The Sciences
Cold Comfort: The Ethnography of Refrigerators [Slide Show]
What a ubiquitous appliance reveals about us
Stories by Krystal D'Costa
The Sciences
Cold Comfort: The Ethnography of Refrigerators [Slide Show]
What a ubiquitous appliance reveals about us
Green Thumbery: Flower Power
Things have been quiet on the Green Thumbery series because I’ve been watching my plants anxiously. The lengthy winter we experienced has made for a sluggish start and it was touch-and-go for a few weeks...
Behavior
Why are we sleeping with our phones?
When you woke up this morning, did you reach for your cell phone? Was it right next to the bed? Or under your pillow? Did you use it as an alarm clock?
True Calling Interview: Anthropology in a Non-Traditional Path
Last week I was interviewed by Renee Masur of Sokanu as part of the “True Calling” series, which looks at people who have found careers (allegedly) doing things they love.
Culture
The Stories Our Refrigerators Tell
The refrigerator gives us a claimable space that serves as a center in our home. In fact, if you were spend 10 minutes anywhere in someone's home, I'd argue that the refrigerator would probably tell you the most about that person...
Behavior
Why Aren’t We Talking About Burnout?
In offices throughout the United States, workers are anxiously looking to the coming of Friday. For many of you—myself included—Monday meant a return to the office and a reinvestment in wage/paid labor. By this point in the week, you've hopefully hit your stride and are comfortably settled in your work week rhythms, and you're probably looking forward to the weekend...
Green Thumbery: Death and Destruction
This article is a part of the Green Thumbery series, where everyday gardening meets history and science.
Policy
Catfishing: The Truth About Deception Online
The growing popularity of online dating The dating scene has been changing over the last decade. According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, approximately 6% of Internet users who are in a marriage or other committed relationship met online, compared to 3% who reported this in 2005...
Culture
Green Thumbery: The Seedlings are Coming!
This article is a part of the Green Thumbery series, where everyday gardening meets history and science.
Evolution
The Missing Link that Wasn’t
April Fools’ Day is not unique to Western cultures. People all over the world and all throughout history have celebrated the coming of Spring with festivals of deception and lightheartedness...
Mind & Brain
Fooling Ourselves: The Everyday role of Ritual
April Fools’ Day is not unique to Western cultures. People all over the world and all throughout history have celebrated the coming of Spring with festivals of deception and lightheartedness...
Culture
Green Thumbery: A Gardening Series and Winter Sowing
This article is a part of the Green Thumbery series, where everyday gardening meets history and science.
Mind & Brain
What does it mean to be an introvert online?
Did you take public transportation today? And where did you sit? Did you take the seat on the end? What about your phone at work? Did it actually ring today?
Creeping Connectivity: Work and Life in a Hyper-Connected World
Work-life balance seems increasingly to be an antiquated idea. Instead, we're looking at a seamless merger of work and life. Are you finding that 9-to-5 workday bleeds beyond eight hours?...
Behavior
Share This: Chain Letters and Social Networks
Chain letters hit the right chord of shock, or trigger the right degree of anxiety, which prompts the reader to share the stories or information they contain. To this end, chain letters are actually really well suited to social media because so little effort on the part of the reader is required to pass them on...
Culture
How Do You Stay Warm When You're Homeless?
When the temperature drops during the winter months, it’s not uncommon to see articles about how to help the homeless. These articles also highlight a large segment of homeless people who turn down help to avoid having to spend the night in a shelter, where they worry their safety and well-being will be compromised in the company of strangers...
Clowns, Zombies, and Luck: More Halloween Favorites From Anthropology in Practice
Haven’t had enough of ghosts and ghouls yet? Here are some favorites from Anthropology in Practice: Why are we afraid of clowns? Tricksters have a reputation for being bawdy, antisocial, and clever...
Social Lessons from Our Favorite Horror Movies
I’m a fan of scary stories. With a few hours to spare, I’ll gladly spend them with Richard Matheson or Shirley Jackson. If I don’t have a few hours to spare, I’ll pass the time with whatever horror movie I can find playing in the background while I work...
We're All a Little Irish, Even on Halloween
On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone claims to be a little Irish. But did you know there’s a strong Irish influence on the traditions that surround our favorite costumed holiday?
