Originally, Poe envisioned a parrot — not a raven

Quoth the parrot — "Squawk! Nevermore."

The Green Parrot by Vincent van Gogh, 1886
Culture & Religion
  • Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) is considered one of America's great writers.
  • Poe penned his most famous poem, The Raven, in his 30s.
  • Originally, the poem's feathered subject was a bit flamboyant.
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Could Kevin Hart have 'evolved' since posting his controversial tweets? Yes, says science.

People's views can change. What do we do with that?

Photo credit: Paras Griffin / Getty Images
Culture & Religion
  • Decade-old tweets by Kevin Hart, directed at gay men, have recently enflamed controversy.
  • 2016 studies suggest that people's outlook and opinions can dramatically change over time.
  • His hosting the Academy Awards ceremony could signal a message of redemption in terms of LGBT alliance.
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Could marijuana help the first Martians with anxiety?

An out-of-this-world high.

Movie still from Luc Besson's 1997 sci-fi film "The Fifth Element"
Mind & Brain
  • The first human colonists on Mars are expected to endure intense amounts of stress while adapting to the planet.
  • Their maintaining mental wellbeing is critical for successful colonization efforts.
  • In a 2018 study, participants perceived a 58 percent reduction in anxiety and stress following cannabis use.
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Why millions of Americans didn’t vote during the midterms

Fall is a bad time to hold elections.

Photo credit: Joshua Lott / Getty Images
Politics & Current Affairs
  • Usually, only about 40 percent of eligible voters participate in midterm elections.
  • Political philosopher John Stuart Mill believed it would be for the collective good if everybody voted.
  • Because of logistics, we may need to change the time of year we vote.
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