On April 2, 1976, Science Magazine published an article by Linnda R. Caporeal which posited that during the 1692 Salem witchcraft trials, the visions of specters and painful physical sensations described by the girls who claimed to be afflicted by witches could have …

The Salem Witchcraft Trials and ‘Moldy Bread’: A Case Study in Fake News Read More »

Ships in the sky, "monsters" born to unruly women, babies prophesying from their cradles, flying devils: Welcome to the mental world of 17th century New England. Renowned Harvard historian David Hall explores the way that early New Englanders understood their …

Wonders, Portents, and Providences in Early New England Read More »