Photo Contest
April 18, 2025

Reflective Puddle Wins Close-up Photographer of the Year’s ‘Something Beautiful’ Contest

An abstract reflection of trees in a puddle took home the win in the Close-Up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) “Something Beautiful” contest. This themed contest changes focus each year, with photographers given the directive to find beauty in the mundane for this year's edition. Photographer Linda Repasky took the theme to heart with her fascinating photo, which she took using an iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Read Article

Birds
April 18, 2025

Study Finds Crows Understand Basic Geometry, a Skill Thought to Be Unique to Humans Up Until Now

Alongside creatures like chimpanzees, dolphins, and dogs, crows are widely considered to be one of the world’s smartest animals. In fact, past research has proven that these birds can distinguish between human faces and voices, vocally count up to four, create and use tools, and even grasp the concept of water displacement better than an average 5- to 7-year-old child.

Read Article

Animals
April 17, 2025

Baby Lambs Sit in Pouches Carried by Donkeys Along Ancient Paths for Seasonal Grazing

Donkeys have carried heavy loads on their backs for centuries; but in rural Italy, they take on the most precious cargo of all—baby lambs. Wearing specially designed saddles, each with a cozy pocket for a lamb, the donkeys carefully transport their adorable passengers between high alpine pastures in summer down to the Lombardy plains for winter grazing. This age-old tradition, known as transhumance, has lovingly earned these hard-working animals the nickname, “donkey nannies.

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.