A new study suggests the Rapa Nui may have developed their Rongorongo writing system independently before Europeans arrived in 1722, potentially making it the last independent invention of writing in human history

How did Seferis put it: “Centuries of poison; generations of poison.” You might think we have earned the right to speak and sing freely—but still, the battles must be fought again.

Merriam-Webster’s latest edition adds terms from tech, social media, and modern culture, reflecting the language of today’s digital world