Speakeasy to Snack: Brief History of the Sandwich
The sandwich as we know it – name and all – only emerged in the 18th century. The story of its invention goes like this: John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich was a gambling addict…
The Science of Jealousy
The most common manifestations are, of course, in sexual and romantic relationships, but jealousy takes shape in our careers and friendships as well. What exactly is going on in our minds when we’re corrupted by this niggling bugbear of an emotion?
Pigs & Pneumonia: Brief History of the Flu
The flu isn’t fatal, it’s just a pain in the arse, another inconvenience like having an iPhone 4 in a city full of iPhone 7’s. Yet, as unbelievable as it seems, this same virus once killed off a third of the world’s population.
Brief History of Salesmen
The salesman is a reviled figure in today’s society, stereotypically seen as a trickster, no better than a criminal or a con man…
The Science of Generosity
Remember the last Christmas gift you gave to your mother: that book you wanted to read, that you borrowed after she finished, that now sits on your shelf.
A Brief History of Double Decker Buses
For most Londoners, the London bus is a nightmare. It’s the alternative option you never want to take, your last resort when late at night your phone dies..
The Science of Tears
From a young age, we’re told not to cry. That’s what babies do. Adults aren’t meant to weep and wail. And yet: we all do it…
The Science of Procrastination
Everybody procrastinates. A task gets pushed off, typically with the desire to do something that offers instant gratification (such as online videos of…
Scamming to Sleuthing: Brief History of Detectives
Detectives are the heroes of so many of our novels and movies that they have become an identifiable archetype for our daily and imaginative lives. Be it…
Mail Rail: Cat Parties & Skeletons
The Mail Rail was an underground postal system that operated from 1927 to 2003, delivering thousands of letters via self-operated electric trains to…