Location, location, location—the mantra for modern real estate.  What was it about an ancient windswept place in the remote Orkney Islands that caused people to invest so much effort in creating one of the earliest examples of permanent residences?  Skara Brae, a Stone Age village and UNESCO World Heritage Site, features unique stone-built homes, stone […]

The Aztecs gave us many things we have in our pantry today, and they developed revolutionary farming techniques that were a marvel.  However, some of the foods they ate, like corn fungus, would very likely astonish us.  We can all benefit from their unique evolutionary adaptations.  Dr. Dirk Van Tuerenhout, Curator of Anthropology at the Houston […]

“Let Justice and Reason be our Guide.” In the 1570s, Akbar, the Muslim Emperor of Mughal India, began an audacious and visionary experiment which is still unique in history:  fostering pluralism by consulting with leaders of all faiths. He invited Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Jains, Zoroastrians, and Sikhs to find common ground for peaceful coexistence. […]