Living as Stateless Palestinians in Jordan

Israel’s war on Gaza that erupted in 2023 continues a long history of systemic displacement of Palestinians. Over 2 million…

Best of SAPIENS 2023

In another year of exceptional challenges and hardships, anthropologists tackled a range of issues and questions about what it means…

How Eugenics Shaped the U.S. Prenatal Care System

Black women in the U.S. are far more likely to die from complications related to pregnancy and birth than White…

The Conversion of Julio Tiwiram

What is shamanic power? And how does it affect modern politics in Indigenous Amazonia? In this episode, we follow the…

The Power of Criminal Prosecutors

“Criminal.” It’s a label that can follow someone around for much of their life. But how does a person become…

A Mass Shooting in the “Evangelical Vatican”

The recent violent attack on Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, happened in a place shaped by decades…

The Nightmare of Pandemic-Era Teaching

Two researchers pull the curtain back to provide a look at the alarming reality of elementary teachers in the United States who are working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When Carbon Credits Drive People From Their Homes

The Alto Mayo Conservation Initiative in Peru is supposed to be an environmental success story. On the ground, it is mired in conflict.

Does DNA Simplify or Complicate Repatriation Claims?

A restitution effort in South Africa illustrates the challenges to scientists, policymakers, and living descendants as they navigate the complex repercussions of genetic analysis for unethically obtained human remains.

We All Live on Permafrost

Thawing permafrost isn’t just a problem facing the Arctic. An anthropologist who works with Indigenous communities in Siberia argues that the way to turn around climate catastrophe is by engaging all knowledge systems.