In the centuries since the first coffeehouse was opened in Istanbul in 1554, Turkish coffee has brought together people of different classes, cultures and ranks and helped shape politics and lifestyles, Ali Çaksu, visiting professor of history and political thought at Germany’s Ludwig Maximilian University, told a scientific forum at the University of Sharjah last...
Culture
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The Silent Force Behind Online Echo Chambers? Your Google Search
In an era defined by polarized views on everything from public health to politics, a new Tulane University study offers insight into why people may struggle to change their minds—especially when they turn to the internet for answers. Researchers found that people often use search engines in ways that unintentionally reinforce their existing beliefs. The study, published...
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From Defenders to Skeptics: the Sharp Decline in Young Americans’ Support for Free Speech
For much of the 20th century, young Americans were seen as free speech’s fiercest defenders. But now, young Americans are growing more skeptical of free speech. According to a March 2025 report by The Future of Free Speech, a nonpartisan think tank where I am executive director, support among 18- to 34-year-olds for allowing controversial...
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How Did a Bunny and Colored Eggs Become Easter Symbols? An Expert Has Some Answers
Easter wouldn’t be Easter without a bunny, egg hunts, and festive baskets. Alongside the religious significance of Easter, the story behind the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs involves a mix of pagan rituals, Christian traditions, and 19th century European folklore. Candace Buckner, assistant professor of religion and culture at Virginia Tech, shares more about the...
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On Stage but Out of the Spotlight − the Quiet Struggle of Being an Opening Act
I grew up playing in a lot of different bands, and my bandmates and I always held onto the belief that if we could just open for a more established act, it would pave the way to more success. When I started playing in the indie pop band Passion Pit – a group known for...
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Pikachu Protesters, Studio Ghibli Memes and the Subversive Power of Cuteness
In Antalya, Turkey, in the early hours of March 27, 2025, Pikachu was spotted fleeing the police, making a getaway as fast as his short yellow legs could waddle. The person dressed as the popular Pokémon character had been objecting to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, whose political party later posted on X,...
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Dice, Desire, and Destiny: Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Carmen Takes Center Stage
When Annabelle Lopez Ochoa set out to reimagine Carmen, she wasn’t looking to revive the well-worn story of a fiery seductress caught in a doomed romance. Instead, she sought to unearth something deeper—something urgent and modern. Her Carmen is not a woman ruled by passion, but by purpose. She is a force in motion, claiming...
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Meet the Mexican Soldier Trying to Revamp a Musical Genre Accused of Glorifying Cartels
At a Mexican military base, Captain Eduardo Barrón picks up not a rifle but a microphone. Swaying boot-to-boot, he belts out a song as the sounds of trumpets and accordions roar from a band of a dozen camouflage-clad soldiers. The rhythmic style — known as a corrido — is recognizable to just about every soul...
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The ‘Courage to Be’ in Uncertain Times − How One 20th-Century Philosopher Defined Bravery
Over the past few weeks, as negotiations for a ceasefire in Ukraine drag on, I’ve thought back to Feb. 28, 2025: the day of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s heated visit to the Oval Office. Zelenskyy has called the tone of the meeting “regrettable” as he tries to salvage support for Ukraine. But in some ways, he has...
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What Ancient Animal Fables from India Teach About Political Wisdom
In today’s volatile world, where wars can be fought over territory, commerce can be abruptly subjected to tariffs, and friendly nations can turn hostile after a single election, political leadership is more consequential than ever. So, one must ask, what makes a leader effective, and how should we choose who should lead? Classics such as...
