Toys
April 26, 2023

Mattel Unveils New Barbie Doll With Down Syndrome

American toy company Mattel continues to expand its range of diverse and inclusive Barbies with its latest addition—a doll with Down syndrome. This model is part of the Barbie Fashionistas line, a collection that features dolls of different body types, ethnicities, disabilities, and more. With this new Barbie, toy manufacturer Mattel hopes to help more children find representations of themselves in the toys they play with.

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Environment
April 26, 2023

Kelp Forests Absorb 5 Million Tons of Carbon Dioxide Every Year

What's the value of seaweed? A new study published in Nature Communications suggest the value of the sea plant goes far beyond sushi. Researchers valued kelp forests, forests of large brown algae, at about $465 billion and $562 billion per year worldwide due to their positive impact on commercial fisheries and the environment. This flora also absorbs 4.5 million tonnes (4.96 tons) of carbon dioxide annually, rather like forests on land.

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Sculpture
April 25, 2023

Massive Human Head Sculptures Made of Bicycle Chains Representing Our Modern Tethers

Using hundreds of bicycle chains, Korean artist Young-Deok Seo assembles massive human heads. These mesmerizing three-dimensional portraits possess a unique puzzle-like texture that is achieved by attaching these small metal links. And while this material aptly represents restraints and the industrialization of labor, it also gives these enigmatic face sculptures a unique lifelike quality. From entire heads to mask-like pieces, Seo has a masterful way of utilizing this unconventional material.

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Cityscape Photography
April 25, 2023

Photos of the Same Locations 10 Years Apart Show Evolution of a City

This past winter, photographer Guido Gutierrez Ruiz was scrolling through his Instagram and looking at his first images on the platform. At first, he was simply interested in seeing how his photography evolved. But, as he also has a passion for urban planning and architecture, he was struck by how much the city of Toronto had changed since he began posting on Instagram in 2013. This led him to recreate some of his early images.

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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.