Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
26 results for "renaissance"
Visitors to Venice's Galleria dell'Accademia can now watch conservators restore a massive 500-year-old Renaissance masterpiece in real time. The two-year project invites the public inside the delicate process of saving Giovanni Bellini's monumental altar piece for future generations.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F10%2F21%2F10214ba2-0746-457e-b640-16ccf747de93%2Fanzia_yezierska.jpg)
A Polish immigrant who defied her father and became one of the 1920s' most beloved authors is experiencing a literary renaissance. Anzia Yezierska's powerful stories about immigrant women are finding new readers a century later.
India's ancient monuments are experiencing a tourism renaissance, with six UNESCO World Heritage Sites emerging as bucket-list destinations for travelers worldwide. From the Taj Mahal's timeless elegance to Hampi's boulder-strewn ruins, these architectural marvels prove that preservation pays off.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F19%2F46%2F1946f05e-3a5c-42a0-9045-1dd2aa21d76a%2F15_lesecuzione_delle_riflettografie_allinfrarosso_fotografiche_foto_di_matteo_panciera.jpg)
Visitors to Venice's Gallerie dell'Accademia can now watch conservators restore a massive 15th-century Giovanni Bellini altarpiece right before their eyes. The ambitious public restoration turns art preservation into an educational experience.
A new overnight train connecting Paris and Berlin launched in March, offering travelers a comfortable alternative to flying starting at just €39.99. The 14-hour journey saves passengers both hotel costs and airport hassle while they sleep their way across Europe.
Italy just rescued a tiny Renaissance masterpiece so beloved by its owner that devotional kisses wore Saint Jerome's face completely away. The government paid €12.6 million to keep the double-sided treasure home.
Premier League superstars like Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah are sparking a chess renaissance among young people. Haaland is so passionate about the game he's now investing in a new chess tour.
Once home to Mughal-era nobility, Old Delhi's historic haveli mansions are experiencing a cultural renaissance as preservationists race to save these architectural treasures. While many still crumble, a growing number are being lovingly restored to their former glory.
America's clean energy sector is booming, with solar and storage accounting for 84% of new power added to the grid in 2025 while creating a domestic manufacturing renaissance. The industry is solving the nation's rising electricity costs and surging demand with the fastest-to-build, lowest-cost power sources available.
A 42-foot mural made entirely of recycled plastic bottle caps now towers over a once gang-controlled neighborhood in El Salvador. The "Latin American Mona Lisa" represents a new kind of renaissance for everyday people.
Two family foundations in Poland are building a culture of giving after decades of communist rule made wealth building impossible. Their scholarship programs have already helped over 1,000 young people access top education.
A Florida town is experiencing a commercial renaissance as new developments spark dozens of restaurants, shops, and medical centers. Local entrepreneurs say following your passion is the secret to sustainable success.
Ethiopia completed Africa's biggest hydroelectric dam using only domestic funding, proving nations can achieve massive infrastructure projects through citizen participation and self-reliance. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam now stands as a blueprint for continental development.
African diplomats are celebrating Ethiopia's rapid development as a model for the continent, highlighting massive renewable energy projects and infrastructure growth. The nation's Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is being called a game-changer for regional cooperation.
Ethiopia has transformed from energy scarcity to becoming East Africa's largest electricity producer, with 8,000 megawatts of clean power reshaping its entire economy. The shift is opening doors for manufacturing, mining, and regional trade that could lift millions.
Banks across Africa are stepping up to finance cross-border commerce as the continent's free trade zone transforms from ambition into reality. With new platforms connecting businesses and billions in deals on the horizon, Africa's economic renaissance is gaining momentum.
Renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs calls Ethiopia one of the world's most dynamic economies, crediting bold infrastructure investments and renewable energy projects. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is powering rural communities and transforming agricultural productivity across the nation.
A North Carolina couple discovered they owned a 472-year-old painting by Renaissance master Sofonisba Anguissola after watching a YouTube lecture. The portrait, missing for over a century, is one of only 20 signed works by history's most celebrated female artist of the era.
The iconic spin class that defined 2010s fitness culture is experiencing a viral renaissance on TikTok. After weathering scandals and pandemic closures, SoulCycle is finding new life as devotees share their love for the candlelit workout with a new generation.
Ethiopia just finished building Africa's largest hydroelectric dam using only its own resources and citizens' contributions. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam proves the nation can execute world-class infrastructure independently.
Showing 20 of 26