Travel
November 6, 2023

42 New Sites Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List

This year, UNESCO has added 42 new sites to the UNESCO World Heritage list, bringing the total up to 1,199 landmarks across 168 countries. Selected for their historical or cultural significance, these sites will now benefit from the highest level of cultural protection, as well as access to financial assistance from UNESCO. 2023's selections include 33 cultural sites and nine natural sites. Thanks to five new inscribed sites, Africa has now passed a milestone.

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Archeology
November 5, 2023

2,700-Year-Old Ancient Assyrian Lamassu Statue Is Excavated in Iraq

Historical artifacts offer a glimpse into the past. However, their existence is constantly at risk—especially those not housed in museums. Ancient artifacts have had a particularly volatile past few decades in the Middle East due to political and religious conflict, as well as widespread looting. The recent excavation of an ancient Assyrian lamassu statue is a reminder of these tenuous circumstances, as the story of its reburying is told.

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Cats
November 3, 2023

Researchers Find That Cats Have Nearly 300 Different Facial Expressions

Many cat owners are used to their pets communicating through meows and purrs. But beyond these sounds, kitties seem to be aloof, at most blinking or occasionally nudging their ears. However, they are much more expressive than we thought. A recent study found that cats have nearly 300 facial expressions that they use to communicate with other felines—from sweet smirks to hostile hissy faces. The study was carried out by Lauren Scott and Brittany N.

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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.