Technology How the introduction of the push-button in the late 19th century freaked people out Gareth Branwyn

19th century Is War and Peace worth reading? A review Mark Frauenfelder

mechanics 1890s mechanical device sounds exactly like a bird singing Andrea James

books The magnificent early age of book covers Clive Thompson

History The cabinet card fad saw 19th-century women dressing in ridiculous costumes Andrea James

movies Atlas Obscura's list of 12 places to have a retro movie theater experience Popkin

law Low Rider Culture and "No Cruise Zones" in California. Elías Villoro

art Over 1000 engravings from the 19th century interact in this peice of video art Popkin

Weird Check out the Mighty Atom: the strangest old-school strongman Devin Nealy

music Burt Bacharach, iconic songwriter of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," RIP David Pescovitz

religion Conspirituality: A podcast that dismantles New Age cults, wellness grifters, and conspiracy-mad yogis Elías Villoro

nightmare fuel Nightmarish prototype of a wind-up creeping baby doll Mark Frauenfelder

HDSF Cereans live on Ceres (in the future) Jesse Sheidlower

chemistry Trying to recreate a stink so foul it was considered dangerous to smell Gareth Branwyn

Ancient Apocalpyse Archaeologist David Wengrow pushes back against Ancient Apocalypse—and urges us to consider the power of everyday people Jennifer Sandlin

books A Cajun Night Before Christmas turns 50 Jennifer Sandlin

new york A tour of artist Katwise's incredible psychedelic home in upstate New York Rusty Blazenhoff

music Here is the wonderfully avant-garde Kate Bush Christmas TV Special from 1979 with special guest Peter Gabriel David Pescovitz

Starbucks' union-busting tactics shared by others Elías Villoro