Kindness Over Fear: Naomi Shihab Nye Tells the Remarkable Real-Life Story That Inspired Her Beloved Poem “Kindness”
"Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside, / you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing."
Archive · last 30 days
Culture & Arts
Art, music, books, and the cultural moments worth pausing for.
Sunday · August 16
A Real Rockin’ Horse: Music Tames a Rescue Foal Who Learns to ‘Play’ Instruments for Album Debut
The video starts normal enough, but a surprise is waiting somewhere near the chorus. Mikayla Khramov is strumming guitar strings on Instagram and singing the lyrics to the famous…
Stilted tiny house takes stripped-back approach to small living
This timber retreat is small on home comforts but big on simple rustic charm. Designed to serve as a short-stay vacation home, it features a deliberately stripped-back interior…
The Ocean and the Meaning of Life
"Contemplating the teeming life of the shore, we have an uneasy sense of the communication of some universal truth that lies just beyond our grasp... the ultimate mystery of Life…
Peanut butter jelly corndog and other wacky eats at the Iowa State Fair
A rundown of some of the wackiest and most creative foods at the Iowa State Fair this year.
Trophy belt buckles: The highly-prized currency of cowboy culture
From bull riding to barrel racing, trophy belt buckles, worn by champion rodeo riders, tell stories of grit, accomplishment and honor. Correspondent Ian Lee visits the…
The Gentle Giant: Oliver Sacks and the Art of Choosing Empathy Over Vengeance
An existential lesson gleaned from a brush with death and foolishness.
Saturday · August 15
Arundhati Roy on the Deepest Measure of Success
"To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance... To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or…
A New Book Celebrates More Than 250 Trailblazing Women Photographers Across 200 Years
“If ‘greatness’ has long been defined by visibility and remembrance, then the continued documentation and celebration of women’s photographic practice is not only relevant but…
Safeguarding Cultural Heritage Through the Largest Art and Collectibles Transfer in History
Amidst the Great Wealth Transfer, assets of every kind, including art and collectibles, are changing hands. Private Client Select Insurance Services associate specialist of art…
Eye-popping turntable flips vinyl into a vertical spin
Though streaming rules the listening roost, physical formats like vinyl are growing in popularity. If you want to wow your friends while spinning your latest album acquisition,…
How Love Comes to You
We spend our days making plans, making promises, making predictions about the possible, and yet the most bewildering thing about life is that its imagination is always greater…
From cockpit to catwalk with aviation icon Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart was famous as an early aviatrix. Her flight suit is part of a bigger story about the history of American fashion and celebrity.
The Artist Mapping Knoxville’s Art Scene With Wood and Wire
Three years ago, Lauren Farkas sketched a plan to see exhibitions during the city’s monthly art walk. Now, she crafts eclectic maps for each event to make the art scene more…
Discover the Ancient Roman Shorthand Writing System with 4,000 Symbols Commissioned by Cicero
You can still type a symbol originally invented for Cicero nearly 21 centuries ago — at least if you configure your keyboard properly. The character ⁊ appears in Unicode as…
Friday · August 14
A Visit to the Asnières Dog Cemetery: The “Père Lachaise” of Animals
Just a few minutes from Paris, behind an Art Nouveau gate, lies a place you wouldn’t expect to find in the Île-de-France region. At the dog cemetery in Asnières-sur-Seine, the…
The Measure of a Life Well Lived: Henry Miller on How to Grow Old and the Secret of Remaining Young at Heart
"If you can fall in love again and again ... if you can forgive as well as forget, if you can keep from growing sour, surly, bitter and cynical, man you've got it half licked."
World's youngest museum curator, 11, was led by a love of fossils
NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Anderson Taylor, who has become the Guinness World Record holder for youngest male museum curator. He opened a natural history museum at age 9.
Bringing the thrill of live music to deaf audiences – with the help of air guitar
Luke Holdsworth was born deaf and is now one of the UK’s most respected BSL interpreters at live concerts The post Bringing the thrill of live music to deaf audiences – with the…
Other cultures have their own way of saying ‘once upon a time,’ and some are really freaking cool
There are many different ways to tell a tale. The post Other cultures have their own way of saying ‘once upon a time,’ and some are really freaking cool appeared first on Upworthy…
Tribute to Hard Working Hands in Dallas, Texas
The Descending Hand Sculpture, created in 2022 by local Dallas artist Andrew Z., serves as a powerful tribute to the unsung hands that shape our modern world. Suspended…
When the US Mail Was Delivered Underground at 35 MPH Through a Network of Pneumatic Tubes (1893–1953)
Twenty years ago, United States senator Ted Stevens drew long-lasting online ridicule by describing the internet as “a series of tubes.” While some commentators noted that the…
Thursday · August 13
6,000 digitized portraits of Black history now available and free to the public for the first time
A collection of historic pictures by photographer Richard Samuel Roberts capture Columbia’s Black families and community.
The Most Controversial Ancient Philosophy: Epicureanism
Over the years, you’ve probably heard at least a few people casually describe themselves as Epicureans. As used today, the label can refer to as little as enjoying the occasional…
Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 Tenets of Storytelling
"Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia."
John Oliver has beef with Buc-ee's. It's led him to raise $500K to end hunger
The “Last Week Tonight” host has gone after the convenience store chain’s tendency to sue small businesses by opening his own “Buc Off” shop.
Suzanne Jongmans Recycles Everyday Materials for Elegant Renaissance-Style Portraits
Jongmans' works look to the past but are exquisitely contemporary, prompting us to consider the meaning of value. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal…
One of the Best Preserved Ancient Manuscripts of The Iliad Is Now Digitized: See the “Bankes Homer” Manuscript in High Resolution (Circa 150 C.E.)
Each time I sit through the end credits of a film, I think about how weird auteur theory is—that a work of cinema can be primarily thought of as the singular vision of the…
Wednesday · August 12
10 Photo Books to Read This Month
Hal Fischer’s archive of queer fashion, Sophie Rivera’s portraits of Nuyorican communities, Rania Matar’s love letter to Lebanon, and more new titles to check out from photo book…
Stuffed Animals and Found Objects Reconfigure in Sungho Bae’s Uncanny Sculptures
Sungho Bae's uncanny sculptures aremade of a vibrant, fleshy patchwork that resembles organs, tissue, muscle, and more. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a…
Meghann Stephenson’s Tender Paintings Contrast Women’s Agency with ‘Acceptable Behavior’
'Queen of the Neighborhood!' will include a suite of new paintings that correspond to the nine circles of Hell in Dante's 'Inferno.' Do stories and artists like this matter to…
How the Beatles Made their Most Acclaimed Album, Revolver, Released 60 Years Ago This Month
Among Beatles connoisseurs, it’s fair game to claim anything from Rubber Soul to Abbey Road as one’s favorite album. But even within that span of the catalog, a hierarchy of…
Discover Millions of Artworks from Thousands of Museums with This Huge Art Search Engine
"We currently have around five million artworks indexed, and strive to eventually index all museum art in the world," the creators say. Do stories and artists like this matter to…
Here's how gyms, salons and ice cream are changing America's Main Streets
Shoppers' changing habits are fueling a major shift in what types of businesses are occupying storefronts.
The Story Behind Dylan Thomas’s “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” and the Poet’s Own Stirring Reading of His Masterpiece
"Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Tuesday · August 11
Looted Ivorian “Talking Drum” Arrives at Its Home Village After More Than a Century
The drum arrived on August 7 at Adjame, where the local community was able to see it for the first time.
Audio Bricks build your own Lego-style modular hi-fi system
Lego-style bricks are fun and great for building castles, spaceships, and race cars, but once assembled, they become just decorative objects and usually never get touched again.…
Anaïs Nin on Why Emotional Excess is Essential to Creativity
"Something is always born of excess: great art was born of great terrors, great loneliness, great inhibitions, instabilities, and it always balances them."
Divers Stumble Upon 2,000-Year-Old Roman Shipwreck in Italy
The wreck off the coast of Italy, filled with clay vessels, is being hailed as “one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years.”
‘Remember Me’ Highlights Black Americans’ Self-Expression in Early Photography
The exhibition of around 70 historical photographs opens at the National Gallery of Art in November. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today…
A 639-Year-Long John Cage Performance Had Its First Chord Change In Two Years
One of the longest-running musical performances in history witnessed its first chord change in over two years on August 5. The 639-year-long performance, which is taking place at…
Monday · August 10
Intricate Carvings in Ostrich Eggshells are 60,000 Years Old – and Reveal ‘Remarkable’ Human Thinking
Dating back more than 60,000 years ago, humans in southern Africa were engraving ostrich eggshells with intricate geometric patterns that—the longer we study them—look more…
In Munich, it's never too early for a breakfast beer with sausage and pretzels
Bavarians traditionally wash down a breakfast of boiled veal sausage, sweet mustard and a giant pretzel with beer — all before the church bells ring at midday.
The simple system one European country uses to avoid rip-offs
After being charged $164 for a can of Coke in a cafe, I suggested we call the police. My friend, however, just reached for a little red book on the counter.
The Native History of NYC's Oysters
Who needs IMAX? See a real papyrus fragment of Homer’s Odyssey at The Met.
Watch a Band Perform the Sound Effects from Pink Floyd’s “Money,” Using a Money Counter, Torn Sheets of Paper & More
When Pink Floyd recorded “Money” in 1972, Roger Waters spliced into the opening moments the sounds of cash registers, tearing paper, and jingling coins. Half a century later, the…
Sunday · August 9
Incredible Miniature Replica of New York City Took Truck Driver Over 20 Years to Build
Central Park. Coney Island. Yankee Stadium. Times Square. A thorough sightseeing trip around New York City might take you more than a week, but you can experience the entire…
“A holy relic among blues devotees”: The story of Muddy Waters’ “The Hoss” Telecaster, the guitar that helped define the sound of electric blues
Played by Waters throughout the final two decades of his career, this bright red Tele has been displayed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Beautiful City In France Where Rick Steves Says You Can See The World Just Like Van Gogh - AOL
Artists see the world through different eyes to us mere mortals, and Rick Steves suggests visiting this French city to get a Van Gogh perspective on life.
A website makes music using the real-time New York City subway schedule
The website trainjazz.com creates jazz using the live locations of New York City subway trains.
The Field Museum in Chicago is connecting Pokémon to fossils. It's a hit
The "Pokémon Fossil Museum," a new exhibit at Chicago's Field Museum connecting the popular video game to real-world fossils, is drawing huge crowds.
Why play is at the core of a meaningful life
The grasshopper in the fable was right all along
Hannah Arendt on Love and How to Live with the Fundamental Fear of Loss
“Fearlessness is what love seeks… Such fearlessness exists only in the complete calm that can no longer be shaken by events expected of the future… Hence the only valid tense is…
Saturday · August 8
A Menagerie of Animal Sculptures by 50+ Artists Populate ‘The Ark’
Powerhouse Arts asks, will we care for the future of our planet the way we care for the animals we love? Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member…
Thank You, Everything: An Illustrated Love Letter to the World
We forget that none of this had to exist — that we weren’t owed mountains and music by the universe. And maybe we have to forget — or we would be too stupefied with gratitude for…
Forthcoming New Museum Show Is a Love Letter to the Bowery
"The Bowery: Devil’s Mile,” opening September 24, traces 400 years of the iconic strip known as a destination for fun, however raucous or refined.
Ancient Greek rings may have been forged with iron from meteorites
Chemical analysis of Bronze Age iron objects indicate that Greek nobles may have indulged in signet rings made with precious metal from the sky.
2,300-Year-Old Fragment of Homer’s “Odyssey” Now on View at The Met
The papyrus fragment contains three lines from Book 20 of the epic that don’t appear in the modern text.
The History of Glam Rock and How It Put an End to the Hippie Era
Cast your mind back to the distant year 2021 and recall, if you will, its music, its fashions, the obsessions of its youth. This probably won’t be a difficult task, since in most…
The Women's Professional Baseball League makes its historic debut
The Los Angeles Queens, the New York Heights, the Boston Hunters and the San Francisco Firebells take the field in Springfield, Ill., as the Women's Pro Baseball League kicks off…
Yes to Life, in Spite of Everything: Viktor Frankl’s Lost Lectures on Moving Beyond Optimism and Pessimism to Find the Deepest Source of Meaning
"Everything depends on the individual human being, regardless of how small a number of like-minded people there is... on each person... creatively making the meaning of life a…
Friday · August 7
Louvre Islamic Art Masterpieces Come to the Smithsonian
The Musée du Louvre in Paris has loaned twenty-six artworks from its Islamic art collection to the Smithsonian Institution’s exhibition “From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic…
An Artist Reimagines Frieze London's Loos
Gray Wielebinski's scented artworks for the fair's bathrooms, Michelle Grabner’s gift to a Wisconsin museum, Gagosian's real estate footprint shrinks, and other news.
A Short Film Sheds Light on the Garfield Phones Washing Up on a French Beach Since the ’80s
Breton coastal residents grew up collecting parts of a 1984 Garfield-themed plastic telephone on the beach—and still do. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a…
Monumental Bronze Age Tomb Discovered Amid Dense Vegetation in Sardinia
The tomb was built as a collective burial site around 1800 BCE by the Nuragic people.
How Ancient Greek Warships Worked: The Engineering of the Trireme Explained in 3D Animation
Recall, if you will, the first time you read Book 2 of Homer’s Iliad. The section likely to have given you the most trouble — unless, of course, you’re blessed with an obsessive…
The Field of Lost Shoes in New Market, Virginia
In early 1864, Union General Ulysses S. Grant deployed forces led by General Franz Sigel down the Shenandoah Valley to target the strategically-important railroad junction at…
Thursday · August 6
Read 20,000+ Golden Age Comic Books Free Online: Superheroes, Westerns, Romance, Horror, and More
For generations of kids in the twentieth century, few pleasures were as intoxicating as a trip to the comic-book shop with the week’s allowance fresh in hand. Those of us who grew…
The robots kids build to preserve Native American languages
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The U.S. Indian boarding school system spent decades trying to remove Native American languages from Native children. Kids were separated from…
We Asked 12 Wine Pros: What’s the Most Underrated Red Wine?
While Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot are three of the most popular red wine grapes, there’s a whole world of lesser-known fruit to explore. Some offer unique flavors…
Hidden Figures Monument in Dunbar, West Virginia
The Katherine Johnson Statue at West Virginia State University (WVSU) honors the legendary NASA mathematician whose brilliant calculations launched America into orbit. Unveiled on…
Monumental Painted Wood Carvings by Jiang Miao Center Mindfulness
Whitestone Gallery in Seoul presents the artist's solo exhibition, 'Spiral of Energy.' Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support…
Dali in America
Spanish painter Salvador Dali needed America to become famous. So suggests a new exhibit about his life and influence.
Wednesday · August 5
Trial, Triumph, and the Art of the Possible: The Remarkable Story Behind Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”
A hymn of rage, a hymn of redemption, and a timeless love letter to the possible.
Psychologists say only children aren’t ‘lonely’ and they have a skill other kids don’t
Only child syndrome is a myth. The post Psychologists say only children aren’t ‘lonely’ and they have a skill other kids don’t appeared first on Upworthy .
Atlas Obscura’s Guide to Unique Romantic Getaways
You’ve decided to go somewhere together. Maybe you just got married and you’re planning a honeymoon. Maybe you’re marking a decade together with an anniversary trip that actually…
A volunteer's unexpected advice changed how she faced cancer
After Annabelle Gurwitch was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, a volunteer with the same diagnosis encouraged her to stop worrying so much about the future and start living…
What Did Ancient Rome Look Like? A 3D Virtual Tour of the City During the Second Century AD
The description “open-air museum” has often been applied, in various senses both positive and negative, to the country of Italy in general and the city of Rome in particular.…
How Artist Nick Cave Memorializes His Ancestors Through ‘Mammoth’ Work
An exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum spotlights how everyday objects can serve as the foundation for artistic expression
How Ada Lovelace, Daughter of Lord Byron, Wrote the First Computer Program in 1842–a Century Before the First Computer
I’ve never quite understood why the phrase “revisionist history” became purely pejorative. Of course, it has its Orwellian dark side, but all knowledge has to be revised…
Tuesday · August 4
Beans and Rice Feeds the World - Stuff You Should Know
To call beans and rice a staple is to undersell the importance of beans and rice. Today we break down the ubiquity of this beloved food combo.
Good News in History, August 4
125 years ago today, the beloved American jazz trumpeter, composer, and singer Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans. Nicknamed Satchmo, or Pops, Armstrong was one of the most…
Inspired by Fauna, Form Meets Function in Hilarious Pieces by Ceramika Matylda
"I like my work to be open to interpretation," Iwaszkiewicz says. "There's a lot of humor in it, a sense of playfulness, and I never take the world too seriously." Do stories and…
Chinese animated blockbuster sparks rush to ancient Taoist temple
The hit Chinese animated film All Wishes Come True is drawing fans to Yongle Palace in northern China's Shanxi Province, where many scenes were inspired by the historic Taoist…
How to Live and How to Die
"Leave something of sweetness and substance in the mouth of the world."
Watch the Evolution of Manhattan Unfold in a Timelapse Video, from 1600 to 2026
A Manhattan without skyscrapers sounds difficult, if not impossible, to imagine today. But such a place really did exist, at least up until the turn of the twentieth century.…
Watch David Bowie & Annie Lennox in Rehearsal, Singing “Under Pressure,” with Queen (1992)
It’s common to feel like we know our artists, writers, musicians, actors… we want so badly to touch their lives in some way, as their lives touch ours. This overwhelming desire is…
Monday · August 3
All Together Now 2026: The weekend in pictures
From Britpop rockers Pulp on Friday to electronic dance duo Disclosure’s closing set on Sunday evening, 2026’s All Together Now saw a weekend stacked with music, laughs and…
17 Great Depression recipes people still cook today during hard times
These recipes are resourceful and delicious. The post 17 Great Depression recipes people still cook today during hard times appeared first on Upworthy .
Enchantment and the Courage of Joy: René Magritte on the Antidote to the Banality of Pessimism
"Life is wasted when we make it more terrifying, precisely because it is so easy to do so."
How to Hold the Darkness: Notes on Living Through Uncertainty
There are times in life when the continent of certainty parts underfoot and, as the ash cloud of the old world rains darkness upon us, we are asked to swim in the rivers of lava…
Türkiye recovers 28,811 smuggled cultural artifacts since 1980
A total of 28,811 cultural assets that had been smuggled abroad have been returned to Türkiye through the efforts of teams combating the illicit...
8 Storybook Stays in West Virginia
With lush forests, dramatic waterfalls, and unparalleled mountain vistas, West Virginia rewards those who make the time to take in the views—with no shortage of accommodations…
Sunday · August 2
The Clayton Sisterhood Project: A photographer captures her family's reverse migration from North to South
Laila AnnMarie Stevens documents her family's move from New York City to North Carolina — a kind of reversal of the historic Great Migration of the early 20th century.
Breakfasts around the world: In Australia, being denied vegemite is grounds for suing
As part of our series on breakfasts from around the world, we take a look at Vegemite, the iconic salty, yeasty spread popular in Australia.
Everything old is new again: Fro-yo is back for its 'third wave'
Frozen yogurt, or froyo, has had waves of popularity, starting in the 1980s. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to journalist Rachel Kurzius, who says we're in the midst of a "third wave…
70 Years Later, A Forgotten Sci-Fi Cult Classic Is Better Than Its Reputation Suggests
'It Conquered the World' was an early Roger Corman B-movie that conquered hearts.
'80s TV Shows That Redefined What Sitcoms Could Be - TVLine
Breaking new ground with their plots, premises, and actors, shows like "The Facts of Life," "Who's the Boss?" and "Cheers" revolutionized the sitcom landscape.
How Aspen Art Fair Is Turning the Mountain Escape Into a Collector Destination
The town’s concentrated wealth and expanding cultural ecosystem offer dealers a lucrative summer alternative to the conventional fair circuit.
The Winners of the 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Aren’t Your Average Animal Pics
Anyone who has 5,000 versions of what’s essentially the same photo of their pet on their phone (we get it) will appreciate the artistry apparent in the 2026 International Pet…
Saturday · August 1
Vietnam veteran honors fallen friends with Chippewa practice called 'smudging' - ABC12
(WJRT) - A scaled-down version of Washington D.C.'s Vietnam Memorial Wall has arrived in Genesee County for its fifth time. Michigan Vietnam veterans ...
This Man Turned Human Corpses Into Popular Museum Displays. Now, the Creator of These Controversial ‘Body Worlds’ Has Donated His Own Body to Science
Gunther von Hagens, who invented plastination, a method of preserving bodies by replacing their natural fluids with polymers, recently died at age 81
Archaeologists Discover Two Thumbnail-Size Bird Sculptures Carved From Mammoth Ivory 40,000 Years Ago
Measuring less than an inch long, the figurines were buried beneath Germany's Hohle Fels Cave, where some of the world's oldest known figurative artworks have been found
15 Outdoor Art Shows to See in NYC This Summer
Slide through a teddy bear, get weird with a neural network’s hallucinations, play ping-pong on an artist-made table, and so much more.
Archaeologists Uncover Ancient Egyptian Grave Markers Carved with Human Figures
The carved limestone grave markers are not only notable for their workmanship but for the religious symbols and deities engraved on their lateral sides and backs
The adventurous life of supermodel Lauren Hutton
She didn't set out to be a model, or an actress, and several agencies rejected the gap-toothed Lauren Hutton, before Eileen Ford gave her a shot. As the face of Revlon, Hutton…
The Top Photos in the CWAS David Malin Awards Highlight Astronomical Wonders
The Central West Astronomical Society of New South Wales marks its annual AstroFest with an amateur photography competition. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become…
Friday · July 31
Thousands of Years of Human History Unearthed in the Trent Valley
The exhibition reveals how prehistoric communities lived, adapted, and left traces across the Trent Valley. Beneath the Trent Valley, artifacts, pollen, animal remains, and layers…
Glen Hansard, celebrated musician, dies at 56. His annual 'Christmas Eve busk' raised millions for the homeless
For years, Hansard invited some of Ireland’s biggest stars to busk with him on the streets of Dublin.
‘Love on the Spectrum’ star reveals secret benefit of her neurodivergence: Autistic joy
Some autistic people describe it as "full-body" and "all-consuming." The post ‘Love on the Spectrum’ star reveals secret benefit of her neurodivergence: Autistic joy appeared…
The 10 Most Beautiful Libraries in Paris (and How to Visit Them)
In Paris, some libraries are much more than just places to read. Behind their bookshelves lie architectural masterpieces, monumental halls, painted ceilings, and unique heritage…
The case for clearing your calendar one weekend a month
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Summer has a way of sneaking up on you. In May, you were excited about everything: the outdoor concert, the friend’s rooftop birthday, the…
Autistic 16-year-old and his dad perform a gorgeous cover of Dan Fogelberg’s ‘Longer’
"Jack is in charge of all music that we learn," his dad Eric tells Upworthy. The post Autistic 16-year-old and his dad perform a gorgeous cover of Dan Fogelberg’s ‘Longer’…
Zac Henderson Venerates Devil’s Tower in Bold Black-and-White Photos
Henderson also captures the changing light and the otherworldly textures and ochres of the iconic rock. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member…
Thursday · July 30
The Bayeux Tapestry Has Returned to the UK for the First Time in Nearly 1,000 Years—Here’s What to Know
Nearly 1,000 years after it was made, the 230-foot embroidered chronicle of the Norman Conquest is finally crossing the English Channel to England.
French Scientists Precisely Date a Paleolithic Cave Painting for the First Time as About 13,000 Years Old
The results show that sections of another painting were created during different periods, some separated by thousands of years
Innovation Meets Heritage in West African Contemporary Artists’ Masquerade Ensembles
'New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations' celebrates contemporary creations by artists in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon. Do stories…
Good News in History, July 30
On this day 96 years ago, at the conclusion of the inaugural FIFA World Cup, La Celeste, or Uruguay, won the trophy. Rarely considered as favorites in the tournament’s editions…
"This might just be our most ambitious series yet!”: Harley Benton is making hand-aged relic'd guitars for under 250 bucks
Hitherto the preserve of custom shop and boutique makers, the German budget gear company is bringing us vintage mojo on the cheap – and there are five models to choose from
Wednesday · July 29
Graffiti transformed into interactive mural depicting success stories of people who have overcome homelessness
“I wanted to give these case studies a voice,” the muralist said.
Hear What Homer’s Odyssey Sounded Like When Sung in the Original Ancient Greek
Image via Wikimedia Commons It’s been a humanist truism for some time to say that Shakespeare speaks to every age, transcending his time and place through the sheer force of his…
Want to Sip Cocktails Inside a Vault? 5 Old Banks Transformed Into Other Businesses
The celebratory photos captured inside The Treasury on the Plaza in St. Augustine, Florida, aren’t your average newlywed pics. The nearly century-old building was once home to the…
July Full Moon 2026: See the Buck Moon
This month's Full Moon is the Buck Moon.
What We’re Reading: Helping Older Americans ‘Age in Community’
Welcome back to our weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at what’s getting our team talking. Tell us what you’ve been reading at info@reasonstobecheerful.world and we just might…
How artists transformed a former hospital in Los Angeles to examine human emotions
The St. Vincent Behavioral Health Campus in Los Angeles was built in 1856 and has been closed since 2020
The Queer Surrealists Who Fought Nazis With Paper Bullets
Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore shared a magnificent life as both romantic and creative partners, one in which gender proved as mercurial as the political climate of World War II.
Tuesday · July 28
The 'Girl Dad Effect': Is Bandit Heeler the perfect partner?
Many of us have enjoyed watching Bluey with our kids, sharing laughs as each episode perfectly (and hilariously) captures the ups and downs of parenting and relationships.…
The world's most incredible natural history museum is now open
China's epicenter of robotics and AI innovation, Shenzhen is a sprawling city now home to some of the most ambitious architecture projects anywhere in the world. The latest, four…
The Beloved Judy Blume - Stuff You Should Know
Judy Blume is more than an author. She's a legend in teen literature for her frank and honest portrayals of adolescence. Today we pay tribute to her.
What Miles Davis Taught Herbie Hancock: In Music, as in Life, There Are No Mistakes, Just Chances to Improvise
One of my favorite Brian Eno quotes, or rather one that became an Oblique Strategy, is “Honor Your Mistake as a Hidden Intention.” (Or to be pedantic, the original version was…
A 25,000-Year-Old Ritual Tradition Was Hidden Beneath This Cave Floor
Perfectly preserved ‘phytolith’ plant crystals reveal that Indigenous Australians brought grasses into a cave for ritual burning as far back as the last Ice Age. Layer after layer…
How San Diego Comic-Con has changed over the years
Comic Con International 2026 wrapped up Sunday night. We discuss the weekend's biggest announcements and the ways that the convention is evolving.
Christopher Hitchens Explains Why Homer’s Odyssey Still Matters to Our World (2000)
At the moment, the answer to the question of why we should read Homer’s Odyssey seems rather straightforward: so we can more intelligently voice our opinions on Christopher…
Monday · July 27
The Essence of Hayao Miyazaki Films: A Short Documentary About the Humanity at the Heart of His Animation
Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki detests being referred to as the Japanese Walt Disney. The great animator and storyteller admires the gorgeous animation of classic Disney films, but…
Art Sleuths Discovered a Lost and ‘Enormously Important’ Portrait of an Elite Indian Woman by This Pioneering Scottish Painter
Katherine Read was one of the most fashionable portrait creators in London before she moved to India. She found success portraying women and children
Do the Next Right Thing: Carl Jung on How to Live and the Origin of His Famous Tenet for Navigating Uncertainty
"There is no pit you cannot climb out of provided you make the right effort at the right place... do the next thing with diligence and devotion."
The Donkey and the Meaning of Life
"Come with me. I'll teach you the flowers and the stars."
Christopher Nolan Picks 15 Favorite Films from the Criterion Closet
Maybe you’ve already seen Christopher Nolan’s new cinematic interpretation of the Odyssey more than once; maybe you don’t know whether you’ll ever get around to it at all. Either…
Artist gives astonishing temporary tats to kids in hospitals so they feel confident in their own skin
"Nothing brings me more joy than boosting kids' confidence." The post Artist gives astonishing temporary tats to kids in hospitals so they feel confident in their own skin…
Thursday · July 23
Kids Can Try Out the 'Oliver Twist' Lifestyle at This English Museum Revealing Conditions for Poor People in a Victorian Workhouse
After a restoration, the Ripon Workhouse Museum reopened to the public, showcasing the sights, sounds and rules of England’s 19th-century “solution to poverty”
Long-lost Historic Murals Uncovered in Chile
Two 1970s murals by Chilean artist Julio Escámez, long considered lost, are reemerging in Chillán’s city hall (Chile). Currently in the meticulous process of restoration, the…
Aboriginal Spiritual Leaders Performed ‘Magic, Healing, Cursing’ Rituals in This Australian Cave for 25,000 Years, New Research Finds
Archaeologists collaborated with members of the GunaiKurnai Aboriginal community to explore layers of ash from burned grasses dating back thousands of years inside Cloggs Cave
The Truth About Vikings Is More Complicated Than Museums Admit
Scandinavian museums use Viking history to negotiate the tension between popular myths, archaeological evidence, and modern national identity. Walk into a major museum in…
Carl Jung on Creativity
The question of what it takes to create — to make something of beauty and substance that touches other lives across space and time — is one of the deepest, oldest questions,…
Umberto Eco’s Personal Library Opens to the Public: More Than 32,000 Books, Exactly as He Left Them
Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose sold so well that its English translator William Weaver could add an extension onto his Tuscan villa, which he called the “Eco Chamber.” The…
Wednesday · July 22
A Volunteer Stumbled Upon a Strange Document in the U.K. National Archives. It Turned Out to Be a Rare Copy of the Declaration of Independence Printed in July 1776
Michael Scurr, a retired insurance broker, found the text while cataloging boxes of 18th-century correspondence housed at the London archives. It's the only known copy of its kind…
Jimi Hendrix Plays “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” for The Beatles, Just Three Days After the Album’s Release (1967)
There are many ways to celebrate a new album from a band you admire. You can have a listening party alone. You can have a listening party with friends. You can learn the title…
An atheist poet wrote about her Muslim husband’s faith. It’s bringing people to tears.
Two poems, one from her perspective and one from his, beautifully explore their loving relationship through different beliefs. The post An atheist poet wrote about her Muslim…
Art gallery inside of a shipping container highlights the need for women's prison reform
The project is an opportunity for the public to learn more about mass incarceration and the challenges that arise after leaving prison.
The best games of 2026 so far, picked by NPR's staff
Titans like Resident Evil Requiem and Crimson Desert dominated in the first half of the gaming year, with early-access sequels like Slay the Spire 2 and Subnautica 2 not far…
Meet the orchestra blending hip-hop and classical music
What happens when hip-hop meets classical music? NBC News' Nicolle Majette takes you inside Orchestra Noir, the Atlanta-based all-Black orchestra blending symphony, R&B, soul, and…
Tuesday · July 21
New Bill Aims to Protect Publicly Commissioned Art in Federal Buildings
A new bill, introduced on July 14th by Congressional Arts Caucus members Dina Titus (D-Nevada) and Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), is proposing the establishment of a procedure that…
How one tiny lyric change made the ‘Piña Colada Song’ one of the biggest hits of the ’70s
One small edit completely changed the meaning of Rupert Holmes' beloved hit. The post How one tiny lyric change made the ‘Piña Colada Song’ one of the biggest hits of the ’70s…
Epictetus on Love and Loss: The Stoic Strategy for Surviving Heartbreak
"Who is good if he knows not who he is? and who knows what he is, if he forgets that things which have been made are perishable, and that it is not possible for one human being to…
The House of David Bowie in Berlin, Germany
The house is nothing special, and the neighborhood even less so. Flanked by a tattoo parlor and a physiotherapy clinic, the entrance to Hauptstraße 155 is an archway made of cast…
Sleep and the Meaning of Life: Fernando Pessoa on the Existential Dimension of the Horizontal Hours
One of the most important things I have learned about living is that, in any life of purpose and creative vitality, you must be as religious and disciplined about your sleep as…
The Tower of London Plans to Turn Its Moat Into a ‘Green Classroom’ and Show Off Its Architecture Archives in a Major Renovation
The landmark, nearly a millennium old, has housed kings, hosted royal executions and safeguarded Britain's crown jewels. New education centers aim to invite more people to learn…
Monday · July 20
In painted caves, ancient human DNA clings to the walls
Scientists recovered ancient human DNA from cave walls for the first time. Refined, the method could help link prehistoric paintings to their makers.
The World’s Greatest Song That Simply Shouldn’t Exist: The Making of The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life”
Were we to take bets on the single most widely heard alarm clock, the one included on the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” would surely be a popular choice. It comes, you’ll recall,…
What If We Never Built Another New Building?
Swiss architect Barbara Buser has spent decades proving that the greenest building is often the one already standing. When one unscrews a section of the bright red sheet metal…
7,000-year-old Chinese practice of ‘just standing there’ looks easy. It’s not.
Zhan Zhuang is surprisingly difficult, but it can offer real benefits. The post 7,000-year-old Chinese practice of ‘just standing there’ looks easy. It’s not. appeared first on…
27 English words people have a hard time enunciating properly, even native speakers
Say what? The post 27 English words people have a hard time enunciating properly, even native speakers appeared first on Upworthy .
Where Did the Monk’s Haircut Come From? A Look at the Rich and Contentious History of the Tonsure
One might assume from a modern viewpoint that the hairstyles worn by monks arose to deal with male pattern baldness anxiety. As in the school uniform approach, you can’t single…
Sunday · July 19
If you absolutely love pinball, this app will find you a table wherever you go
Pinball Map is a free, community-powered app that helps players locate pinball machines at arcades, bars, restaurants and other venues worldwide.
Topkapı Palace reopens restored Ottoman sherbet kitchen
The Şerbethane, the Ottoman palace's sherbet kitchen at Topkapı Palace, reopened to visitors after a nine-month restoration and exhibition redesign....
How to Be a Lichen: Adaptive Strategies for the Vulnerabilities of Being Human from Nature’s Tiny Titans of Tenacity
When I was a child, little delighted me more than the magical green garlands draping from the pine trees, which I made into wreaths and mustaches to roam the mountains of Bulgaria…
Borges on How to Conquer Time
"Time is the substance I am made of. Time is a river which sweeps me along, but I am the river; it is a tiger which destroys me, but I am the tiger; it is a fire which consumes…
Old-school digicams are everywhere. What's behind the return of retro tech?
People who weren't yet alive in the 1990s and early 2000s are buying up old-school point-and-shoot cameras. For some, it's a trendy retro vibe; for other, a rebellion against the…
15 Years Later, A Forgotten Sci-Fi Movie Is A Brilliant Remix Of A Tired Trope
Everyone thinks about what they wish they could do differently, but 'Another Earth' reminds us that it's rarely that simple.
Saturday · July 18
This 19th-Century Diary Written by an Enslaved Maryland Man Is a Crucial Record of His Life and Family History—and the Only One of Its Kind Found in the United States
Adam Francis Plummer’s chronicle is believed to be the country’s sole known example of a multigenerational journal begun by an enslaved person. It’s now on view at the…
This unusual, Johnny Carson-backed fund has helped Nebraska arts survive — until now
A unique public-private endowment has long shielded Nebraska's cultural scene from federal budget cuts. But a massive state deficit is putting its future in jeopardy.
Trevor Winkfield’s Cheerfully Sinister Worlds
His rejection of certainty is an urgent reminder that imagination should not be neglected in the pursuit of art.
Three Nobel Laureates of Kharkiv: The Intellectual Legacy of a City That Changed the World
For some reason, the West has traditionally viewed Russia as an “intelligent” country — a bearer of high culture, science, and…Continue reading on Medium »
Computer Game Museum Berlin in Berlin
The Guinness Book acknowledged one of the biggest and oldest collections of computer games, featuring a strange 'pain machine' that blurs the boundaries between the digital and…
Was There Ever an Original Version of 'The Odyssey,' and Do We Need to Worry About What Homer Would Think?
The earliest surviving fragments of the epic poem—the subject of Christopher Nolan's latest Hollywood blockbuster—date back more than 2,000 years. But oral storytelling about a…
Friday · July 17
10 photographers share favorite moments from the Tiny Desk Contest Tour
Ten photographers share their favorite memories from the 2026 Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour, which was headlined by this year's winner, the Dallas hip-hop group Cure for…
The Radical, Unclassifiable Art of William Blake
William Blake is a household name, or not far from it, but things get more complicated when it comes to professional description. He was a poet, a painter, and a printmaker, at…
Marcus Aurelius on the Good Luck of Your Bad Luck: The Stoic Strategy for Weathering Life’s Waves and Turning Suffering into Strength
"What happened could have happened to anyone, but not everyone could have carried on."
This Viking Longship Crossed the Atlantic Before Starring in Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' as Odysseus' Greek Galley
Hollywood stars including Matt Damon went to rowing camp to learn how to operate the vessel for the new film
The 15 Monumental Landmarks You Truly Need to See in This Lifetime
Discover the 15 most famous landmarks in the world! From ancient wonders to modern marvels, explore iconic sites that captivate millions.
Worrying about the state of movies is part of loving movies
David Thomson loves movies. That's why he wrote a book - A Sudden Flicker Of Light - about what's wrong with them.