Art History
October 22, 2021

World’s Oldest Pair of Skis Discovered in Ice by Researchers in Norway

Skiing may seem like a modern pastime, but humans have been strapping wood to their feet and gliding on snow for many millennia. Skiing has been a useful—and often necessary—mode of transportation since at least 6,000 BCE. However, most ancient skis are only known through rock art depictions and fragments of wood. This makes a recent finding by a Norwegian team of archeologists all the more exciting.

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Dogs
October 21, 2021

Golden Retriever Breaks Guinness World Record for Most Tennis Balls Held in the Mouth by a Dog

Many dogs love playing fetch, but there’s one pup in Canandaigua, New York, who can’t seem to get enough of it. Finley the Golden Retriever can hold six tennis balls in his mouth at one time, earning him the Guinness World Record for “most tennis balls held in the mouth by a dog.” Golden Retrievers have a natural drive to retrieve (hence the breed’s name), but tennis balls are particularly enticing for these playful dogs.

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Sculpture
October 19, 2021

Artist Transforms Ordinary Rocks Into Lifelike Animals You Can Hold in Your Hand

You may have heard of the Pet Rock, but the novelty gift from the 1970s has nothing on these hand-painted stones. Japanese artist Akie Nakata transforms found rocks into handheld animal sculptures that look as though they could come to life at any second. Collecting rocks was a favorite childhood pastime for Akie, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she started painting on them.

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Architecture
October 18, 2021

Architect Attached a Giant Skateboard Ramp to a House That Doubles as a Deck

If you could build your dream house, what special features would you want to include? A swimming pool, or maybe a bowling alley? Architect Macu Bulgubure has made one client’s dream a reality in Rosaria, Argentina. Bulgubure incorporated the client's love for skateboarding onto the home by attaching a large ramp to the back of the structure. The ramp acts as a defining feature of the house.

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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.