There are stigmas attached to tattoos

Around 32% of American adults have at least one tattoo

Tattoos have waxed and waned in popularity over the centuries, depending upon the social standing of their wearers. Throughout US history, they were often considered taboo. However, growing acceptance of tattoos means they’re more visible in the public eye.

Tattoos were once used to identify status

Around 450 BCE, Scythians inhabiting what is now southern Siberia were recorded as wearing tattoos of swirling mythical beasts to signify nobility. At the same time, tattoos have identified lower-status and enslaved people.

Tattoos, explained

Tattoos last because immune cells trap ink beneath the skin—but there's more to the story. This overview looks at how ancient cultures used tattoos for status, spirituality and punishment; how technology like the electric tattoo machine transformed the art form, and where innovations like smart tattoos could take it next.

World Cup athletes use tattoos to convey aspects of their identity—including details of their faith, family, and accomplishments—in the otherwise tightly regulated arena of professional sports.

35% of polled Americans said they'd view people differently if they knew they had a mental illness.

Laser procedures have made tattoo removal much more common

An increasing number of Americans, including high-profile celebrities, get tattoos removed because laser removal has become more advanced and cost-effective. The tattoo industry is adjusting to this mainstream trend.

Tattoos are made by injecting pigments into the skin

Tattoo ink is injected under the skin, which can leave the body open to infections and allergic reactions. While many tattoo artists are licensed professionals who follow sanitary guidelines, that’s not always the case.

Tattoos suppressed during colonization are experiencing a revival

A few decades ago, the distinct facial tattoos worn by Maori people were on the brink of disappearing. Then, Maori artists brought the cultural practice back into the spotlight. This TVNZ story follows one reporter’s mother as, at 59 years old, she receives tā moko from a Maori artist.

The immune system fights tattoos

Our skin is a fascinating organ that wants nothing more than to protect our bodies from the outside world. Tattoos penetrate that protective wall to inject ink directly into the sensitive, immunologically rich layer of skin known as the dermis.

Tattoo inks are largely unregulated by the FDA

With hundreds of ink manufacturers, all unregulated by the FDA, it’s hard to determine the exact ingredients in tattoo inks. Some pigments may contain carcinogenic chemicals, such as heavy metals and aromatic hydrocarbons, or even bacterial contaminants. Red ink often causes allergic reactions and may even contain lead or mercury.

Yakuza gangsters' tattoos often portrayed moments from their lives

Although tattoos have been worn in Japan for centuries, no single group is more famous for their elaborate, full-body tattoos—featuring traditional Japanese art—than Yakuza gangsters. The criminal organization does not use tattoos to mark their association, though. Instead, the scenes are intensely personal.

Harvard and MIT researchers are developing life-saving tattoos

Tattoos aren’t just a fashion statement. Scientists are trying to find life-saving applications for them. Harvard and MIT researchers are developing tattoo inks that react to body chemicals, alerting diabetics to blood sugar fluctuations or athletes to dehydration. Someday, patients may observe their body chemistry with tattoos that change colors.

The body can remove tattoos after they are broken down by laser

Tattoos place blobs of ink below the surface layers of the skin in packets too large for white blood cells to clear out. By breaking the ink into smaller pieces, they can be processed by the immune system, which is responsible for removing foreign matter.

Technological breakthroughs are spurring innovations in the industry

What if you could see your tattoos before they’re embedded in your skin? Or take a virtual visit into a local studio to work out your nerves over a first tattoo? The industry is anticipating some big technological changes, from 3D designs to sci-fi upgrades to more precise tattoo guns.

There's a widespread taboo around talking about money in the US, but that taboo is widely different across the lower and upper classes, as well as amongst different races.

In the United States, asking someone how much money they make (or any questions about money, really) has long been considered rude. But where did this social norm come from originally? And why do Americans still feel so awkward talking about money? This article from The Atlantic takes a deep dive into the socioeconomic forces that created the money taboo. Read the full piece here.

'Skin stitching' is an ancient tattoo method that's made a comeback

In the slow method, artists use needles to puncture the skin. Then, pigmented thread is drawn through the punctures to create the tattoo, resembling embroidery in the flesh. The method is experiencing a cultural revival within Canada’s First Nations communities.

Sailor tattoos represent naval milestones

Sailors often come home with mermaids or turtles adorning their bodies. But what does it mean to have permanent images of propellers on your bum, British galleons with soaring tiers of sails on your chest, or a bicep portrait of the Roman god Neptune? Those tattoos represent meaningful naval milestones.

Tattoo removal breaks apart ink particles

Tattoos place ink below the skin's surface layers in packets too large for white blood cells to clear out. By breaking the ink into smaller pieces, the immune system, which is responsible for removing foreign matter, can process them.

Women in WWII used tattoos to avoid capture

During World War II, Japanese soldiers kidnapped women from Southeast Asian countries and forced them into sexual slavery. But they hesitated to capture married women, a fact that women from the island of Timor exploited, painstakingly poking tattoos onto their bodies that marked them as married women.

How 'the Iceman' got his tattoos remains a mystery

Ötzi the Iceman, discovered in 1991, is one of the oldest human mummies ever found—and his 61 tattoos remain a mystery. This explainer looks at how researchers believe the tattoos were made, what their placement suggests about ancient medicine and culture, and why we’re still piecing together their true purpose today.

Google Search trends reveal truths about society that traditional surveys miss

Studies of human behavior show that survey respondents may lie to present themselves more favorably. By studying anonymous search data, researchers have uncovered hidden racism, mental health struggles, and interest in taboo or stigmatized topics.

Does our fear of Alzheimer's create stigma around its treatment?

Surveys suggest our fear of Alzheimer's as a disease outranks that of heart disease and cancer. This piece argues our fear of aging and the slipping away of our mental capacities make it more difficult to treat Alzheimer's compassionately.

'Magic ink' is redefining the tattoo

One University of Colorado professor has developed an ink that can be "turned on" with exposure to UV light, and "turned off" with sunlight. While the ink could help those who want to hide their body art from family members or coworkers, there are potential uses for medical procedures.

'Tattoo' comes from a Polynesian word that means 'to strike'

“Tatatau” roughly translates to “strike,” a reference to the ancient process, which involved tapping ink into the skin with sharpened objects, like the bronze implements used circa 1450 BCE in Egypt, below.

Many journalists are shying away from sharing mug shots when reporting crime

News outlets used to cover crime with mug shots of the accused. Some outlets even published mug shot photo galleries, collections of easily acquired content that drove clicks and, hopefully, advertising dollars. However, this practice has fallen out of favor as journalists question the lasting impact of immortalizing mug shots of accused perpetrators, at least some of whom are ultimately cleared of the alleged crime.

Bidets have been considered taboo throughout US history

While bidets are a typical household essential in Europe, Asia, and South America, they remain uncommon in the US. Associations with infertility, the aristocracy, and brothels helped fuel their unpopularity in the states.

Removal of different color tattoo inks may require multiple lasers

Light needs to be absorbed by ink particles to break them down into small enough pieces for the immune system to eliminate. Color ink reflects, rather than absorbs, lasers of the same color, while black ink absorbs all colored lasers.

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The world’s oldest tattoos belong to 'Iceman' Ötzi

Ötzi is the corpse of "the Iceman" found in the Alps along the Italian and Austrian border in 1991. His mummified body was covered with lines and crosses along the “hard-working” areas of his body, signifying their potential application for therapeutic pain management.

Mental health symptoms may manifest differently across cultures because physical and mental health are imbued with values, beliefs, and traditions.

A 2020 poll found around 50% of Americans believe ghosts and demons are real

Ghosts are typically represented as sad and still retaining some of their humanity. Demons are more associated with evil and the devil, without any connection to being human.

Americans are historically more supportive of free speech than people in most other countries

A 2016 survey of 38 countries found that the US scored highest in support for free expression, with 71% of Americans saying people should be able to say what they want without government censorship, more than in any other nation surveyed.

40% of Americans polled by Pew Research Center felt pessimistic about marriage

Black and Asian respondents reported more pessimism about marriage than white or Hispanic respondents. Over half of Republicans feel negatively about the future of marriage, while only 25% of Democrats felt the same.

JK Rowling’s comments on transgender issues have sparked controversy and boycotts

Since 2019, Rowling’s public statements on gender and trans issues have prompted widespread backlash, leading many fans to attempt to distance her views from the Harry Potter series.

The first tattoo gun was based on an electric pen invented by Thomas Edison.

Two-spirit relationships and identities

Queer relationships and transgender people aren’t new. Even though gay marriage has been legalized fairly recently in Western countries, people all over the world have engaged in relationships beyond heterosexuality throughout the centuries. Although contemporary tribes have various views around homosexuality, there are numerous examples of queer relationships within indigenous traditions across what is now called the Americas.

More than half of American adults believe in the afterlife

It’s hard to find actual data regarding ghosts, but a survey conducted by Pew Research Group in 2023, revealed that around half of the US adult population believes ghosts can interact with the living, with most thinking that spirits can help rather than harm us.

A growing number of autism researchers with the disorder are reshaping the field.

Global support for free speech and press freedom has declined since 2019

A 2025 Pew Research survey found that the share of people worldwide who consider free speech and press freedom important has declined over the past several years, even though majorities in most countries still say these rights matter.

Researchers have investigated the benefits of extreme pain rituals, exploring how and why we engage in these events when humans generally naturally avoid pain and perceive it as a negative experience.

Fear or disgust related to clusters of holes and cracks, called trypophobia, may stem from evolutionary processes to help us avoid pathogens.

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A 2026 survey found that Dolly Parton is far more popular in the US than the world's politicians.

Studies show immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans

Research examining incarceration records and crime data generally finds that immigrants—including undocumented individuals—have lower crime and incarceration rates than US-born citizens, though measurement is limited by gaps in national data on immigration status.

Debunk common myths about Social Security

Myths include the pervasive ideas that undocumented immigrants drain Social Security, members of Congress don't pay into Social Security, the program itself is “going broke,” and more.

South Koreans appear to be losing interest in K-pop

K-pop fandoms don’t seem to be losing steam in the US, but apparently, South Korean fans are less interested in their domestic music industry. A number of factors could be contributing to this dwindling passion, such as scandals with idols, BTS’ hiatus, and less dependency on media after COVID-19. Currently, there’s no panic that the industry is dying, but there is increasing concern that the future will not be quite as bright as the past.

College majors ranked by median resulting student debt

As of 2023, student loans were the third-largest category of US household debt at $1.6T. But not all student debt is created equal. Statistically, some majors incur more debt than others. Behavioral science majors, for instance, had the highest median student debt as of 2022.

Sharp partisan divides shape how Americans view immigration enforcement

A January 2026 survey shows large party gaps: Both sides broadly support recording arrests, but Democrats are much more likely than Republicans to support sharing officer locations and to oppose profiling, masked officers, and neighborhood-based enforcement.

35% of Americans have moved on from their childhood religion

A new Pew Research analysis finds that most Americans still identify with their childhood religion, but 35% have switched or left entirely—often due to lost belief or drifting away.

How to consider the ethics of 3-parent IVF, which is illegal in the US

Ethical concerns with this controversial procedure include that a little bit of a child's offspring would be from a third person and that the decisions made with this pregnancy will affect numerous generations, making a permanent change to the gene pool.