History

July 14, 2024

Meet the Mysterious Beast of Gévaudan, France’s 18th-Century “Werewolf”

Legends about werewolves are ancient. Mentions of men morphing into wolves appear in ancient Near Eastern, Nordic, and Greek literature and myths. The sensational nature of the mythical creature captures a sense of horror and magic that has endured from these ancient mentions to the modern Twilight. But the fearsome werewolves were particularly sensationalized in certain periods.

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July 2, 2024

New LGBTQ+ Visitor Center Honors the History of the Stonewall Rebellion

Fifty-five years after the historic Stonewall Rebellion sparked the fight for queer equality, the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center (SNMVC) has opened its doors. Located at 51 Christopher Street in the same site as the Stonewall Inn, it is the first LGBTQIA+ visitor center in the National Park System, since the site was named a National Monument in 2016.

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June 22, 2024

The Decimal Point Is a Lot Older Than We Thought

For centuries, the earliest known use of the decimal point appeared in 1593, when the German mathematician Christopher Clavius wrote it in an astronomy book. Since then, it has radically changed the course of mathematics. However, it was recently discovered that the first documented use of the decimal point was not in 1593 but over 100 years before in Renaissance Italy.

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June 4, 2024

15th-Century Manuscript Covered in Medieval Cat’s Paw Prints and Urine

Today, cats are the kings and queens of the internet. Their popularity amongst humans is nothing new though. Felines have accompanied humankind for centuries for a variety of reasons. Medieval monks often kept cats in their monasteries because their kitty companions protected their food stores from rodents. Cats were also employed to limit the rodent population, as mice and rats were known to nibble on manuscript pages, ruining them.

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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.