How distorting are map projections? Here’s what four commonly used systems of projection do to a human head. From the 1921 publication Elements in Map Projection comes this striking demonstration of ...

In classrooms, offices, and libraries across the United States, one world map appears again and again: the Mercator projection. Its familiarity makes it feel authoritative, even though it was never ...

Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Ever since we discovered Earth was round, mapmakers have struggled to create a map that accurately shows our planet in 2D ...