Tracing the Evolution of Language

Michael Gavin, associate professor of human dimensions of natural resources at Colorado State University, and other researchers across six disciplines formed a unit (in 2010) with the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History and they’re on a mission to better understand why our species, collectively, speaks over 7,000 distinct languages. They began by reviewing existing studies (language studies around the equator and …

TONL is Making Stock Photography Less White

While stock photography is meant to represent everyday lives of everyday people, it’s overwhelmingly (and inaccurately) white. With the belief that diversity leads to innovation, Karen Okonkwo and Joshua Kissi founded TONL—a stock photography company that aims to expand the ways in which black people are represented in visual culture and show those who are, right now, incredibly underrepresented. The thousands of photos (set to …

New Study Proves Art Can Help With Wellness

According to a British all-party inquiry, it’s evident that involvement in the arts can “keep people well, aid recovery from illness, help people live longer, better lives and save money in health and social services.” With case studies and research gathered over two years, the study focused on people suffering from all kinds of ailments (from depression to recovering from a stroke) who undertook various …