Nature
January 30, 2020

Colorful Koi Fish Swim Through the Street Drainage Canals in This Japanese City

In most cities, drainage canals are the last place you’d expect wildlife to thrive. However, in the city of Shimabara on Japan’s Kyushu island, the street’s gutters are so clean they are home to hundreds of koi carp. The unusual fish habitat is a product of the volcanic activities of Mount Unzen that resulted in the 1792 earthquake and tsunami.

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Post-Impressionism
January 29, 2020

Tracing Van Gogh’s Life Through 5 of His Most Significant Self-Portraits

Did you know that Vincent van Gogh‘s artistic career lasted only a decade? This may be surprising, given the Dutch painter's prolific body of work; he completed at least 39 self-portraits alone. In addition to offering us a glimpse of the artist's appearance, these pieces trace the trajectory of his life, from his decision to pursue painting to his tragic battle with mental illness. Here, we explore 5 of Van Gogh's most significant self-portraits.

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Design
January 28, 2020

Fascinating Map Reveals the Most Common Surnames in Every Country

Today, human society is more culturally diverse than ever, but our surnames can tell us a lot about our ancestral origins. While there are plenty of lesser known last names, this map created by online lending firm NetCredit reveals the most common surnames around the world, according to each country. Surnames generally fall into 1 of 5 categories: toponymic (location-based), occupational, personal descriptor, patronymic (from the name of a father or ancestor)

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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.