Essential Knowledge

Articles by authors in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series. Written by leading thinkers, the series offers accessible, concise books on subjects that range from the cultural and the historical to the scientific and the technical.

Latest Articles

Science & Tech	A Prehistory of Scientific Racism The author of “Whiteness” traces the evolution of race as a social and political instrument, from its beginnings in ancient hierarchies through European colonial expansion and into contemporary times. Martin Lund \| Sep 10
Science & Tech	The Myths and Lore of the Milky Way To look up at the sky and see a road for the gods, a great river, or the final resting place of your ancestors is deeply human. Or Graur \| Aug 1
Economics	The Deep and Enduring History of Universal Basic Income While the concept stretches back centuries, it has garnered significant attention in recent decades. Karl Widerquist \| Mar 7
Science & Tech	A Brief 200-Year History of Synesthesia Richard Cytowic, a pioneering researcher who returned synesthesia to mainstream science, traces the historical evolution of our understanding of the phenomenon. Richard E. Cytowic \| Nov 16, 2023
Science & Tech	What Are Flashbulb Memories? An excerpt from “Memory,” a primer on human memory, its workings, feats, and flaws, by two leading psychological researchers. Fergus Craik and Larry Jacoby \| Jun 26, 2023
Science & Tech	A Brief History of Secret Communication Methods, From Invisible Ink to Tattooed Heads Despite the dangers, secret communication is at the heart of espionage operations and essential for spy work. Kristie Macrakis \| Apr 20, 2023
Culture	If Walls Could Speak: Echoes as a Link to the Past Both acoustic and metaphorical, echo evokes the void left by what had been and is no longer. Amit Pinchevski \| Mar 13, 2023
Science & Tech	The Future of Fertility Technology, From Technosemen to Uterine Transplants How will future generations come to be? There is no straightforward answer. Donna J. Drucker \| Mar 9, 2023
Science & Tech	How Expectations and Conditioning Shape Our Response to Placebos Kathryn Hall, an expert on placebos, considers the ways that expectations and learning affect our response to them. Kathryn T. Hall \| Jan 12, 2023
Science & Tech	History's Great Recommenders: From Ancient Times to Tomorrow For as long as humans have existed, they have sought new tools, techniques, and technologies in their personal quests for actionable advice. Michael Schrage \| Dec 5, 2022