History

September 19, 2020

Artificial Intelligence Revitalizes 1902 Footage of a “Flying Train” Ride Through a German Town

If you've ever wondered what life was like in the early 20th century, look to the footage of The Flying Train for a peek. Shot in 1902, the short motion picture captures stunning views of a German town from the windows of the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn, a suspended railway. It takes us on a tour of a typical day way back then: chickens prance across stone-paved streets, women walk with children, and horses pull heavy carts.

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August 26, 2020

Artist Combines Artifacts With AI To Create Realistic Portraits of Roman Emperors

You're likely familiar with the names Augustus, Nero, and Caligula. They are Roman emperors who lived long ago, but they remain embedded in popular imagination since the fall of the last ruler in 476 CE. They've been immortalized as busts and statues in museums, but a new project is helping to visualize what these people would've really looked like while alive.

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August 24, 2020

Dazzling Malaysian Layer Cakes Reveal Complex Geometric Patterns in Every Slice

Festive cakes can make any occasion special, and the Malaysian delicacy called kek lapis Sarawak is so beautiful that no other table centerpiece is needed. First baked in the 1970s, layer cakes from Indonesia originally inspired bakers in the state of Sarawak to develop their own version with complex designs comprising thin, naturally flavored layers.

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August 20, 2020

200-Year-Old Mexican Recipes Are Now Free to Download in These Digitized Cookbooks

The University of Texas at San Antonio is currently working to bring diverse perspectives on Mexican cuisine together for a global audience. Taking a digitized collection of 2,000 Mexican cookbooks, archivists at the UTSA Libraries Special Collections are compiling recipes into a series of three cookbooks they’re calling Recetas: Cooking in the Time of Coronavirus.

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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.