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People

Get to Know the Locals (Past & Present) Making a Name for Themselves & Setting Trends in the Region

Photo shows pilot Assen Jordanoff, who brought the Leonardo Da Vinci from New Castle, Del. It is said he will accompany Cesare Sabelli, in a proposed transatlantic flight. May 15, 1933

Renaissance Man? This Bulgarian Inventor Did It All

by Galina Ganeva
25 March 2023
Bulgaria/People

He was an inventor, an engineer, and an aviator. He inspired thousands of pilots around the world, like astronaut Neal Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon. And yet, Assen Jordanoff, the Bulgarian-American inventor of, among other things, the airbag, is hardly known in his home country.

pedestrian crossing lights in vilnius Lithuania get a wardrobe change from men to women

Crossing Lights in Vilnius Get the Glow Up Treatment

by Przemysław Bociąga
25 March 2023
Poland/Culture/People

In Lithuania's capital, pedestrian crossing lights recently got a makeover as part of the celebration to commemorate 100 years of women’s right to vote in the country. Lights featuring figures wearing skirts now dot the intersections of a bustling Vilnius neighborhood.

Papcio Chmiel with his comic picture

Comic Book Author & Warsaw Uprising Combatant Papcio Chmiel

by Przemysław Bociąga
24 March 2023
People/Poland/Culture

"Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek" was the longest-running Polish comic book series. But its creator's biography extended beyond the adventures of a monkey born from an inkblot.

Magdalena Abakanowicz Exhibition: Every Tangle Of Thread And Rope

Famous Polish Sculptor Takes Over London’s Tate Modern

by Przemysław Bociąga
22 March 2023
Poland/Culture/People

"Every Tangle of Thread and Rope" is the title of Magdalena Abakanowicz's retrospective in the most notable British modern art museum. The late artist's relationship with her body takes the form of unusual sculptures.

Aritst mark Rothko standing in front of his paintings

Mark Rothko: The Latvian Artist Who Pioneered a Movement

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 March 2023
Latvia/Culture/People

Latvia's second-largest city, Daugavpils, is home to the Mark Rothko Art Center, named after one of the most famous artists in the world, who was born in the city in 1903.

Lady Gaga performs during her JAZZ & PIANO residency at Park Theater at Park MGM on January 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Binoculars and Crystals as Big as the Ritz

by Weronika Edmunds
15 March 2023
Hungary/People

Africa is known for its diamonds, but how many of you know that a European country supplies the world with much more popular, dazzling, and kinder stones to your wallet? There is a chance you own one.

Victor Babes, young, after he published the first Treaty of Bacteriology

The World-Changing Destiny of Victor Babeș

by Naomi Gherman
12 March 2023
People/Romania/Culture

Romania’s most renowned bacteriologist, Victor Babeș, dreamt of being an artist – until a tragic event changed the path of his life forever.

Marie Sklodowska Curie

The Alternative Career of Marie Skłodowska-Curie 

by Przemysław Bociąga
9 March 2023
Poland/People

Before becoming a genius physicist, Marie Skłodowska-Curie was a Polish language teacher and a national-democratic activist. 

Ötzi

The Disputed Nationality of a 5,000-Year-Old Man 

by Przemysław Bociąga
8 March 2023
Austria/Culture/People

A corpse found on the border between Austria and Italy seemed so fresh that the tourists who found it called the police. But it was archeologists would eventually dispute the nationality of the ice man.

A June 29, 1898, editorial cartoon by Leon Barritt depicts Pulitzer and Hearst each pushing for war with Spain

The Pulitzer Prize Is Named After a Hungarian Journalist 

by Przemysław Bociąga
26 February 2023
Culture/People/Hungary

The founder of the most prestigious awards in journalism was a lifelong rival of William Randolph Hearst. It was this rivalry that set the stage for modern journalism.

archive photo from 1959 shows students running out of school

Poland Celebrated 1000 Years of Christianity with… 1000 Schools

by Przemysław Bociąga
17 February 2023
Poland/Culture/People

Known as the "Millennium Schools," characteristic buildings made with one ingenious design are still the most prevalent of their kind in Poland.

Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu processing scientific data obtained from laboratory investigations

Europe’s Pioneering Female Engineer

by Naomi Gherman
5 February 2023
People/Romania

Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu was born into a family of intellectuals and scientists. Out of eight bright siblings, she had to face the harshest conditions, all because her passion for engineering did not agree with her gender.

Women's hands hold many shopping bags

Making ends meet: The European Income Gap Is Closing

by Mateusz Walewski
18 January 2023
Poland/Culture/People

Households in our region have to allocate relatively high shares of their budgets to basic needs. Their ability to buy non-essential items is limited. The consumption structure in our area will converge to the western European average in line with closing the income gap.

group of women

Rural Girl Power! The PR Specialists of the Polish Countryside

by Weronika Edmunds
14 January 2023
People/Poland/Culture

The countryside is the bread and butter of every nation. Undoubtedly, a vast part of Polish cultural heritage originates in Polish villages and fields. It could not be so if it weren’t for the women!

Group of kindergarten kids friends arm around sitting together

Newborns and a Two-Speed Europe

by Agaton Koziński
10 January 2023
Money/People

In Central Europe - much more often than in Western Europe - more people affirm Kundera's view that "The child makes us care about the world."

1950s USA Levi's Magazine Advert

The Latvian Contribution to the Origin of Jeans

by Przemysław Bociąga
23 December 2022
Latvia/Culture/People

Though merchant Levi Strauss is mainly credited for the invention of jeans, little would have happened in this area if not for Latvian-born tailor Jacob Davis. In 1871 in Reno, Nevada, Davis found denim to be the perfect fabric for workhorse pants.

farmhouse

Polish Barn Wins International Prize

by Weronika Edmunds
20 December 2022
Poland/Tech/People

The architecture MasterPrize award is open for entries from architects at every stage of their careers. It is considered the second most important out of the five leading international awards in architecture. This year, Poles were among the winners.

Woman with stroller at sunset, walking on the beach

The Czech’s Effective Response to Europe’s Demographic Crisis

by Agaton Koziński
19 December 2022
Money/People

The Czech Republic has recorded a gradual increase in the number of children born in the country - proof that an effective pro-natalist policy can be pursued. It seems that the key is maintaining respect for the value of the family.

MATSUKO founders and CEOs Matus Kirchmayer and Maria Vircikova

Slovak Startup Has Created Skype of the Future

by Martin Hochel
12 December 2022
Slovakia/Tech/People

Matsuko is a Slovak startup that offers a unique experience of communicating through holograms. The application they developed creates holograms of actual persons who can communicate in a virtual space and encounter each other as if it was real.

This posthumous portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was painted by Barbara Kraft at the request of Joseph Sonnleithner in 1819, long after Mozart died.

Mozart – The Austrian Genius Everyone Knows. Or Do They?

by Weronika Edmunds
8 December 2022
Austria/Culture/People

Who was the greatest musician ever alive? A celebrity by today's definition – famous, talented, and wealthy? Whose compositions are known to practically every human, even if they have no idea about classical music? There is only one answer – Mozart!

A group of children in a computer shop gathered round an Atari ST

The Polish Creator of the Computer for the Masses

by Przemysław Bociąga
30 November 2022
Poland/Culture/Tech/People

Born Idek Trzmiel in Łódź, Poland, Jack Tramiel was the creator of the Commodore 64, the computer that holds a Guinness World Record for being the best-selling machine of its kind.

Business woman using mobile smartphone on global network connection and data customer connection on blue background, Digital marketing, Data exchanges, Innovative and technology.

A Powerful New Tool Against Online Fraud

by Martin Hochel
29 November 2022
People/Hungary/Tech

The Hungarian startup SEON Technologies, currently based in London, has introduced an app that determines the risk of online internet profiles. The product became very popular among companies and casual users as the world went online during the Covid-19 pandemic.

portrait of Ivo Boscarol in plane

Pipistrel: A Slovenian Success Story

by Vid Sosic
28 November 2022
Culture/People/Slovenia

Ivo Boscarol is a Slovenian entrepreneur and aircraft designer with a great success story. Throughout his continuing success, he has remained true to his birthplace and dedicated a lot of made money to local causes.

Karel Gott surrounded by women

The Frank Sinatra of the East

by Marek Koten
22 November 2022
Culture/People/Czechia

Karel Gott's story is about passion and love for music. After becoming a revered Czech pop legend, his talent and name spread to the world, becoming a symbol.

KAPKA KASSABOVA

Bridges and Borders: The Role of the Balkans in Europe

by Galina Ganeva
17 November 2022
Bulgaria/Culture/People/Interviews

Writer Kapka Kassabova has made it her mission to go back to the Balkans, bringing closer to readers a part of Europe that is still either unknown or misunderstood.

Janusz Korczak and children at the orphanage

Polish Teacher Who Laid Foundations for Modern Children’s Rights

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 November 2022
Money/People

With a complicated biography, multiple areas of expertise, and a good number of jobs, Janusz Korczak was an exemplary modern teacher. His book for children entitled “Król Maciuś Pierwszy” (eng.: "His Majesty, King Matt the First") is a 1930s coming-of-age novel with a very modern take.

Ita Rina

Ita Rina: A Forgotten Movie Star

by Vid Sosic
15 November 2022
Slovenia/Culture/People

Ita Rina was a movie superstar in Europe in the 1930s, when she starred in many successful movies, the only Slovenian to make it that far. She was even offered work in Hollywood but turned it down to focus on her family. Today she is a forgotten yet legendary icon of that period in film history.

Aurel Persu car

The Romanian Invention That Had Ford and GM in a Bidding War

by Naomi Gherman
9 November 2022
People/Romania/Culture

In 1923, Romanian engineer Aurel Persu concluded that aerodynamics played an important role not just up in the air but down on earth, too. By introducing wheels inside a car's frame, he successfully built the very first aerodynamic vehicle. 

Zofia Rydet's collage

The Photographer Who Set to Capture Every Household in Poland

by Przemysław Bociąga
3 November 2022
Poland/Culture/People

The Sociological Record was a 1960s art project by photographer Zofia Rydet that did precisely what it says on the lid - it captured Polish society in the transformation process. Until her death, Rydet managed to document some 20 thousand Polish households.

Vivid painted wooden tombstones at Merry Cemetery, Famous graveyard in Sapanta, county of Maramures, Romania

Exploring the Merry Cemetery

by Naomi Gherman
31 October 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/People

We know. “Merry” and “cemetery” aren’t two words that usually go together. So what makes this graveyard, literally, merry? Is it the lively-colored gravestones? Or the humorous poems inscribed on them? Take a look and decide for yourself.

Janja Garnbret is climbing on the chimery

A New Life for an Old Chimney

by Agnieszka Sawala
28 October 2022
Slovenia/Travel & Food/People

“Extreme Reusing,” aka the Slovenian concept of what to do with a non-working chimney, which happens to be the tallest in Europe.

Tesla studying electricity in the laboratory

Nikola Tesla – A Controversial Pioneer in Green Transformation

by Weronika Edmunds
26 October 2022
Croatia/Green Transformation/People

Long before anybody had any idea of sustainable energy Nicola Tesla was preoccupied with finding new energy sources. Europe’s first hydropower plant is just one of his genius inventions. Get to know the man behind your dynamo.

winner

Central European Women in the Vanguard of Change

by Agaton Koziński
25 October 2022
Poland/Culture/People

Women in Central Europe have long played an important role in the home and also in public spaces. Centuries of fighting for independence, defending against the Nazis and the communists have meant that women in this part of Europe have emancipated themselves in many fields relatively quickly compared to other parts of the world.

Martin Strel swimming

The Man Who Swam It All

by Vid Sosic
23 October 2022
Slovenia/Culture/People

Meet Martin Strel from Slovenia. He is a 67-year-old retired guitar teacher, he is overweight, he enjoys Cviček, a sort of wine from his native Lower Carniola region, a bit too much, and he might just be the most powerful athlete alive.

Emil Racovitza as diver

A Deep Dive Into the Life of Biospeleology Founder Emil Racoviță

by Naomi Gherman
19 October 2022
Culture/People/Romania

The Romanian founder of biospeleology did not study sciences – he studied law. But his true calling was too prominent to be ignored, so Emil Racoviță pulled a one-eighty and completely changed not only his life but the world we live in today.

Volkswagen Advertisement from 1930s

Luxurious and Democratic: Porsche for the Masses 

by Przemysław Bociąga
19 October 2022
Culture/Tech/People/Czechia

Eponymous with both luxury supercars and the designer of the Beetle, the most renowned democratic car of the first half of the 20th century, Ferdinand Porsche is the most important Czech-Austrian contribution to automotive history.

Łukasz Koźlik

The Terminator. Made in Poland.

by Weronika Edmunds
19 October 2022
Poland/Tech/People

For the past eight years, a Polish inventor, Łukasz Koźlik, has been fulfilling his dream of building a robot that he hopes will eventually become our best housework buddy.

American Pop Artist Andy Warhol, half-length Portrait in front of Marx Brothers Screen-print

Slovakian Town Hosts the 2nd Largest Collection of Andy Warhols

by Przemysław Bociąga
18 October 2022
Culture/People/Slovakia

Although one of the most notable artists of the 20th century was born in Pittsburgh, the Slovakian town of Medzialiborce, where his parents were born, now displays 160 original works of the pop-art master in the Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art.

gogea mitu

Gogea Mitu, the Romanian Goliath

by Naomi Gherman
17 October 2022
Culture/People/Romania

Gogea Mitu was Romania’s tallest sportsman and the world’s tallest boxer. With a promising future in front of him, Mitu was just about to make his debut in the United States when he tragically – and mysteriously - died. What really happened to the “Romanian Goliath”?

Hungarian doctor and journalist Edith Bone holds a cat

How a Hungarian Professor Remained Sane After 7 Years Alone

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 October 2022
People/Hungary/Culture

Born in Budapest and educated in the West, Edith Bone was imprisoned for alleged espionage in Communist Hungary. The story of her 7-year solitary confinement is an extraordinary account of human survival skills.

group of spectators sitting in a movie theater wearing 3-D glasses

From 3D Movies to Microwave Ovens: Romania’s Famous Inventor

by Naomi Gherman
12 October 2022
People/Romania/Culture

Do you enjoy the experience of watching a 3D movie and getting to “live” every minute of it? It is all thanks to the Romanian inventor Theodor Ionescu who brought 3D images to TV and cinema and created one of the biggest industries in the world.

Patek Philippe products are displayed during the press day

Admire Swiss Watches? The Industry Was Started by a Pole

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 October 2022
Poland/Culture/Tech/People

Born in Piaski Szlacheckie, an inconspicuous village near Lublin, Poland, Antoni Patek made his name as part of the most prestigious brand in the history of watchmaking. A true trailblazer in the industry.

portrait of Marisa de Lempicka and painting of Tamara Lempicka

The Lasting Legacy of Tamara de Lempicka

by Danuta Nierada
11 October 2022
Poland/Culture/People/Interviews

3Seas’s Creative Director, Danuta Nierada, recently sat down with Marisa de Lempicka, the great-granddaughter of iconic artist Tamara de Łempicka, to talk about the life and times of the third most expensive female painter ever, also widely considered the greatest Art Deco artist of all times.

inventor Jan Szczepanik in his laboratory

The FBI Would Not Be Bulletproof Without This Polish Inventor

by Weronika Edmunds
5 October 2022
Poland/Culture/People

“FBI, open up!” We’ve all seen films where a team of armed law-enforcement officers storms a bad-guy hideout – usually all dressed up with the characteristic, bullet-proof vests. These vests have their own history, the origins of which can be traced back to a Polish inventor.

Rumen prototype by Roumen Antonov from 2005

The Man From Bulgaria Who Changed the Concept of Speed

by Jakub Warzecha
5 October 2022
Bulgaria/Tech/People

His ideas have been used by the world's biggest car companies. The dashing Bulgarian inventor and entrepreneur Roumen Antonov made waves in the automotive world with his avant-garde ideas and daring technical solutions.

Uzupis street sign, Photo: ©Go Vilnius

One District in Vilnius Is an Entire Country

by Przemysław Bociąga
4 October 2022
Poland/Culture/People

Bohemian Užupis looks like a typical city district, but it has its own constitution, flag, and international recognition (by UNESCO). Once, it even had an army of 11 soldiers, but now its only line of defense is its cultural value.

ancient Dacian gold bracelet is seen on display for the media at the National History museum in Bucharest Romania

The Dacian Fortresses Where Decebalus Hid His Golden Treasure

by Naomi Gherman
3 October 2022
People/Romania/Culture

This important religious and administrative capital of the Dacia historical region of Romania was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1999 for its intricate fusion of both military and spiritual concepts. But it holds far greater secrets.

oil wrestling tournament

Catch Me If You Can: Bulgaria’s Oil Wrestling Scene

by Galina Ganeva
27 September 2022
Bulgaria/Culture/People

Contestants smeared with oil. Naked torsos. Tight-fitting leather shorts. Are you ready for a traditional oil wrestling competition?

Dr. Solomon Passy

Back in Warsaw: The Future Leaders Conference 2022

by Jakub Warzecha
27 September 2022
Three Seas Initiative/Culture/People

The war in Ukraine caused by revived Russian imperialism requires us to remember the real meaning of the word freedom. The Three Seas Generation Freedom Conference will once again bring together recognized experts from around the world.

Simona Kossak with animal

The Real-Life Polish Dr. Dolittle, Simona Kossak

by Przemysław Bociąga
21 September 2022
People/Poland/Culture

In one famous photo, a woman dines in her house at the table together with a half-ton wild boar. The same woman grieved the loss of her lynx as if it was her daughter. Am I talking about a fictional character from children’s books? No. In fact, I am recalling an actual Polish larger-than-life zoopsychologist.

dr George Friedman

Friedman: Central Europeans Can Deter Russian Aggression

by Adam Starzynski
21 September 2022
Three Seas Initiative/People/Interviews

Geopolitical forecaster George Friedman says that a regional military alliance, with some supporters from the US, can be strong enough to keep Russia from invading the Three Seas region.

Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates with the winner's trophy

The Polish Open – Pronouncing Tennis Superstar Iga Świątek’s Name

by Przemysław Bociąga
20 September 2022
People/Poland/Culture

After Polish tennis player Iga Świątek won the US Open, commentators from all around the world struggled to pronounce her name. Here’s how to do it right.

Slavko Avsenik sits on grass in the mountain

The Most Famous Song You’ve Never Heard Of

by Vid Sosic
20 September 2022
Slovenia/Culture/People

“Yesterday,” “Thriller,” “Happy,” “Poker Face,” “With or Without You”… these are all the hits we know and love, and we heard them so many times. But there is a melody you might have heard and yet have probably no idea what the name is or who recorded it.

The Central Market in Ljubljana

The Architect Who Built the Soul of a City

by Vid Sosic
14 September 2022
People/Slovenia/Culture

There aren’t many cities visually influenced by one man. However, every so often, a genius is born who leaves such a mark to the point of it being recognized as a world heritage site. Meet Jože Plečnik (1872-1957), the man who changed Ljubljana.

Dr. George E. Palade, who pioneered research into the structure and functions of a cell

The Charmed Life of George Emil Palade

by Naomi Gherman
14 September 2022
Romania/Culture/People

The Independent called him “the most influential cell biologist ever.” He was the first Romanian to win the Nobel Prize. George Emil Palade, the founder of modern molecular biology, was not just a genius - he was a very lucky man, too.

harry houdini

It’s Magic! Harry Houdini in the Erik Weisz Disappearing Act

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 September 2022
Culture/People/Hungary

Harry Houdini, son of a Rabbi from Budapest, was not only a pioneer in his discipline of entertainment but also a master in breaking the chains of countries’ boundaries as he gained truly international fame.

A copy of the 1910 type EDA V plane flies during an airshow

Edvard Rusjan: A Cooper Who Reached for the Sky

by Vid Sosic
7 September 2022
People/Slovenia/Culture

For thousands of years, at least since Icarus, man dreamed of flying. Only recently, we’ve been lucky enough to see the world from above, with taking a plane almost as easy as taking a bus these days. But that didn’t happen overnight – it took innovators like Edvard Rusjan.

murale of Penkala in lower town in Zagreb, Croatia

Croatian Inventor Who Sparked Promotional Gadget Craze

by Weronika Edmunds
31 August 2022
Croatia/Culture/People

Every now and again, a genius is born. A person of so many talents that during their lifetime they come to invent several everyday items later generations cannot imagine their lives without. One of such people came from Croatia.

Thurzó Zoltán on mount Everest

High Notes: The Piano Concert on Mt. Everest

by Naomi Gherman
30 August 2022
Romania/Travel & Food/People

How high is too high? For Oradea-born pianist Thurzó Zoltán, there is no such height. Zoltán, internationally renowned for his out-of-this-world attempts to enter the Guinness World Book of Records, has finally made it with his concert atop Mount Everest.

Coiffeur Antoine à Paris

Bernice‘s Bob Never Would Have Been Without a Polish Hair Stylist

by Weronika Edmunds
24 August 2022
Culture/People/Poland

A bob. The symbol of strong femininity. Famously used in a short story of innocence lost, written by an American writer. However, Fitzgerald’s tale would never have been without that iconic haircut. And it so happens that a Pole wielded the scissors.

Old vintage shoes with typified red brick family Bata house in background, Zlin, Moravia, Czech Republic, sunny summer day

Running a City as a Company: A Success Story from Zlín 

by Marek Koten
18 August 2022
People/Czechia/Culture

Tomáš Baťa, a businessman from the Moravian city of Zlín, inspires entrepreneurs from all around the world to this day. Not only entrepreneurs but also politicians. Have you ever heard the expression "To run a country as a company"? Take a seat then - the journey starts in Zlín.  

old sewing machine ad

The Ultimate Revolutionary Machine Was Invented in Austria 

by Przemysław Bociąga
17 August 2022
Austria/Culture/People

In 1818, Joseph Madersperger invented the sewing machine. A few decades later, none other than Karl Marx called it the ultimate tool of the revolution. 

Center Noordung named after Space Station theorist

The Slovenian Origins of Space Travel

by Agnieszka Sawala
13 August 2022
Slovenia/Culture/People

Almost a century ago, Slovenian engineer Herman "Noordung" Potočnik published his innovative concept for long-term human habitation of space. As is often the case with visionaries, hardly anyone took him seriously at first.

Jaroslav Heyrovsky, one of the Czech inventors

Four Particularly Impressive Discoveries by Czech Scientists

by Jakub Warzecha
10 August 2022
Czechia/Culture/Tech/People

Czechia is known around the world for its gorgeous landscape, tasty food, and... beer(!), but a not-quite-as-obvious fact is that Czechs have been blazing trails in science for centuries. We've picked four innovative achievements with Czech origins that deserve recognition.

Gardens of Sporta Pils

Cultivating Kale, Cucumbers, and Community Spirit

by Lelde Benke
4 August 2022
Poland/Culture/People

What to do with an overgrown piece of land in a bustling capital city whose residents live mostly in apartments? One active community in Riga founded urban gardens, illustrating the potential of transforming derelict plots into added value for a city.

1960s SMILING COUPLE WITH ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER WOMAN HOLDING PEN & MAN HOLDING BLANK CARD

No More Inkblots! How a Hungarian Revolutionized Writing

by Weronika Edmunds
3 August 2022
Hungary/Culture/People

The frustration that boils your blood when a computer crashes just as you were to save the work you have been sweating over the past hour is known to all. Our great grandfathers could relate, as an inkblot could ruin a carefully written page of a letter. Someone had to put an end to it!

Witkacy, Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz

Witkacy: Coffee, Drugs, and Pure Form in Art

by Weronika Edmunds
3 August 2022
Poland/Culture/People

Have you ever thought about how what you eat or drink may influence your perception? Had a cup of coffee this morning? Maybe a cigarette? Chances are, these could make you produce a piece of art different from what you would have created after a cup of tea with a biscuit. At least in theory.

James Bond wearing digital watch

The Story of Peter Petroff and the First Digital Watch

by Mihail Petrov
27 July 2022
Bulgaria/Tech/People

A NASA engineer and inventor who developed heart-monitoring equipment and originated the first-ever digital wristwatch. These are just some of the accomplishments used to describe Bulgarian inventor Petar Petroff. But, before becoming one of the twentieth century's most productive inventors, Petroff led an eventful and adventurous life that few know about.

Professor Erno Rubik With Daughter

The Hungarian Who Famously Puzzled the World

by Przemysław Bociąga
20 July 2022
Hungary/Culture/People

Ernő Rubik, the inventor of the world’s famous Rubik’s Cube, with a background in building and furniture design, is now a STEM promotor, game designer, and an acclaimed symbol of Hungary.

Hide the Pain Harold as happy senior

“Hide the Pain Harold” Smiles His Way to Fame in Budapest

by Przemysław Bociąga
16 July 2022
Hungary/Culture/People

András Arató, a “silver” model for stock photos, became an internet phenomenon a few years ago. Recognized for his incredibly unique smile, some were surprised to learn he’s an actual person, and a Hungarian too.

Coanda-1910 plane

The World’s First Jet Engine Came From Romania

by Jakub Warzecha
13 July 2022
Romania/Culture/People

Few people know that the first jet engine was built by Romanian engineer and aviation pioneer Henri Coandă. This engine was very different from modern designs.

Josef Průša

Průša Research: A Global Player on the 3D Printer Market  

by Marek Koten
11 July 2022
People/Czechia/Tech

We all know the success stories of companies that started in garages. Průša Research's story is similar to those of other multimillion-dollar companies. From humble garage beginnings in 2012 to the second-largest 3D printer manufacturer in the world. 

Beata Daszyńska Muzyczka

The 3 Seas Initiative Can Mitigate the Global Food Crisis

by Adam Starzynski
6 July 2022
Three Seas Initiative/People/Interviews

3SeasEurope spoke with Beata Daszyńska-Muzyczka, the Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund, about her thoughts on the 3SI intra-regional cooperation and what can the Initiative do for the Western Balkans 6 and Ukraine.

Bertha von Suttner

First-Ever Nobel Peace Prize for Woman Went to Austria

by Przemysław Bociąga
4 July 2022
Culture/People/Poland

In 1905, novelist and journalist Bertha von Suttner was the first person ever to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Carmen Kass and Karl Lagerfeld walk the runway during the Chanel Haute Couture

Baltic Countries Are the World’s #1 Source of Female Models

by Przemysław Bociąga
21 June 2022
Poland/Culture/People

Who knows if it's the diet or just something in the air, but three out of the five countries that produce the most female models per capita are in the Baltic region: Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

Bronislaw Pilsudski recorded the Ainu group

How Polish Founding Father’s Brother Saved Japanese Culture 

by Przemysław Bociąga
18 June 2022
Poland/Culture/People

While Józef Piłsudski worked on his leading role in the politics of future Poland, his brother Bronisław became an ethnographer. He is credited with the only remaining recordings of a lost spoken Japanese language. 

Otto Wichterle

The Real Story Behind the Czech Invention of Contact Lenses

by Marek Koten
17 June 2022
Czechia/Culture/People

Millions of people worldwide wear contact lenses every day. However, not many of these people know the origin story of this simple-looking yet genius invention.

Juan Vucetic developed the concept of fingerprint analysis

Bloody Fingerprint No Match for This Croatian-Born Policeman

by Przemysław Bociąga
14 June 2022
Croatia/Culture/People

With the advent of modern science, there also came modern detectives. One of the first was Juan Vučetić, born in Hvar, Croatia, who pioneered dactyloscopy and was the first person in history to identify a killer based on a bloody fingerprint.

photo of angel angelov

The Number of Roma Graduates in Bulgaria is Increasing

by Galina Ganeva
13 June 2022
People/Bulgaria/Culture

First, the good news. According to a new study by the Trust for Social Achievement and Alpha Research, the number of Bulgarian Romani with a university degree increased six-fold from 2011 to 2019. Now, the not-so-fast moment: that translates to only 1.2% of Bulgarian Romani.

Michalina Wisłocka

Michalina Wisłocka & Sex Education, 1970s Polish-Style

by Przemysław Bociąga
11 June 2022
People/Poland/Culture

"The Art of Love," a guide to satisfactory sex, effective conception, and contraception, was a scandal – and an immediate success – in Poland in the 1970s. 

Painting showing Gregor Mendel

The Monk Who Cracked the Laws of Genetics 

by Marek Koten
7 June 2022
Czechia/Culture/People

One of the many passions of Gregor Johann Mendel, an Augustinian monk, was gardening. And it was this passion, along with the help of a few pea plants, that helped him discover the laws of heredity. To this day, we know him as the "father of modern genetics." 

Dr Leo Szilard was one of the Martians

The Hungarian Scientists With the Out-of-This-World Intellect

by Przemysław Bociąga
6 June 2022
People/Hungary/Culture

When speaking about certain prolific figures in Hungarian science in the early 1900s, some of their western colleagues suggested that they might as well be from Mars with their heavily accented English and superhuman intellect.

Nadia Comaneci giving autographs

Nadia Comăneci – The Olympics’ First-Ever Perfect ’10’

by Naomi Gherman
1 June 2022
Romania/Culture/People

On 18 July 1976, history was made. And it was made by Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, who achieved the first perfect 10 in the history of the Olympics. A score so high, the scoreboard couldn't even display it. 

Estonia first introduced online voting in 2005

Estonia: The World’s First Country to Introduce Online Voting

by Przemysław Bociąga
1 June 2022
Poland/Culture/People

This former part of the Soviet Empire is known for being one of the most digitally-advanced societies globally. It was the first to offer the possibility of sending votes via the internet.

George Enescu

George Enescu, Child Prodigy

by Naomi Gherman
23 May 2022
Romania/Culture/People

George Enescu first played the violin at the tender age of four, was admitted to the Vienna Conservatory at the age of 7, and by age 10 had played a private concert at the Court of Vienna for Emperor Franz Joseph himself. The meteoric rise of Romania's national treasure knew no bounds.

Fausto Veranzio's illustration

The 17th Century Croatian Version of Leonardo da Vinci

by Przemysław Bociąga
21 May 2022
Croatia/Culture/People

Although his colleagues, such as Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe, are more remembered today, Šibenik-born Fausto Veranzio can be credited with many inventions, including the suspension bridge, parachute, and wind turbine - all in the 17th Century.

USA. Bela Lugosi in a scene from the Universal Pictures movie: Dracula (1931). Plot: The ancient vampire Count Dracula arrives in England and begins to prey upon the virtuous young Mina

The Secret to Being a Convincing Vampire (Hint: Accent Matters)

by Przemysław Bociąga
20 May 2022
People/Romania/Hungary/Culture

When he created the iconic "Count Dracula" accent that endures today, Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi had a secret weapon: simply not speaking English well. The myth is that he memorized sentences he couldn't understand. However, the truth is more of a grey area.

parachutes silhouette in a light of sunrise

The Slovak Inventor of the Parachute and the Rebirth of a Legacy

by Martin Hochel
16 May 2022
People/Slovakia/Culture

For a long time, little was known about the Slovak inventor of the parachute, whose life reveals a fascinating story almost forgotten.

Model on New York street wearing Romanian fashion clothes

Traditional Romanian Fashion With an International Appeal

by Ioana Marandici
14 May 2022
Romania/Culture/People

Romanian motifs and symbols are recognizable around the world. The traditional outfits, bright and intricately embellished, are even inspiring big fashion houses like Yves Saint Laurent and Dior.

A Nation With No Country in the Spotlight at the Venice Biennale 

by Przemysław Bociąga
12 May 2022
People/Poland/Culture

Artist and minority activist Małgorzata Mirga-Tas's work has taken the Polish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Art 2022 by storm. Her exhibition shows tapestries, attempting to weave the history and contribution of the Roma community back into European art history. 

concept of cybernetics and people

Cybernetics, Invented in Romania in 1938

by Naomi Gherman
10 May 2022
Romania/Culture/People

Norbert Wiener revolutionized the world in 1948 when he introduced the concept of cybernetics. However, a Romanian scientist had done precisely the same ten years earlier. 

portrait of Tristan Tzara

The “Da” in Dadaism

by Naomi Gherman
7 May 2022
Romania/Culture/People

You may have heard of the somewhat controversial and much-disputed art movement called Dadaism. But do you know what it is? What does “Dada” mean, and what does Romania have to do with it?

Constantin Brancusi Standing Next to Sculpture archive photo

Constantin Brâncuși: The Patriarch of Modern Sculpture

by Naomi Gherman
21 April 2022
Culture/People/Romania

His sculpture La Jeune Fille Sophistiquée is the fifth most expensive sculpture ever sold. His work is adored and coveted all over the world. Discover the life of Constantin Brâncuși, a pioneer of modernism and one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century.

Ukraine Refugee Assistance Project

Star Architect Revolutionizing Refugee Housing in Poland

by Przemysław Bociąga
20 April 2022
Poland/People

Famed Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban has created a novel solution to grant refugees dignity and privacy. His work has been successfully introduced in Poland during the Russian war on Ukraine.

portrait of Milda Mitkute

From Wardrobe Liberator to Unicorn: The Story of Vinted

by Filip Rey
18 April 2022
Lithuania/Green Transformation/People

The Lithuanian online marketplace for second-hand clothes has quickly outcompeted other giants such as eBay and Amazon.

co founders of prezi

Péter Árvai, Prezi and TED: PowerPoint’s Hungarian Rival

by Filip Rey
17 April 2022
Hungary/Tech/People

By combining lessons learned from his time in Sweden and Japan, Péter Árvai returned to Hungary and took the position as CEO of what would become one of the world’s largest visual communications software companies.

Jaan Tallinn, portrait in his garden in Tallinn, Estonia, Baltics

The Estonian Programmer Who Might Just Save the World

by Filip Rey
13 April 2022
Estonia/Tech/People

Jaan Tallinn did not just create Kazaa and Skype; he could also save humanity from terminators.

People from the Armenian community carry torches in memory of the victims of the Ottoman atrocities

How Bulgaria Became a Second Homeland for Armenians

by Galina Ganeva
13 April 2022
People/Bulgaria/Culture

On April 24, known as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, Armenians in Bulgaria will pay their respects to the victims of the systematic murder of up to 1.5 million Armenians, which took place in the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century.

portrait of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in hat

Meet the Bulgarian Designer Dressing Kate Middleton

by Galina Ganeva
10 April 2022
People/Bulgaria/Culture

The impeccable style of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, has been well-documented. But a closer look behind the scenes at Eponine London, one of the high-end brands favored by the Duchess, unexpectedly takes us to a sleepy Bulgarian town of 12,000 people.

the ceo and co-founder of UiPath Daniel Dines

Romanian Robots are the Future

by Filip Rey
8 April 2022
Romania/Tech/People

Romania’s richest man and his company, UiPath, envision a future in which every person has a virtual robot.

slovenian restaurants restaurant owner with flowers in hands

The Slovenian Food Scene: An Unexpected Marvel

by Przemysław Bociąga
5 April 2022
People/Slovenia/Travel & Food

With two million people, Slovenia is among the smallest nations in Central and Eastern Europe. However, when it comes to internationally recognized cuisine, it is one of the biggest powerhouses. What is the recipe for their amazing culinary success?

luxury cars and the owner of company Mate Rimac

The Fast Lane to Success: Croatia’s Rimac Automobili

by Cynthia Sklodowski
29 March 2022
People/Croatia/Tech/Green Transformation

Croatian car manufacturer Rimac Automobili launched in 2009 intending to make the world’s fastest cars and has been leaving the competition in the dust ever since. The wunderkind behind the company, Mate Rimac, has no intention of slowing down now.

woman laying on bed with fountain pen in hand

A Fountain of Genius: The Romanian Who Invented the Pen

by Ioana Marandici
27 March 2022
Culture/People/Romania

Have you ever wondered to whom you owe the fact that you can write every day with that tool that you call a pen? The answer might just surprise you.

Lithuania wife carrying world competition

How to Win Your Wife’s Weight in Beer, Estonian-Style

by Cynthia Sklodowski
25 March 2022
Travel & Food/People

Each summer on a day in early July, a small town in Finland attracts visitors from around the world, cheering as husbands clamber over rough terrain with their wives on their backs. Why, you ask? For the ultimate prize: the wife’s weight in beer.  

rafał brzoska standing in front of yellow parcel locker

The Polish Company Keeping Europe Posted

by Filip Rey
25 March 2022
People/Poland/Tech

The success of Polish eCommerce delivery provider InPost has rewritten the map for deliveries in Poland and beyond, with Automated Parcel Machines becoming the go-to choice for people who want to be able to receive packages at all times and without having to pay a fortune. 

john vincent atanasoff inventor of first computer

The Little-Known Inventor of the Computer, Faithful to His Bulgarian Roots

by Galina Ganeva
22 March 2022
Culture/People/Bulgaria

Look closer at this monument in a village in southern Bulgaria, and an inevitable question arises. Why is Prof. John Atanasoff, the American-born scientist credited with the invention of the first electronic digital computer, being honored here of all places?

woman and man on a bike in Warsaw Poland at night

Expat Spotlight On: Poland

by Cynthia Sklodowski
21 March 2022
Poland/Travel & Food/People

Moving to a new country can be a daunting but enlightening experience. We've asked expats from around the Three Seas countries the same five questions to give us a bit of insight into the good, bad and unexpected aspects of their new homes.

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