Articles written by Jenny Ashford
Showing 62 Articles
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Pew Poll Measures Attitudes About Science
A 2009 series of polls demonstrated that Americans liked the fruits of science, but were still confused and wary on specific issues.
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History and Structure of the Ponzi Scheme
For at least a century, people have been falling prey to the seductive returns of this phantom investment.
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H.P. Lovecraft and Modern Horror Fiction
Though H.P. Lovecraft lived in relative poverty and obscurity, his work has become one of the major foundations of present-day speculative fiction.
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The Atheist Bus Ad Campaign
A modest proposal by a writer in the UK has led to an explosion of fundraising and advertising by atheist and humanist groups in several countries.
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The Controversy Over Facilitated Communication
Though facilitated communication has been used to purportedly help autistics and other impaired persons, studies have been unable to establish its effectiveness.
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Supreme Court Case Salazar v. Buono
The presence of a Christian symbol on public land has spurred a drawn-out debate on legal standing and the Establishment Clause.
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Why the World Won't End in 2012
Tremendous hype surrounds purported apocalyptic scenarios, but the fears about 2012 are based on fictions.
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The Vaccine and Autism Scare
Discredited studies and misunderstandings have led to a public panic about vaccination. The panic has already caused great harm.
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Dr. John Polidori and The Vampyre
Though Dracula and Lestat are far better known today, modern vampire literature owes a great deal to Polidori's Lord Ruthven.
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John Brinkley and the Birth of Radio Advertising
John R. Brinkley raked in enormous sums by scamming the public, but his quackery eventually caught up with him.
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John Brinkley and the Goat Gland Fraud
A 19th-century diploma mill doctor, Brinkley's extraordinary career was a monument to full-scale quackery.
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The Discovery of the Smallpox Vaccine
Though Edward Jenner is credited with developing the first smallpox vaccine, inoculation had long been practiced in other parts of the world.
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The Varied Fashions of the Gothic Subculture
Though the gothic subculture sprang largely from musical movements, the goth look is nearly as important, and can be just as variable as the music.
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The Murder at Road Hill House
The grisly murder of a three-year-old boy in 19th-century England caused a national sensation and inspired many early crime writers.
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Elizabeth Siddal – Pre-Raphaelite Model and Muse
Though she was a poet and artist in her own right, Lizzie Siddal is best known as the idealized model of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
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Bauhaus and the Birth of Gothic Rock
21st century goth music in all its permutations had a common root in a vampiric single from the late 1970s.
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Explaining the Near Death Experience
Though many people who have undergone a near-death experience believe they have glimpsed an "afterlife," the explanation may be simple brain chemistry.
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How To Fake Stigmata
For centuries, so-called "stigmatics" have amazed believers with their miraculous wounds, but skeptical analysis points to fraud.
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A History and Overview of Caerphilly Castle
This breathtaking 13th century structure, built as a bulwark against invasion, is one of the largest and most scenic in Britain.
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Rembrandt's Women
Rembrandt's three main loves acted as muses and models, but contributed to the chaos and scandal of his life.
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Origins and Structure of Cockney Rhyming Slang
This particular feature of East End slang is like a clever word game, and has even infiltrated the colloquial British English lexicon.
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Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol
The early 20th century venue was famous for its gruesome scenes of violence, but comedies and dramas were also common fare.
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The Controversial "Hobbits" of Flores
The discovery of Homo floresiensis sparked furious debate over its place in the ancient human lineage.
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Deciphering the Archimedes Palimpsest
A chance discovery and the application of high tech tools helped uncover several works of the great mathematician, feared lost for centuries.
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Ergotism and the Salem Witch Trials
Some scholars assert that the mass hysteria in Massachusetts in the 17th century could have been triggered by a common fungus.
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Sicilian Painter Mario Minniti
Though artist Mario Minniti is barely remembered outside of his native Sicily, his work was highly sought after during his lifetime.
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A Brief History of the Giallo Film
Born of the pulp crime novels of the 1930s, the giallo came into its own on screen, culminating in classic films from legendary Italian directors.
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Evolution by Sexual Selection
From giant moose antlers to stunning peacock feathers, nature may owe a great deal of its beauty and diversity to the sexual impulse.
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William Kingsland's Stolen Art Stash
The discovery of a huge cache of pilfered artwork has authorities working to find the rightful owners.
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The Greatest Unsolved Art Thefts
While most of the thousands of art thefts around the world are solved rather quickly, a few cases have proved frustrating for authorities.
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More Graphic Design Basics
Type, contrast and white space, when utilized correctly, can improve your designs immensely.
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Graphic Design Basics
The art of communicating through graphic design can be refined with just a few simple principles, including concept and artwork.
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Mass Murderer H. H. Holmes
Though H. H. Holmes was undoubtedly a convicted killer, the more lurid crimes attributed to him may have been media hype.
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A Short History of the Corset
In the dogged pursuit of an hourglass figure, people have subjected themselves to many extreme undergarments.
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Absinthe and the Arts
Absinthe, commonly referred to as the 'green fairy,' drew many 19th-century artists and writers into its mysterious web.
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Caravaggio's Criminal History
Caravaggio is considered one of the greatest and most influential artists in history, but his genius had an extremely dark side.
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Causes of Five Mass Extinctions
In the 3.5-billion-year history of life, there have been many relatively sudden reductions in species, five of which are considered major.
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Comparing Chimpanzees and Bonobos
Though the commonly held views of violent chimps and peaceful bonobos is exaggerated, there is some truth behind the stereotypes.
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The Politics of Coffeehouses
Since the date of their earliest establishment, coffeehouses have been hotbeds of radical politics and the free exchange of ideas.
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History and Mystery: The Infamous Hope Diamond
Though claims of its infamous curse are fictitious, the Hope (or "Tavernier") Diamond nonetheless has a history filled with intrigue and mystery.
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Dutch Baroque Artist Gerard ter Borch
A painter of the Dutch "Golden Age," Gerard ter Borch brought depth to a stock style of painting and still amazes viewers with his virtuoso rendering of satin.
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Female Serial Killer Belle Gunness
In the early 1900's Belle Gunness murdered dozens of men and children for insurance money, and may have faked her own death in a fire.
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The Pagan Origins of Easter
Though it is one of the most sacred days on the Christian calendar, the trappings of Easter are derived from pagan practices.
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Mary Shelley, Frankenstein & the Summer of 1816
A strange gathering of intellectual luminaries during one "haunted summer" produced one of literature's most enduring creations.
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More Common Myths About Evolution
Evolution, almost exclusively among scientific theories, generates passionate debate mainly based on false assumptions.
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Common Myths About Evolution
Despite scientists' certainty that evolution occurs, a large percentage of the population still harbors misconceptions about the theory.
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Pre-Christian Versions of Noah's Ark
Sumerians, Babylonians, Greeks, and possibly ancient Hindus told deluge stories that predate the Biblical account.
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Archaeopteryx and Bird Flight
Archaeopteryx is almost definitely a link between dinosaurs and modern birds, but there is still debate as to how - or even if - it ever flew.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart & Leopold Mozart
Biographers' accounts differ about the nature of the relationship between the musical genius and his strict father.
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Ancient Origins of Christmas Traditions
The modern version of Christmas is an amalgam of many pagan traditions from early civilizations, especially that of the ancient Romans.
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Inquisitions of the Middle Ages
For nearly six centuries, the Catholic Church operated a series of inquisitions for the purpose of wiping out heresy and witchcraft.
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The Video Nasties Controversy
At the dawn of the home video era, the British government found itself in the middle of a furor over extreme horror films.
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The Evolution of Human Speech
Language is one of the most successful adaptations of the human lineage, and scientists are striving to discover where it all started.
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American, Canadian, British Health Care Systems
The US, Canada and the UK take very different approaches to providing health care to their citizens, both in funding and dispensing of care.
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John Singer Sargent's Madame X
Though Madame X is today regarded as one of the great American paintings, Sargent's masterwork shattered the reputation of its subject, Amelie Gautreau.
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Big Pit National Coal Museum in Wales
Explore a real coal mine, visit a mining museum, and learn about the mining industry in South Wales.
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Dan-yr-Ogof Showcaves in Wales, UK
The National Showcaves Centre in Wales is a beautiful natural attraction, boasting three amazing caves, as well as a dinosaur park, a fossil museum, and much more.
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Nick Cave's Songs of Women and Violence
Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave has always had a thing for killing women.
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Master Forger Han Van Meegeren
Han Van Meegeren made a fortune and a reputation forging paintings and fooling Nazis.
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Edwards vs. Aguillard
Creationists changed tactics after this historic court ruling.
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The Shroud of Turin Debunked
Though true believers are keeping the faith, evidence points to a clever fake.
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Dutch Painter Jan Lievens
Jan Lievens was once considered Rembrandt's equal, but is largely forgotten today.
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