What We Loved This Week, Jan. 31 – Feb. 6

Published February 5, 2016
Updated February 4, 2016

Vintage celebrity selfies, opulent wigs made of paper, the most astounding eyes in all of nature, the world’s most ingeniously bizarre ads, and cool photos of ’60s mods.

Kennedy Selfie

From left: Ethel, Jacqueline, and John F. Kennedy. Image Source: Vintage Everyday

Celebrity Selfies Taken Long Before The Word Was Even Invented

Astronauts Selfie

Apollo astronauts, early 1970s. Image Source: Vintage Everyday

Sure, the word “selfie” is only about 15 years old, and mobile phones with cameras are only about the same age. But, if you think we haven’t been taking self-portraits for far, far longer than that, you’re dead wrong. And by “we,” I also mean the rich, famous, and powerful. Sure, rock stars and politicians of decades past couldn’t share their selfies on Instagram or Facebook, but that doesn’t mean, with a little digging, you can’t find some truly iconic, vintage self-portraits. See more at Vintage Everyday.

Stevie Nicks Selfie

Stevie Nicks. Image Source: Vintage Everyday

Opulent, Old-Fashioned Wigs Made Entirely Of Paper

Boat Hat Paper Wig

An intricate wig made out of paper by Russian artist Asya Kozina. Image Source: designboom

When it comes to elaborately detailed, Victorian-era headpieces and ancient Mongolian wedding dresses, paper usually isn’t the first medium people think of. Russian artist Asya Kozina, however, is proving that paper can be just as beautiful as cloth. “This is art for art’s sake aesthetics for aesthetics — no practical sense, but they are beautiful,” Kozina said. “In this case, paper helps to highlight the main form and not to be obsessed with unnecessary details.” See more at designboom.

Paper Headdress Wig

An intricate, Mongolian-wedding-dress-inspired paper dress and headpiece. Image Source: designboom

Three Paper People Wigs

Three Mongolian-wedding dress-inspired paper dresses and headpieces. image Source: designboom

Inside The Eyes Of The World’s Tiniest Creatures

Mantis Shrimp Odontodactylus Scyllarus Color Receptors 1080

The mantis shrimp is endowed with 12 color receptors, compared to our middling three. Image Source: National Geographic

As humans, it’s normal to anthropomorphize the world around us: sometimes we call dogs’ front legs “arms,” or refer to a snake as “mean.” Likewise, we might assume that the eyes of living creatures we encounter work the same way that ours do, and to achieve the same end. That’s just not the case, though. Indeed, in this National Geographic article, the authors explore the fascinating ways living organisms use their eyes — sometimes, all 100 of them.

Bay Scallop Bright Blue Eyes

Up to 100 blue eyes dot the mantle of this bay scallop. Image Source: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/evolution-of-eyes-text

Box Jellyfish 24 Eyes

While only half an inch across, the box jellyfish possesses 24 eyes. Image Source: National Geographic

author
All That's Interesting
author
A New York-based publisher established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science to share stories that illuminate our world.
editor
Nickolaus Hines
editor
Nickolaus Hines graduated with a Bachelor's in journalism from Auburn University, and his writing has appeared in Men's Journal, Inverse, and VinePair.