Astrophotography
July 5, 2024

16 Incredible Finalists of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Contest

Dazzling auroras, distant galaxies, and impressive celestial bodies have all found a home on the 2024 Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist. Organized by Royal Observatory Greenwich, the competition is a delight for anyone who loves gazing at the stars. The respected competition always attracts top amateur and professional astrophotographers, and this year is no different. Over 3,500 images were submitted to this year's photo contest by photographers hailing from 58 countries.

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Ancient Art
July 4, 2024

51,000-Year-Old Cave Art in Indonesia Is the World’s Oldest Figurative Art

Researchers believe that they found the oldest example of figurative rock art in a cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The cave art depicting three humans and a pig was painted at least 51,200 years ago. This is at least 5,000 years earlier than the previous record holder, an image of a pig discovered in a different cave on the island. A new study published in Nature details the findings. “The painting tells a complex story.

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Books
July 4, 2024

What Is the Longest Word in the English Language?

Do you know what the longest word in the English language is? Contrary to popular belief, it is not supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, no matter how fun it is to pronounce in song. In fact, it only ranks third on the list. Instead, the actual word is significantly less cheery. The longest word in the English dictionary is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, which refers to a disease that causes inflammation of the lungs after inhaling microscopic silicate or quartz dust.

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Health
July 3, 2024

Experts Say People Are Washing This One Body Part They Actually Don’t Need To

From face yoga and applying daily sunscreen to ideal thermostat settings and the infamous “5-second rule,” health and hygiene tips are everywhere. We're inundated with ever-changing advice on how to take care of ourselves and what’s considered right or wrong in our daily routines. But there's one health myth that recently sparked a debate: Do we really need to wash our legs in the shower?

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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.