Topic

Art, Culture & Design

A collection of 74 issues

The Basilica Built on a Basilica: The Lost History of Old St. Peter's

The iconic St. Peter's Basilica we know today is actually the second version. It was built in the 16th century directly atop the foundation of the original basilica, a magnificent 4th-century structure ordered by Emperor Constantine that stood as the heart of Western Christendom for 1200 years.

Echoes from the Stone Age: How the World's Oldest Mine Reveals the Dawn of Human Culture

The Ngwenya Mine in Eswatini, the world's oldest, reveals systematic mining from 43,000 years ago. Early humans didn't seek metal but red ochre, a pigment used for rituals and art, showcasing the ancient origins of symbolic culture and industry.

The $5 Painting That Challenged the Art World: The Unsolved Mystery of Teri Horton's Pollock

Truck driver Teri Horton bought a painting for $5 as a joke gift. It turned out to be a potential Jackson Pollock worth millions. She spent years battling the art establishment for authentication, a saga of defiance and mystery that ended with her death, the painting's fate still unresolved.

Sacred Heart Was Real: The All-in-One Hospital Set That Made 'Scrubs' a Classic

The TV show Scrubs achieved its unique authenticity by filming in a real, decommissioned hospital. The North Hollywood Medical Center wasn't just the set; it housed writers' rooms, editing suites, and even served as the cast's dressing rooms, immersing the entire production in its world.

Size Matters: The Icelandic Penis Museum's Comical Quest for a Worthy Human Specimen

The Icelandic Phallological Museum's quest for a human penis specimen hit a snag when its first donation ended up a shriveled mess. This prompted the curator to publicly declare he was waiting for 'a younger and a bigger and better one,' kicking off a bizarre international competition.

Three-Twenty-and-Ten: Unlocking the Surprising Logic of Georgian Numbers

Ever tried counting in 20s? The Georgian language does just that with its vigesimal number system. Instead of 'seventy-five', Georgians say 'three-twenty-and-fifteen' (samotsdatkhutmeti). It's a fascinating linguistic quirk that challenges our base-10 assumptions about numbers.

Kummerspeck, Weltschmerz, and Fernweh: Why German Has the Perfect Word for Every Feeling

German's unique ability to create hyper-specific compound words offers a fascinating vocabulary for complex human emotions. From 'grief bacon' (Kummerspeck) to 'world-pain' (Weltschmerz), these untranslatable terms perfectly capture feelings we all know but can't easily name.