Sculpture
October 4, 2022

Japan’s 14th Annual Wara Art Festival Unveils Massive Rice Straw Sculptures

This year marks the 14th annual Wara Art Festival in Japan. Hosted at the Uwasekigata Park in the Niigita prefecture, this creative event features massive sculptures made from rice straw, called “wara” in Japanese. The theme of 2022 was “things that bring happiness,” so all of the artworks are unified by this idea. The Wara Art Festival partners with the Musashino Art University to dispose of unused straw from the rice harvest.

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Ancient Art
October 3, 2022

3,000-Year-Old Canoe Found in Wisconsin Is Oldest One Ever Discovered in Great Lakes

Scuba diver and maritime archeologist Tamara Thomsen is on an amazing streak. In November 2021, while swimming on her off day in Wisconsin's Lake Mendota, she spotted an interesting logout buried in the sand. Upon further investigation, the log turned out to be a 1,200-year-old dugout canoe stretching a whopping 15 feet in length. Now, less than a year after her impressive find, Thomsen has discovered another ancient canoe.

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Art
October 3, 2022

Bewitching Portraits Depict Enigmatic Female Figures With Animal Masks

Switzerland-based artist Laura H. Rubin breathes life into surreal ideas in her digital paintings. She uses her masterful skills to render ethereal female figures in hyperrealistic detail, making dreamlike scenes not only visible but believable to the viewer. Some of her latest portraits feature graceful women adorned with headwear inspired by different animals. United by a limited color palette of black, white, and red, these illustrations stand out for their simplicity.

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Science
October 2, 2022

Math Researchers Reveal How to Pair Students for Maximal Learning in Group Settings

In elementary school, you might've been placed into a reading or spelling group with other kids who could parse the same length words as you. Higher-skilled groups received different assignments than lower-skilled, and each was tailored to meet the students where they were at. But is this the best way to maximize learning for everyone? Would mixing in stronger readers with weaker ones be more beneficial?

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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.