History
June 15, 2025

In 1965, Six Boys Were Stranded on a Deserted Island for 15 Months, and They All Survived

By the time Sione, Stephen, Kolo, David, Luke, and Mano were rescued from the remote Tongan island of ‘Ata, the six teenagers had managed to create a community vastly different from the one in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. They built a permanent, continuously-burning fire. They stored rainwater in hollowed-out tree stumps. They fashioned a makeshift guitar from a piece of driftwood, half a coconut shell, and six steel wires.

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Animals
June 13, 2025

Giant Antarctic Squid Caught on Film for the First Time

Due to their habitat, deep-sea creatures are some of the most elusive animals on the planet. So you can imagine the surprise of researchers when they came upon a giant Antarctic squid while on an expedition in the Southern Ocean. Researchers on the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Expedition came across the Gonatus antarcticus squid, marking the first time the species has been observed alive.

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Science
June 13, 2025

The Science of Frisson: Why Music and Other Art Forms Can Give You Goosebumps

There are certain experiences that, no matter the language, country, or culture, prove to be profoundly universal. One such experience is the pleasure derived from visual art, films, and music—a pleasure that, for some, manifests itself not only emotionally, but within the body as well. Meaning “to shiver” in French, “frisson” refers to the chills that may occur when encountering a particularly compelling and evocative piece of art.

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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.