Posts by Madeleine Muzdakis

Madeleine Muzdakis

Madeleine Muzdakis is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and a historian of early modern Britain & the Atlantic world. She holds a BA in History and Mathematics from Brown University and an MA in European & Russian Studies from Yale University. Madeleine has worked in archives and museums for years with a particular focus on photography and arts education. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, film photography, and studying law while cuddling with her cat Georgia.
Animals
December 28, 2023

Reindeer Are Multitaskers That Eat and Sleep at the Same Time To Pack on Weight for Winter

Santa's reindeer must be tired from Christmas exertions, but reindeer around the world are preparing for a different feat. They must survive the long arctic winter of little daylight and freezing temperatures. Their northern peers choose different paths to stay alive, including hibernation and packing on the fat for leaner days. For reindeer, the latter technique is critical to survival. A layer of fat is protective and sustaining—and that fat comes from ambitious eating.

Read Article

Astronomy
December 21, 2023

Sun Erupts With the Largest Solar Flares Seen in Years

NASA watches the universe and reports back on the amazing phenomena it witnesses with its incredible array of telescopes, cameras, and sensors. On December 14, 2023, NASA captured something spectacular and beautiful from their Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). SDO is part of NASA's Living With a Star (LWS) Program. The craft studies the Sun's magnetic field from its specially crafted orbit that always keeps the Sun in view.

Read Article

News
December 6, 2023

Prized ‘Inverted Jenny’ Stamp Sells for $1.7 Million

Everyone has their hobby, and one of the most paradigmatic is stamp collecting. The hobby has existed since the 19th century when adhesive stamps began to be created, sold, and used. Enthusiasts can count among their members John Lennon, Amelia Earhart, Freddie Mercury, and King George V. But few of even the most elite stamp collectors get to purchase the stamp-collecting holy grail, the Inverted Jenny.

Read Article

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.