Art History
April 10, 2022

You Can Now Explore All of ‘The Book of Kells’ for Free Online

When people think of Ireland, the rolling green hills, Guinness beer, and twisted Celtic knots might be what comes to mind. The small island nation has a storied history of resistance to oppression and perseverance through famine, but the most iconic piece of Irish history dates to the early medieval period. The Book of Kells—held in the library of Trinity College Dublin—is a masterpiece of medieval illumination and manuscript craft.

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Sculpture
April 9, 2022

Hypnotic Kinetic Sculpture Made of Traffic Mirrors Is a Reflection on Privacy

Spanish street artist SpY has created his first kinetic sculpture using 20 traffic mirrors. Reflection is a mesmerizing sculpture that, with every motion, asks the viewer to think about their own relationship with reflection and the environment. Known for his work dealing with contemporary cultural and political issues, the sculpture is a new evolution in SpY's social commentary. By using these convex mirrors—a fixture of the everyday urban landscape—SpY gives viewers a way to watch themselves.

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Design
April 8, 2022

Designer Creates Solar Desalination Skylight as Low-Tech Way to Produce Drinking Water

Fresh, clean drinking water is essential. Many communities around the world already suffer from a lack of clean drinking water. Resource scarcity is also a significant impending challenge of climate change. To help combat this, New Zealand architect Henry Glogau has designed Solar Desalination Skylight, a beautiful and functional light fixture which transforms seawater into clean drinking water.

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Good News
April 8, 2022

Charles Darwin’s Stolen Notebooks Are Mysteriously Returned to Library

In November 2000, Cambridge University librarians received a request to pull two precious items from their collections for photographing. The two items were notepads that once belonged to Charles Darwin, which contained his notes from the 1830s after his return from the Galapagos Islands. The notebooks mysteriously vanished from the library, an unexpected crime and devastating loss for the collections.

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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.