A Churchgoer In Spain Did “The Worst Art Restoration Project Of All Time”
Thanks to an amateur artist, a fresco of Jesus in a church in northeastern Spain ended up looking quite different. But there was more to the story.
Oscar, The Therapy Cat Who “Predicted” When Patients Were About To Pass Away
Oscar was adopted by a nursing home to be a therapy cat. But staff noticed that whenever he chose to sit next to somebody, that somebody soon became a body.
Old Coffee Grounds Could Make Concrete Stronger, Greener, More Jittery
If part of your morning routine involves caffeine in a cup, you may be interested to know about a new research project that uses coffee grounds to improve concrete.
When The Supreme Court Kind Of Ruled That An Airplane Wasn’t A Motor Vehicle
Today in 1931, the US Supreme Court issued a ruling that seems to say that a guy who stole an airplane was not guilty of breaking the law against stealing motor vehicles. It’s actually a little more complicated than that.
For Michelangelo, Painting The Sistine Chapel Was Literally A Pain
Today in 1475 Michelangelo was born. One of his masterworks was the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, though if a poem he wrote about the job is to be believed, making all that great art was pretty painful.
Sarah Biffin, A 19th Century Painter “Without Hands” Who’s Getting 21st Century Recognition
Today in 2019, the sale of a portrait by 19th Century English miniaturist Sarah Biffin, a renowned artist who was born without full arms or legs and whose life and work are the subject of an exhibition now running in London.
Piano Chords May Help Stop Chronic Nightmares
There's a new technique that could help people trying to fend off chronic nightmares - and it involves playing "neutral" piano chords at just the right times.
Repainting The White House Takes 570 Gallons Of Paint
Today in 1800, President John Adams first moved into the president's house, which, despite rumors to the contrary, was always a White House. Here's how it gets repainted.
Why So Many Old Paintings Have Dogs Holding Lit Flares In Their Mouths
There's a phenomenon in art history where some paintings feature dogs with lit flares in their mouths. They're not committing arson or leading Indiana Jones through a dark cave... but what are they doing?
“Mummy Brown” Was A Paint Made From Actual Mummies
Today in 1923, King Tut's tomb was opened and entered. That may not have been the afterlife the young pharaoh had hoped for, but it could have been worse: for centuries artists used a paint called Mummy Brown, which was made with actual mummy parts.