History
October 14, 2024

Día de los Muertos: How Mexico Celebrates Its Annual “Day of the Dead”

Throughout history, cultures across the globe have adopted creative ways to deal with death. In ancient China, they crafted funerary sculptures to fill complex mausoleums. During the Dutch Golden Age, artists touched on mortality in their memento mori still life paintings. And, in modern Mexico, people celebrate Día de los Muertos, a colorful holiday dedicated to the dearly departed. Though this festival has evolved over centuries, it remains one of Mexico's most historically and culturally important events.

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Art
October 13, 2024

Study Shows That Viewing Real Art in Museums Stimulates Brain Much More Than Reproductions

Art lovers travel far and wide to see their favorite paintings in real life. Surely, they may have seen them dozens of times online or in books, but getting to witness the real thing just hits differently. While some could argue that it's all in their head, scientists working with the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, home to Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, have found that there is truly something special to it.

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Cats
October 12, 2024

Researchers Use Tiny Crochet Hats to Investigate Chronic Pain in Cats

At first glance, these cats in adorable crochet hats might seem silly, but they’re actually wearing them in the name of science. Researchers at the University of Montreal wanted to study how cats experience chronic pain by using electroencephalography (EEG) to measure their brain activity. However, the challenge came when trying to keep the electrodes in place on the heads of the 11 cats involved.

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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.