Christie’s will auction a 120-year-old painting of a woman named Gordina de Groot by Vincent van Gogh. It is estimated to fetch between £1m-£2m and is a revelation, since it has been hidden away in a family collection for so long. The painting may suggest a tenderness between the artist and sitter, despite whispers of a scandal in the village at the time. The history of it is fascinating, with the painting pretty much abandoned in a crate until 1902, when it was sold for just one guilder to a junk dealer and eventually purchased by the family who now seek to sell it. Read full article here

BTS, the Korean boy band, has become a source of joy and permission for many women in their 40s and above, according to a scholar who interviewed 25 such women in the US. The band, which enjoys immense global popularity, offers a range of masculine traits and emotions, providing a new universe of desire, while also allowing women to grieve over their past understandings of what could be sexually and emotionally attractive. Many of the women expressed guilt or shame over their fandom, which offers them a sense of euphoria that they feel is denied to them in other aspects of their lives. Read full article here

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was perhaps the pope most in tune with the postmodern era. Known for his theological acumen and commitment to doctrinal clarity, he was also open to engaging with postmodernism. His 1968 book, Introduction to Christianity, straddled the paradoxical line between traditionalism and anti-foundationalism, allowing him to explore the foundations of Christian belief. He also had a surprising resonance with queer culture, despite his decisive stance on the moral implications of same sex relations. Read full article here