Medieval England had a defamation problem: how people used the law to fight rumours, insults and rivals

Rumour and gossip of sexual impropriety abounded in medieval society. Defamation offered a legal way of protecting a person’s good name.

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The Conversation

Dodos probably weren’t as stupid as historians made them out to be: new research

Dodo skull scans show the famously extinct birds were no less brainy than their surviving relatives – and may have roamed at dusk and dawn.

Sara Citron, PhD Candidate in Neuroscience·Aug 5, 2026

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Aeon

Thucydides the perspicacious

Far from thinking that ‘might makes right’, the great historian’s analysis of war identifies a vice common to all states- by David Polansky & Daniel SchillingerRead on Aeon

David Polansky & Daniel Schillinger·Aug 3, 2026

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The Conversation

Behind the betel nut smile: the quiet epidemic of oral cancer in Papua New Guinea

Chewing betel ‘quid’ is culturally ingrained in PNG. But it is also linked to high oral cancer rates. A new project aims to improve early detection and reporting.

Nerida Bun, Lecturer in Dentistry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Papua New Guinea·Aug 6, 2026

Nautilus

Three Things to Avoid in Middle Age If You Want to Stave Off Dementia

It may be easier said than done The post Three Things to Avoid in Middle Age If You Want to Stave Off Dementia appeared first on Nautilus.

Jake Currie·Aug 5, 2026

Nautilus

This Image from the Dark Energy Camera Is a Bit Van Gogh, No?

Astronomy meets 19th-century art The post This Image from the Dark Energy Camera Is a Bit Van Gogh, No? appeared first on Nautilus.

David Nield·Aug 5, 2026

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Outside Magazine

The Sweat Science 101 Newsletter Series Will Teach You How to Train

I've spent 17 years researching how the human body builds fitness, and I distilled the most important lessons into a new crash course. Read the first installment below, and sign up today to get the rest delivered directly to your inbox. The post The Sweat Science 101 Newsletter Series Will Teach You How to Train appeared first on Outside Online.

awise·Aug 3, 2026