“A Short History of the Buddhist Schools: From Early Teachings to Global Traditions”

Buddhism, founded in the 5th–6th century BCE in ancient India, has evolved into a vast spiritual tradition practiced by over 500 million people worldwide. Though rooted in the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), over centuries, Buddhism branched into several schools or traditions, each shaped by cultural, linguistic, philosophical, and doctrinal developments. This article provides…

A History of the Bible

Introduction The Bible is not a single book but a library of sacred texts written over more than a thousand years by dozens of different authors. Revered by billions, it is the foundational scripture of Judaism and Christianity, and has profoundly influenced literature, law, art, and philosophy for over two millennia. But the questions of…

“The 113-Million-Year-Old Hell Ant: Scythe-Jawed Predator from the Age of Dinosaurs”

In a remarkable window into the deep past, paleontologists have uncovered the oldest known ant species, a 113-million-year-old insect now classified as a “hell ant.” Preserved in ancient amber, this terrifying yet fascinating ant once roamed the lush Cretaceous forests at the time of dinosaurs. With its scythe-like mandibles and unique horned head, this species…

No Polls, No Machines, Just Hands in the Air: Inside the Swiss Tradition of Landsgemeinde Voting

Introduction In an age dominated by digital ballots, electronic voting machines, and online referendums, one Swiss town maintains a centuries-old democratic tradition that is as simple as it is symbolic. Each year, citizens of Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland’s smallest canton, gather in a public square—not to submit ballots or punch cards, but to raise their hands…

How Devils Tower Got Its Name: The Legend, Misinterpretation, and Sacred Meaning Behind the Monument

Introduction Rising dramatically 1,267 feet above the surrounding plains of northeastern Wyoming, Devils Tower is one of the most recognizable and mysterious landmarks in the United States. Designated as the first U.S. National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, the tower is a geological marvel, a spiritual site for Native American tribes, and a…