Recent editors’ picks
The Man Who Stole Infinity
“In an 1874 paper, Georg Cantor proved that there are different sizes of infinity and changed math forever. A trove of newly unearthed letters shows that it was also an act of plagiarism.”
The Long Now of the Web: Inside the Internet Archive’s Fight Against Forgetting
“A comprehensive engineering and operational analysis of the Internet Archive.”
Say Goodbye to the Undersea Cable That Made the Global Internet Possible
“History was unmade last year, as engineers began the massive project of ripping the first-ever transoceanic fiber-optic cable from the ocean floor. Just don’t mention sharks.”
Lords of the Ring
“The cultural politics of sumo wrestling.”
Between the Sheets at the College Excel Championships
“One of the most unusual — and fun — events in college sports is a high-stakes spreadsheeting competition in Las Vegas.”
He Was a Legendary Newsroom Colleague. Turned Out He Had a Secret Past
“How an unexpected email led me to crack the mystery of Charles Saunders.”
Inside Voice: What Can Our Thoughts Reveal About the Nature of Consciousness?
“Scientists and philosophers studying the mind have discovered how little we know about our inner experiences.”
This Texas Teenager Is One of the World’s Most Feared Fighters. Don’t Expect Her to Talk About It.
“Not yet twenty, Helena Crevar is one of the most feared fighters in martial arts. What’s her secret?”
Orcas and Ourselves
“Sea pandas or sadistic killers? These enigmatic creatures invite contradictory labels that say far more about us than them.”
