History

April 13, 2023

Researcher Uses UV Light to Uncover Hidden Chapter of the Bible

Recycling isn't something new. For thousands of years, different cultures have gotten creative about using the materials they had on hand. This includes medieval scribes, who were responsible for writing important manuscripts. When materials were scarce, they would look for existing texts considered to be of lower value and wash or scrape the ink off the pages. Then, they'd go about writing a new text on the fresh, blank pages.

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March 22, 2023

A Light-Hearted History of April Fools’ Day, an Unofficial Holiday Celebrated Around the World

Happy April Fools' Day! Every year on April 1st, fun-loving jokesters dupe, deceive, and play pranks on others—all under the guise of honoring an unofficial holiday. Have you ever wondered why we have a day dedicated to making mischief? Although pinpointing the exact origin of the humorous holiday is tricky, countries around the world have reveled in their own versions of April Fools' Day for centuries.

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March 12, 2023

How To Listen to 10,000 of the First Phonograph Recordings Ever Made

Want to hear history? Through the University of California Santa Barbara Cylinder Audio Archive, the tunes and voices of over a hundred years ago can be projected from your computer or phone. The internet archive compiled over 10,000 wax cylinder recordings—known as phonograph cylinders—from the earliest years of sound recordings. Invented by Thomas Edison in 1877, the phonograph became a vehicle for late 19th and very early 20th-century sound.

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March 3, 2023

3,000-Year-Old Greek Olive Tree in Greece Still Grows Olives

Trees have a certain steadfast, understated beauty. Their longevity means they see people, seasons, and even historical events come and go. Some trees have seen more than others. One twisted, magnificent olive tree in the village of Ano Vouves on the Greek island of Crete has seen millennia spanning from the fall of the Roman Empire to the return of the Olympics to Athens in 2004.

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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.