History Archives

Charting the Future of Humanity: Goals for Earth

What do you think should be the main goals of humanity, going forward? Do you think we will one day be able to eradicate disease, death, and scarcity? What will humanity strive for, if or when survival is no longer a concern? In his book Homo Deus, Yuval Noah Harari envisions humanity shifting to the next phase of human evolution—the era of Homo Deus. In this era, survival is no longer a concern in most parts of the world. Consequently, humanity will look towards higher goals of immortality, happiness, and divinity. Keep reading to learn about the projected future of

The Greatest Achievements of English Lexicography

What are the greatest works of English lexicography? What were each of their contributions? English lexicography has succeeded in producing the greatest and most comprehensive dictionaries to be found in any language. Some of the most notable works of English lexicography include the 1735 Dictionary of the English Language, the Webster Dictionary, and of course, the crown jewel of all English dictionaries the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). Keep reading to learn about the key figures of English lexicography and their contributions.

The Invention of Language: Humanity’s Greatest Feat

Is language an invention or an intrinsic trait? What are the exact mechanisms that gave rise to the phenomenon of symbolic language? Language is undoubtedly one of the greatest human inventions of all time, although the question of whether symbolic language is an invention or an intrinsic feature of the human species is a matter of semantics. There’s some archaeological evidence that language arose during the Cro-Magnon period, but the exact mechanisms behind its development are unknown. Keep reading to learn about the invention of the human language.

Barack Obama’s Political Career Before Presidency

What did Barack Obama’s political career look like before he became president? Why did Barack switch from a legal career to politics? Barack Obama was working full-time at a law firm until an Illinois state senator encouraged him to run for office. This was a difficult career change to make because he and Michelle had two young children and a career in politics would mean big life changes. Keep reading to learn about the beginning of Barack Obama’s political career and the impact it had on his family.

Bad Evolutionary Designs That Cause Problems

Why do humans share one input for both breathing and eating? Why do we still have an appendix? And why are our retinas inside out? The answer to all these questions is simple: bad evolutionary designs. Over time, evolution makes slow changes to our bodies, but it does not erase the old designs, leaving us with bad or useless traits. Keep reading to learn more about human evolutionary legacies.

The Germanic Origins of the English Language

Where did English come from? What are the origins of the English language? English is a Germanic language whose origins date back to the mid-5th century CE. The story of English began when the Germanic peoples known as the Angles and Saxons, hailing from what is now Northern Germany, began migrating to and conquering the Roman province of Britannia. Keep reading to learn about the origins of the English language.

Human Senescence: The Mysteries of Aging

Why is the female lifespan longer than a male’s? Why do women go through menopause? These questions about human senescence, or aging, can be explained through Darwinian medicine. Darwinism says that the human body prioritized reproductive health above all else. That means that it will prioritize short-term reproductive fitness over long-term sustainability. Keep reading to learn more about the process of senescence.

Vampires in Literature: What Do They Mean?

Why are vampires so commonly written about in literature? What do vampires symbolize? In literature, dark creatures such as vampires, ghouls, and ghosts often have deeper meanings. It was especially common to write about vampires in the Victorian era because books were censored and vampires were a euphemism for sexual encounters. Keep reading to learn about vampires in literature.

Suzanne Alele: Michelle Obama’s Best Friend

Who was Suzanne Alele? What lasting impact did she have on Michelle Obama’s life? Suzanne Alele was Michelle’s best friend from Princeton. Suzanne was carefree, spontaneous, and full of vigor. Tragically, at the age of 26, Suzanne lost her battle with cancer and taught Michelle the importance of enjoying life. Keep reading to learn more about Michelle and Suzanne’s friendship.

The Great Vowel Shift: Changing Pronunciation Forever

What was the Great Vowel Shift in the history of the English language? How did it change the pronunciation of English vowels? The Great Vowel Shift was a change in the pronunciation of English vowels that took place roughly between 1400 and 1600. Basically, the pronunciation of long vowels moved forward, that is, closer to the front of the mouth. Keep reading to learn about the Great Vowel Shift.