For centuries, the bubonic plague was thought to be the prime cause of the Black Death. What do the modern studies say about this?
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Style Updates - Expert Tips from FinalManifest [Jun 2025] Make sense of the complexities of Style Updates with posts from FinalManifest. See our Jun 2025 edition.
What Really Caused the Black Death: Anthrax or Celestial Bodies?
Kant’s Demythologizing of Ancient Stories
Kant’s demythologizing of ancient stories continues to this day. How we can practice his ideas about dissecting traditional stories?
Cooking School Basics: Golden Brown Roasted Chicken
Deceptively complicated to perfect, Chef Instructor Bill Briwa shares tips for creating and carving a delectable Roasted Chicken—a staple of comfort food and home cooking.
Enhance Your Brain and Have More Fun with Jokes and Brain Teasers
Are you looking to enhance your brain health? Dr. Restak provides fun brain teasers and jokes to exercise your mental dexterity.
Cassette Tapes Seeing Sales Resurgence in the Tens of Millions
Cassette tapes may never be as popular as vinyl, but they are selling like hotcakes. And today, the sound is much clearer.
Popular "Storm Area 51" Joke Inspires Review of the Science of Aliens
A joke about raiding Area 51 has two million citizens pledging to visit the military site. If done, what could they see—besides jail time?
Movement for Emancipation and Abolition of Slavery in Early America
The liberty espoused by the Constitution provided the impetus for Black people to push for emancipation and the abolition of slavery.
This Week In History: April 16-22
This week in history: Basilicas erected, revolutions began, and Rome is founded. Read more below and dive deeper with The Great Courses Plus.
The Great Tours: England, Scotland, and Wales
Tour Great Britain—One of the World’s Most Fascinating Regions! Whether you are preparing for a trip or just want to experience the beauty and history [...]
Crowded Cities and Rise in Diseases
Due to industrialization and urbanization, more and more workers moved to cities, leading to overcrowding. What were the consequences?
Organizing Settlement Colonies and Establishing Mercantilism
A major step taken toward an English settlement on the North American coast involved stablishing mercantilism.
How to Make Stress Work for You: The Torch Podcast
Examine the why, the what, and the how of stress management, in the episode of The Torch featuring Kimberlee Bonura and host Ed Leon
US Occupation of Japan and the Exoneration of the ShĹŤwa Emperor
In 1945, the US not only stopped the ShĹŤwa emperor from abdicating, but also presented him as utterly blameless for the war crimes. Why?
Solar Orbiter Sends Closest Pictures of Sun Ever Taken
NASA and the European Space Agency released closest-ever images taken of the Sun. The Sun is the best star for us to study.
Pixar's Film "Soul" Examines the Nature of Personal Identity
Pixar's new film "Soul" is light and approachable, despite weighty themes. It raises questions about the identity of oneself.
History Lectures and Online Courses
In 18th century USA, the nature of party politics was absolutely different from what the republican writers had imagined and written about. As a resul...
An Interpretation of Shakespeare's Comic Tools
Comic tools in Shakespeare's plays had different shades and character of their own. It was interesting to see how those evolved with story.
Volcano Flow of Martian Mud Similar to Toothpaste Boiling
Some Martian volcanoes ooze a clumpy flow of mud, complicating geographical studies. The atmosphere of Mars is full of wonders.
Events That Preceded the Final Battle of Ragnarok
Several signs preceded the final battle of Ragnarok. They alerted the gods and humankind of what was to come. How did they prepare?
Make Your Carbohydrates Work for You—Work Out before Eating Your Pasta
Carbs don't have to be off-limits. Knowing the relationship between carbohydrates and exercise will help you use carbs more effectively.
Conformity and its Experimental Background
The course of modern psychology took a significant turn after the atrocities witnessed during the Second World War and the Holocaust.
Allocation of Land to the Freed Black People
The U.S. government decided to allocate land to the freed black people. Was it a successful attempt? Read on to know more.
Scrutiny of Haitian Prime Minister Mounts after President's Assassination
Haiti became the world's first Black republic after a revolution. Now, after an assassination, it's more fragile than ever.
It's Time to Rethink the Notion That Intelligence Is Fixed
Intelligence was traditionally considered to be fixed. But the latest research on brain plasticity challenges this notion.
Are You Eating the Right Proteins? Know Your Essential Amino Acids
How do you know if you're eating the proteins your body truly needs? Here's the difference between essential and non-essential amino acids.
Free Radical Reduction and Cancer Prevention
Selenium supplements have been popular at health food stores. Let's dive into the research to investigate the benefits of selenium.
Developing a Weight Training Program for Greater Strength and Power
Are you new to lifting weights or want to accelerate your routine? Here's some pointers for developing a weight training program.
Name-Brand Watch Auctions for $31M, Raising Questions about How We Value Items
A Patek Philippe wristwatch broke a world record, selling for $31 million at auction. So how do we attach value to things?
How Vast Is the Observable Universe?
For years, astronomers have been trying to grasp the scale of the universe. Did they get any answers? Let's find out.
Lyndon LaRouche, Frequent Presidential Candidate, Dies at 96
Eight-time presidential candidate and noted conspiracy theorist Lyndon LaRouche has died. What makes a conspiracy theory? Also, can paranoia be good for us?
The Replication Crisis and Positive Psychology
The field of psychology is seeing more robust research techniques than before, with focus on positive psychology. What led to these changes?
Why Should You Visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum?
Discover what makes the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. such a powerful, sobering testament to man's inhumanity to man.
U.S. Navy Spokesperson Confirms UFO Videos, But No Alien Life Yet
U.S. Navy has confirmed the status of three reported UFO videos. If aliens are out there, what's keeping them?
Effects of Black Death in Russia
The effects of the Black Death in Russia were devastating. So how did people in Russia deal with the plague?
Particle Physics and the Great Particle Accelerator
Great particle accelerators, such as cyclotrons and synchrotrons, help introduce more particles to the world of science. How do these work?
