Sculpting marble has always fascinated me. It seems like such an difficult process were one mistake could ruin the whole sculpture.
Being able to watch an artist full process is one of those great things about videos and the Internet.
Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a $1 billion donation to make medical school free for most students at Johns Hopkins University and increase financial aid for students at its nursing and public health schools.
This announcement came in Michael R. Bloomberg’s (JHU ’64) annual letter on philanthropy in the Bloomberg Philanthropies 2023-2024 Annual Report.
Currently, nearly two-thirds of Johns Hopkins medical students qualify for financial aid, with an average total student loan debt of about $104,000. Starting in fall 2024, Johns Hopkins will offer free tuition for medical students from families earning less than $300,000 a year, covering about 95% of Americans. Additionally, living expenses and fees will be covered for students from families earning less than $175,000 a year.
“As the U.S. faces a shortage of doctors, nurses, and public health professionals, the high cost of education often prevents students from enrolling,” said Mr. Bloomberg. “By reducing financial barriers, we can enable more students to pursue these essential careers.”
The donation is expected to reduce the average student loan debt for Johns Hopkins medical students to $60,279 by 2029, with most American families paying nothing. This initiative aims to ensure that talented aspiring doctors from diverse socio-economic backgrounds can graduate debt-free.
The gift will also increase financial aid for students at the School of Nursing and the Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as for low and middle-income students pursuing graduate degrees in other Johns Hopkins schools, including the School of Education, Whiting School of Engineering, Carey School of Business, School of Advanced International Studies, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Peabody Institute, and the upcoming School of Government and Policy.
This donation follows Bloomberg Philanthropies’ 2018 contribution of $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins to support need-blind admissions, which significantly lowered the net cost of attendance and increased economic diversity among students.
Last year, Michael Bloomberg donated over $3 billion to charity, making him one of the top American philanthropists.
This is a fascinating video about building a cathedral without science or math…
It sounds impossible, but you might be surprised. Our modern idea of engineering is quite a bit different than it was when some of the most beautiful and impressive structures in the world were built.
As someone who is neither an engineer nor an architect, this video thoroughly fascinated me.
A painting by Italian Renaissance master Titian, once found in a plastic bag at a London bus stop after being stolen twice, is expected to sell for up to $32 million at auction.
“The Rest on the Flight into Egypt” will be auctioned at Christie’s with an estimate of £15 million-£25 million ($19 million-$32 million), according to the auction house.
The painting, created in the early 16th century, depicts Jesus, Mary, and Joseph resting on their way to Egypt after learning that King Herod of Judea wanted to kill the young Christ.
Titian, whose real name was Tiziano Vecellio, made the small painting (18.25 inches by 24.75 inches) early in his career, before he became known for his larger works.
The oil-on-canvas has a notable history. After passing through various European aristocrats, it was looted by Napoleonic troops in 1809 and taken to Paris. It was returned to Vienna in 1815 and later owned by John Alexander Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath, in Wiltshire, England.
In 1995, the painting was stolen from Longleat, the home of Thynne’s descendants, and was missing for seven years before being found at a London bus stop by art detective Charles Hill.
“This painting has been coveted by aristocrats, archdukes, and emperors for its vividly colored scene of familial affection,” Christie’s said in a statement. “Like its subjects, ‘The Rest on the Flight into Egypt’ has been on a long and eventful journey — a journey that’s far from over.”
In desert valley just a few mile from the Peruvian coastline north of Lima, there once stood a stone city with pyramids. The stepped bases of the pyramids and the city ruins of remain visible today, though the tops the of the massive structures are long gone.
The people who lived in this city are contemporaries with the ancient Egyptians, though we know little about them. The 5,000-year-old ruins are know as the sacred city of Caral and was declared a world heritage site in 2009.
Caral is believed to be the oldest city in the Americas. This thriving metropolis sprawled across hundreds of hectares in the Supe River Valley, with over 3,000 inhabitants as early as 3000 B.C., until its abandonment around 1800 B.C. Including the nearby Supe Valley settlements, the area may have been home to 20,000 people.
There are many fascinating things about the city, such as ancient wind instruments, anti-earthquake building methods, and a seeming lack of weapons that continue to excite archeologist and historians to this day.
If you would like to know more about it, I will add a great article below that has tons of fantastic pictures. There is also an interesting History.com article about it you can read as well.
