When Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen died on Oct. 15, 2018, he left behind an estimated US$26 billion that he wanted to largely leave to charity. Allen died at 65 of septic shock after a yearslong cancer battle. He’s back in the news because his estate is finally selling an asset that represents nearly a quarter...
This year the cities of Trenčín in Slovakia and Oulu in Finland took the helm as Europe’s cultural beacon cities. As the Old Continent redefines its role on the global geopolitical stage, the European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) programme is at a turning point. The European Commission recently launched a public forum initiative to collectively...
When a 5-inch-by-4-inch red chalk drawing of a woman’s foot by Michelangelo sold at auction for US$27.2 million on Feb. 5, 2026, it blew past the $1.5 million to $2 million it was expected to receive. Experts believe it to be a study for the figure of the Libyan Sibyl, a female prophet who appears...
Framing raises in dollars, not percentages, helps reduce gender gaps During the 60 years since pay discrimination became illegal in the United States, gender pay equity has remained stubbornly elusive. The gap between women and men increased in 2024, with women earning 80.9 cents for every dollar men make for the same work, according to the Institute for...
Michelangelo’s fresco of “The Last Judgment,” covering the wall behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, is being restored. The work, which started on Feb. 1, 2026, is expected to continue for three months. The Sistine Chapel is one of the great masterpieces of Renaissance art. As the setting where the College...
“Humble” is not a word my colleagues would use to describe me, especially early in my career. In fact, when word got around that I was researching humility, I suspect more than a few choked on their coffee. And even though I have spent over a decade exploring the concept as an attribute and as...
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and love stories are in the spotlight. While binge watching romance films can be a fun way to celebrate the season, Virginia Tech experts Sarah Ovink and Rose Wesche say formulaic depictions of love may set unrealistic expectations for real-life relationships. Ovink, associate professor of sociology, said media’s role in shaping expectations of love starts...
Research finds that social media can help reduce anxiety for young adults who have specific personality traits. Anxiety is the second leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide. Roughly a third of adults in the U.S. will experience an anxiety disorder within their lifetime, and the median age of onset is 17 years old. Anxiety increases...
Cleansing has long been an important part of hygiene rituals across cultures. Nowadays, cleansing remains an essential part of daily skincare routines, helping to remove sweat, makeup and old skin cells. But with skincare routines becoming more and more extensive (and expensive), it can be difficult to know which cleanser to use – and how...
On the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order, his body will be displayed for the first time ever in February 2026, at the Basilica of San Francesco. Millions of visitors are expected to converge in the small Tuscan town of Assisi to honor the 13th-century saint....
