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Peta Greenfield

Peta is a historian and podcaster who loves nothing more than dusting off old books and reading about obscure priestesses and Roman consuls.

Ideas

The Antikythera Mechanism is the ultimate ancient nerd puzzle

A new theoretical model for the Antikythera Mechanism suggests we're really close to cracking the case on this puzzling artefact!

The Antikythera Mechanism is the ultimate ancient nerd puzzle
Art & Culture

Mechanical Keyboard: Life Side Quest

A wooden keyboard nerd embarks on a quest for a mechanical keyboard and falls in love with Melbourne along the way.

Mechanical Keyboard: Life Side Quest
Ideas

Building the history of Korea

The humble plastic brick can allow you to build history, explore perspectives, and come to a deeper appreciation for humanity's complexity.

Building the history of Korea
Art & Culture

Frank Gehry reaches new heights in home town Toronto

The Toronto towers project looks set to be Gehry's tallest exploration yet. How does this homecoming sit within the wider arc of his work?

Frank Gehry reaches new heights in home town Toronto
Ideas

King Island blows (in the best possible way)

Harnessing the ocean as a renewable energy source is taking off. And Australia is well placed to ride that wave!

King Island blows (in the best possible way)
Ideas

Science is perfecting transparent wood aka how to ruin a Trojan horse

Advances in creating transparent wood are becoming both sustainable and exciting! Imagine what you could achieve with this material...

Science is perfecting transparent wood aka how to ruin a Trojan horse
Games

D&D Ravenloft: Lineages to sink your teeth into

The Unearthed Arcana lineages have the potential to change you quite literally. Thinking Ravenloft? It’s worth knowing what you’re in for!

D&D Ravenloft: Lineages to sink your teeth into
Media

Bridgerton and the Netflixification of English Regency history

While Bridgerton brings us hot Regency action, how does its focus and diversity clash or gel with Austen's works from the time?

Bridgerton and the Netflixification of English Regency history
Games

Settlers of Catan: my family Christmas tradition

Every family has its traditions. Some involve a land called Catan. Herein is an exploration of the ritual that defines my Christmas.

Settlers of Catan: my family Christmas tradition
Ideas

Twilight Struggle and why we’re still obsessed with the Cold War

What if a board game could give us the chance to play out the Cold War and figure out just why the US-Russia conflict is so fascinating?

Twilight Struggle and why we’re still obsessed with the Cold War
Ideas

Game of Houses: the secret power in European royal history

What happens when you look at family lines through matrilineal data instead of the fathers? You find a cool new way to appreciate history.

Game of Houses: the secret power in European royal history
Art & Culture

Lore Olympus: the power of retelling myth

What Lore Olympus changes about Greek myth can reveal things about the stories we tell and the way we tell them.

Lore Olympus: the power of retelling myth
Games

Red Outpost boardgame: a communist utopia?

Red Outpost is marketed as a "Communist Utopia", but does the game play really stack up? Let's get a little political and find out.

Red Outpost boardgame: a communist utopia?
Movies

Dune Buggy: What to do while you wait for Dune to be released

As we await Paul Atreides and the dubious pleasures of “the spice”, here are tips for passing the time between now and later 2021.

Dune Buggy: What to do while you wait for Dune to be released
Art & Culture

I'm a lockdown Odysseus: Why Assassin's Creed is my go-to game

While others found tabletop simulators and and online D&D helped overcome their isolation, I found that I didn't want my odyssey to end.

I'm a lockdown Odysseus: Why Assassin's Creed is my go-to game
Technology

Vindolanda: a dead obsession

It's time to get your would-be child detective on the case. There's a historical mystery to solve and it starts with human bones!

Vindolanda: a dead obsession
Media

Your excitable history lesson on Netflix's Blood of Zeus

Our resident historian goes deep on what Greek myths the new Netflix anime looks like it will be digging into.

Your excitable history lesson on Netflix's Blood of Zeus
Games

Why is Baldur's Gate 3 being filled with bog standard white dudes?

The early release of Baldur's Gate 3 might sound promising, but it's a sad to see most players are just creating 'default Vault Dwellers'.

Why is Baldur's Gate 3 being filled with bog standard white dudes?
Movies

Power in Rebecca: is age just a number?

80 years of adaptations show that Rebecca's dark story of disempowerment and deceit keeps shifting the age dynamics of its leading characters.

Power in Rebecca: is age just a number?