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.
Astronomy
February 2, 2022

NASA Celebrates James Webb Space Telescope Successfully Reaching Its Destination

NASA is in celebration mode. Its James Webb Space Telescope has successfully deployed, positioning itself almost one million miles from Earth. Folded within a rocket and launched on Christmas Day, the telescope promises to photograph the origins of the universe. Before it can search for ancient light, however, the craft had to unfold a sun shield the size of almost three tennis courts and align its golden mirrors.

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Science
January 28, 2022

Scientists Made an “Everlasting Bubble” That Lasted 465 Days Without Popping

Bubbles are more scientifically complex than one might think. The popular children's activity of blowing bubbles can teach researchers about evaporation. A new study published in Physical Review Fluids marks an exciting milestone in bubble technology. A team from the University of Lille in France created a bubble from a composite liquid film which lasted a whopping 465 days before popping. Typical soap bubbles rarely last longer than a minute in the open air.

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News
January 24, 2022

Amateur Metal Detectorist Discovers 13th-Century Gold Coin Featuring Henry III

Finding buried treasure is a common childhood dream, and some people hold onto this dream as adults, often pursuing a career in archeology. Though rare, there are also instances in which amateur metal detectorists make discoveries that lead to great leaps in knowledge as they are further excavated and studied by professionals. A recent find in a farmer's field in Devon, England, has been particularly exciting for both its amateur, anonymous discoverer and medieval historians.

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Art History
January 22, 2022

How American Benjamin West Became London’s Preeminent Painter During the American Revolution

The American painter Benjamin West lived between two worlds. Born into the 13 American colonies in 1738, West immigrated to London as a young man to further his artistic career. He experienced the American Revolution as an expatriate in the mother country. West's birth across the pond, however, did not hamper his swift rise through the artistic ranks.

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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.