History
November 5, 2020

Hidden Hoards and Buried Treasure Troves Are Real and Still Being Discovered

Every small child dreams of finding buried treasure, hidden by pirates or an ancient king. While adults may abandon these whimsical dreams, all hope is not lost for adventurers. Treasure troves—also known as hoards—are still being found across the world. Ordinary people continue to stumble upon caches of ancient coins, gold bracelets, and silver plates to this day.

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Technology
November 5, 2020

New Technology May Save Venice From Future Devastating Floods

Venetians saw a glimmer of hope during a recent high tide flood. For the first time in 1,200 years, they did not have to stow their belongings and prepare for water to surge into their homes and businesses. Instead, a new flooding defense system that has been under development since 1984 finally completed its first trial and successfully held back water from the Adriatic Sea.

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Art History
November 4, 2020

7 of René Magritte’s Most Famous Paintings That Capture the Surrealist’s Fascinating Mind

René Magritte is one of the most celebrated figures of the 20th-century Surrealist movement, alongside André Breton and Salvador Dalí. In the 1920s, the Belgium-based painter joined a group of young artists who wanted to create work that celebrated the subconscious mind and the world of dreams. During these years and beyond, Magritte defined his unique artistic style that critics called “Magic realism.

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Birds
November 4, 2020

This Hi-Tech Bird Feeder Lets Clever Magpies Exchange Bottle Caps for Food

You might not realize it, but birds are very intelligent creatures. Crows, for instance, can recognize human faces. Magpies, a relative of crows, are also known for their smarts as well as their affinity for picking up objects and finagling with things like locks. Artificial intelligence researcher Hans Forsberg noticed these clever creatures around his neighborhood and was able to train them to trade in pieces of litter for food.

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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.