mermaids Dr. Jalondra Davis researches and teaches courses about mermaids Jennifer Sandlin

History Medieval castle toilets doubled as assassination shafts Popkin

books John Shirley's guide to wrecking your career in science fiction John Shirley

politics Trump confirms he is a bigot and a racist Jason Weisberger

Google Earth Bizarre black hole in Pacific Ocean spotted on Google Earth Allan Rose Hill

typography 8 weird punctuation marks that faded from the English language Sam Barton

censorship University of Pennsylvania affiliates face McCarthy-style treatment Natalie Dressed

book banning Texas school district fires 8th grade teacher for assigning Anne Frank's Diary Carla Sinclair

politics Israel strips its Supreme Court of power Rob Beschizza

Comic Books Freaky finds: shopping for comics at Bizarro-Wuxtry Lee Keeler

politics After wins, Biden's job approval ticks up Rob Beschizza

happy mutants My Life on the Road: Farewell to the Chill Séamus Bellamy

Survival tips Lt. Smith and the booby bird — a true tale of survival Mark Frauenfelder

podcasts The Revision Path podcast makes Black history every day Devin Nealy

books School board debates lack of diversity in 'Lord Of The Flies' Thom Dunn

books Check out this new book about the man who read every single Marvel Comic ever written. Thom Dunn

mistakes Gigantic container ship blocks Suez Canal, creating an enormous queue Rob Beschizza

News Trump pardons Steve Bannon, Elliot Broidy, Lil Wayne, others — 73 pardons, 70 commutations Xeni Jardin

police Florida police department tries to un-ironically recreate "Minority Report" Thom Dunn

Trump's America The GOP's Official 2020 platform is literally just a loyalty pledge to Trump Thom Dunn