Who knew a razor blade company could become so controversial? Gillette/YouTube Gillette has launched a new marketing campaign, “The Best Men Can Be,” with an ad that has gone viral. The ad begins by depicting…
Researchers studied whether subtly being exposed to different colors could change tipping behavior. Anutr Yossundara/Shutterstock.com Although tipping is generally thought to be a voluntary payment meant to express gratitude to a service worker, the history…
More money but not for all Hyejin Kang/Shutterstock.com Richard Tofel, ProPublica’s president and founding general manager, likes to say the U.S. nonprofit news site was “born on third base.” Indeed, when the Pulitzer-winning outlet launched…
By the end of Prohibition, distilled spirits made up more than 75 percent of alcohol sales. Lando Aviles/Shutterstock.com With America in the middle of a flourishing craft beer and craft spirits movement, it’s easy to…
From the late 1920s until his death in 1955, George Platt Lynes was one of the world’s most successful commercial and fine art photographers. His work was included in one of the first exhibitions to…
Documentary filmmaker Janet Jarman works on her film about midwives in Mexico. Matt Cipollone, CC BY When Time magazine named journalists who faced persecution, arrest or murder as their 2018 Person of the Year, it…
There seems be an attractive quality to things that are ostensibly unhealthy or dangerous. Alisusha/Shutterstock.com Each new year, people vow to put an end to self-destructive habits like smoking, overeating or overspending. And how many…
Sometimes the reaction doesn’t go as planned. Lily & Chloe Official/YouTube Parents have long surprised their kids with a family vacation. However, the practice of parents recording their kids’ reactions – and then sharing them…
To feel a pang of pleasure at the misfortune of others is to be human. VixCompaNi/Shutterstock.com In the Pixar animated film “Inside Out,” most of the plot plays out inside protagonist Riley’s head, where five…
‘The Dog’ (1820-1823) by Francisco Goya. Museo del Prado Editor’s note: As we come to the end of the year, Conversation editors take a look back at the stories that – for them – exemplified…