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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Animals
January 27, 2020

Hypnotic Video of Striped Eel Catfish Walking in Unison Across the Ocean Floor

In a stunning example of group defense, a huge mass of juvenile striped eel catfish move as one to fend off predators. A video taken by Marie-Laure Vergne, an instructor at the  Abyss Dive Center Bali, shows these youngsters as they move across the ocean floor. Undulating in a mass, their movements are mesmerizing. As adults, the striped eel catfish is highly venomous and can inflict real pain.

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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.