A Birth Certificate Is a Person’s First Possession
Around the world, the document establishes legal, social, and economic legitimacy. But it also makes compromises. An Object Lesson.
Object Lessons
Articles published in partnership with Object Lessons
How the Index Card Cataloged the World
Carl Linnaeus, the father of biological taxonomy, also had a hand in inventing this tool for categorizing anything. An Object Lesson.
Dog Poo, an Environmental Tragedy
When industrial fertilizer replaced dung heaps, its spoils helped fund the spread of plastics. An Object Lesson.
How a Glass Terrarium Changed the World
The Wardian case made intercontinental plant transport possible—and helped spread empires. An Object Lesson.
How Racial Data Gets 'Cleaned' in the U.S. Census
The national survey offers more identity choices than ever—until those choices get scrubbed away. An Object Lesson.
The Saintliness of Undecayed Corpses
In the medieval church, “incorrupt” remains signaled virtue, chastity, and holiness. An Object Lesson.
Your Bones Live On Without You
The human skeleton inspires wonder and terror because it lasts much longer than its owner. An Object Lesson.
The Underclass Origins of the Little Black Dress
The upper classes once imposed the fashion staple on their servants—then they stole it back from them. An Object Lesson.
How to Escape a Death Spiral
The aviator’s hazard offers a lesson about responding to supposed crises. An Object Lesson.
The Contentious Physics of Wiffle Ball
An engineer sheds light on the ball’s much-debated curve. An Object Lesson.