America’s musical founding father: ‘Liberty songs’ by a self-taught singer and tanner helped fuel the Revolution

By David W. Stowe, Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State UniversityMay 15, 2026

William Billings has been largely forgotten, except among music historians. But he was the country’s first notable composer, penning protest songs against Great Britain.

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History Science Politics & Society

Why early medieval Ireland had laws for bees

Medieval Irish bees had a legal status because they were classified as domestic livestock.

Chris Doyle, Lecturer in Ancient and Medieval History, University of Galway·May 20, 2026

The Conversation

How a shifting Nile landscape shaped the rise of the ancient empire of Kush in Sudan

The ancient Kush city of Jebel Barkal rose up in the Nile River Valley starting around 2000 BCE. New research dug deep to learn more about what this landscape was like over the past 4,000 years.

Geoff Emberling, Research Scientist in Archaeology, University of Michigan·May 19, 2026

The Paris Review

The Ignorant Art Historian: Sackcloth 1953

“We associate burlap not with art but with use, indeed with waste.”

Hal Foster·May 19, 2026

Nautilus

They Call It Stupid Hot For a Reason

How heat muddles animal brains The post They Call It Stupid Hot For a Reason appeared first on Nautilus.

Marta Zaraska·May 23, 2026

Nautilus

Gaze into the Stunning Crystal Ball Nebula

And see a vision of the past The post Gaze into the Stunning Crystal Ball Nebula appeared first on Nautilus.

Jake Currie·May 22, 2026

Literary Hub

How This is Your Brain on Music Transformed Neuroscience

Twenty years ago, when This Is Your Brain on Music was published, the idea that music could be studied with the tools of biology and neuroscience was a niche one. When it came out, I was junior faculty at Northwestern,

Elizabeth Margulis·May 20, 2026