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  • In pictures

Electric marvels in the age of enlightenment

How our understanding of electricity has grown, from novelty to the pulse of modern life – and the inner fire that powers the human machine.

  • Article

Surviving a flesh-eating disease

Nearly dying from a skin infection gave Scott Neill a chance to start again after an early life marked by grief and depression.

  • Article

The healing power of breathing

The healing powers of different breathing methods are said to help with a range of health challenges, from asthma to PTSD. Effie Webb traces their spiritual origins and explores the modern proliferation of breathwork therapies.

  • Article

The birth of the public museum

The first public museums evolved from wealthy collectors’ cabinets of curiosities and were quickly recognised as useful vehicles for culture.

All stories (20)

Images

  • Unhygienic practices which lead to cholera. Colour lithograph by the Ukraine Military Sanitary Directorate, Sanitary Enlightenment Department of the Kiev Region, 1921.
  • Unhygienic practices which lead to cholera. Colour lithograph by the Ukraine Military Sanitary Directorate, Sanitary Enlightenment Department of the Kiev Region, 1921.
  • Buddha, resisting the demons of Mara, who are attempting to prevent him from attaining enlightenment, as angels watch from above. Lithograph.
  • A man with a lamp shade on his head surrounded by a halo of light with the words "réveillez-vous" (Wake up!) across his jumper; representing enlightenment about AIDS. Colour silk screen print after Glen Baxter, 1993.
  • An Enlightened Policy in Morocco
  • S. Burroughs in Arab dress. Picture from "An Enlightened Policy in Morocco".
  • Vaccinae vindicia; or, defence of vaccination: containing a refutation of the cases, and reasonings on the same, in Dr. Rowley's and Dr. Moseley's late extraordinary pamphlets against vaccination. In two letters to Dr. Moseley. With the Report of the Medical Council of the Royal Jennerian Society. And the debate in the House of Commons (July 2, 1806) on a motion by Lord Henry Petty, for enlightening the people of England on the subject of vaccination ... / [Robert John Thornton].
  • Vaccinae vindicia; or, defence of vaccination: containing a refutation of the cases, and reasonings on the same, in Dr. Rowley's and Dr. Moseley's late extraordinary pamphlets against vaccination. In two letters to Dr. Moseley. With the Report of the Medical Council of the Royal Jennerian Society. And the debate in the House of Commons (July 2, 1806) on a motion by Lord Henry Petty, for enlightening the people of England on the subject of vaccination ... / [Robert John Thornton].
  • Vaccinae vindicia; or, defence of vaccination: containing a refutation of the cases, and reasonings on the same, in Dr. Rowley's and Dr. Moseley's late extraordinary pamphlets against vaccination. In two letters to Dr. Moseley. With the Report of the Medical Council of the Royal Jennerian Society. And the debate in the House of Commons (July 2, 1806) on a motion by Lord Henry Petty, for enlightening the people of England on the subject of vaccination ... / [Robert John Thornton].
  • A stippled impression of a woman pulling away from a man on a bed pulling her skirt up; advertising the danger of AIDS. Colour lithograph by Eugenio Dittborn, ca. 1995.
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Events

  • Discussion

Experiencing Ear Trumpets in the Enlightenment

Online
Available to watch

Part of Exploring Research

  • British Sign Language
  • Auto-captioned
All events (1)