Posts by Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Staff Editor and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book "Street Art Stories Roma" and most recently contributed to "Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini." You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
Birds
June 4, 2022

Meet the Laughing Kookaburra, the Bird With a Distinctive Call That’s in Hollywood Films

If you've ever watched a movie with a jungle scene, you are probably familiar with the distinct sound that many people believe is a monkey. This “OOOOOO-OOO-OOO-HA-HA-HA-AHAHAHA” is very distinct, yet we never see exactly what animal is making the noise. But if you are from Australia, you certainly know this cackle. It's not a monkey at all, but rather a bird—the laughing kookaburra.

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Photography
June 1, 2022

Ukrainian Family’s Stolen Camera Is Found With Images of Russian Soldiers

Recently, Ukraine's 24th Mechanized Brigade made a remarkable discovery. Inside a destroyed Russian armored vehicle lay a Sony mirrorless camera. After looking at the memory card, it's clear that the camera was stolen from a Ukrainian family by Russian soldiers. As they hadn't bothered to delete the images of the original owners, there were hundreds of family photos. But that wasn't all; there were also 11 photographs and three videos taken by Russian soldiers.

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Nature
May 31, 2022

Watch as Billions of Fireflies Simultaneously Light Up a Nature Reserve in India

Many people who grew up outside of urban centers have fond memories connected to fireflies. Seeing these magical insects light up backyards is a sign of summer and conjures up nostalgic childhood moments. But, have you ever seen billions of fireflies put on a light show so brilliant that they light up an entire forest at the same time? Luckily, Sriram Murali has—and he documented everything for the world to see.

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News
May 27, 2022

Leaked Photos Show Faces of Uyghurs Being Held in Chinese Detention Centers

Since 2017, China has detained roughly 2 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities living in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in what the government says are “vocational skills, education, and training centers.” However, the international community has long suspected that these are actually internment camps meant to suppress Uyghur culture and its Muslim religion.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.