New Articles
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An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage In late 1866 and early 1867 abolitionist, activist, and orator Frederick Douglass contributed two articles in The Atlantic Monthly. The first article, titled “Reconstruction” and published in December 1866, addressed recently elected Republican legislators. Acknowledging the challenges facing the... -
Essential Elements of Music All genres of music rest upon a foundation of essential elements—building blocks that give structure, expression, and meaning to a musical piece. Each element contributes uniquely to a work, and together each element helps to create an overall experience that enables music to convey emotions, tell... -
National Women’s Soccer League When did the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) launch? The NWSL began play in 2013. How many teams were in the NWSL for the 2024 season? The NWSL comprised 14 teams in the 2024 season. What is the significance of CPKC Stadium? CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, is the first stadium in the... -
givinostat Givinostat, drug used to help slow the advance of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a genetic condition characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. Givinostat is the first nonsteroidal medication available to treat all genetic variants of DMD. The drug was approved in 2024 by... -
Silk Road What was Silk Road? Silk Road was the first modern darknet market, known for providing a platform to buy and sell illegal drugs and promoting other illicit activities. The site was accessible through the anonymous Tor network and used Bitcoin for transactions. Who founded Silk Road and when? Silk... -
Ham Who was Ham and why was he significant? Ham was the first chimpanzee, or “astrochimp,” in space. His mission on January 31, 1961, paved the way for the first American, Alan B. Shepard, Jr., to enter space later that year. What was the purpose of using a chimpanzee for space missions? NASA used a... -
Battle of Jaffa The Battle of Jaffa, which was fought on August 5, 1192, was the final battle of the Third Crusade. It led directly to a peace deal between England’s King Richard I (popularly known as Richard Coeur de Lion, or Lionheart) and Saladin, the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, that restricted the... -
Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi What are the Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi? The Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi are a royal burial ground on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, that was converted from a palace in the 19th century and holds the tombs of four Buganda kings. The burial ground was designated a UNESCO World Heritage... -
Advent calendar Advent calendar, type of calendar used to count down the days leading up to Christmas, typically starting on December 1 and ending on December 24 or 25. Many contemporary Advent calendars are marked with a compartment, flap, or door that can be opened to reveal a surprise, such as a small gift,...
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Miracle on Ice An Olympic ice hockey game on February 22, 1980, was the site of one of the most momentous battles of the Cold War—how fitting that a geopolitical rivalry with such a name would manifest on an ice rink. It was David vs. Goliath on skates, a scrappy United States team of college players pitted... -
Girl Scout Cookies Girl Scout Cookies, cookies that the members of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) sell annually from January through April to raise money for their local council and activities. GSUSA troops sell up to 12 varieties of cookies per year, which can include Thin Mints, chocolate... -
Sean McVay What is Sean McVay’s most notable achievement as head coach? Sean McVay, who has been coaching the Los Angeles Rams since 2017, is the youngest head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl (2022). Is Sean McVay related to John McVay? John McVay is Sean McVay’s paternal grandfather. John McVay... -
hashtag What is a hashtag, and why is it used? A hashtag is a metadata label prefaced by the hash symbol (#) and followed by a word or phrase without spaces or special characters. It categorizes and organizes related content on social media, helping users discover topics of interest. How did the hash... -
Anno Hideaki What is Anno Hideaki best known for? Anno Hideaki is best known for his mature and experimental anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995–96). How did Anno Hideaki begin his career in animation? Anno began his career by gaining attention through his work on the opening animation sequence for the...
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Hyatt Regency walkway collapse Hyatt Regency walkway collapse, disaster that occurred at a hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., on July 17, 1981, when two suspended walkways above the lobby area collapsed, killing 114 people and injuring another 216. It was one of the worst engineering-caused disasters in U.S. history. When the... -
Tyson Fury Tyson Fury is an English-born professional boxer of Irish extraction who became the world heavyweight champion in 2015. As a fighter, he is known for his well-rounded boxing skills and his towering height: 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters). Additionally, he has become a celebrity outside the ring for... -
challah What is challah? Challah is an egg-rich, yeast-leavened bread that is usually braided or twisted before baking. It is traditionally eaten by Jews on the Sabbath and certain holy days, such as Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. How is challah traditionally served during the Sabbath? During the Sabbath... -
Battle of the Solent In 1543 Henry VIII of England declared war on France and seized Boulogne. In response, Francis I prepared a fleet to invade England. The opposing naval forces met off the English coast on July 19–20, 1545, in a tentative encounter that deterred a French invasion but is chiefly remembered for the... -
Battle of the Medway Battle of the Medway, the first major recorded battle of the Roman invasion of Britain under the orders of the emperor Claudius. Fought in 43 ce, it is thought to have occurred at a crossing of the River Medway near the modern-day city of Rochester in Kent, England, and it raged for nearly two... -
Pete Hegseth What is Pete Hegseth known for? From 2017 to 2024, Pete Hegseth was a cohost of Fox & Friends Weekend, where he attracted attention for his conservative views. In 2024 President-elect Donald Trump selected Hegseth as his nominee for the Department of Defense. Did Pete Hegseth serve in the military?... -
Harambe What event led to Harambe being shot at the Cincinnati Zoo? A three-year-old boy fell into Harambe’s exhibit, and Harambe picked the boy up and dragged him around. The zoo decided to shoot Harambe to protect the child. Why did the Cincinnati Zoo not tranquilize Harambe? Tranquilizers take several... -
Battle of Columbus In need of supplies during the Mexican Revolution, Francisco “Pancho” Villa led his men in a raid across the border into the United States, at Columbus, New Mexico, on March 8, 1916. The raid quickly escalated into a full-scale battle when they encountered the town’s U.S. Army garrison. After... -
Min Jin Lee For her writing, Korean American author and journalist Min Jin Lee has pretended to apply to Harvard Business School, taken a millinery class at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and played poker with Wall Street traders. Lee stores her research in Bankers Boxes, filled with the pieces of... -
Dana White What is Dana White known for? Dana White is known as the public face and CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company. How did Dana White start his career in combat sports? Dana White developed a love of fighting from a young age, competed as... -
Australian little penguin What distinguishes the Australian little penguin from the blue penguin? Although the Australian little penguin resembles the blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) in most respects, and several classifications continue to list it as a subspecies of the blue penguin, a series of studies published in the... -
Sack of Delhi In 1398 the Mongol-Turkish warrior Timur, ruler of Central Asia from his capital at Samarkand, found a pretext to strike south into India. His victory over the sultan of Delhi in December 1398 confirmed the irresistible fighting qualities of his army and the awesome destructiveness that made him a... -
Paul George Which teams has Paul George played for in the NBA? Paul George has played for the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers. Where did Paul George play basketball in college? Paul George played for California State University, Fresno, where he averaged 15.5... -
Baikal seal What is unique about the Baikal seal’s habitat? The Baikal seal is the only living seal that exclusively inhabits freshwater environments, specifically in Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia, which is located far from any marine environment. The seal also occurs in some of the rivers that feed the lake,... -
’Ndrangheta ’Ndrangheta, criminal organization that originated in Italy’s Calabria region. One of the most extensive and powerful criminal enterprises in the world, the syndicate has engaged in illegal activities as diverse as embezzlement, fraud, extortion, waste dumping, and the trafficking of drugs,...
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Amit Shah Amit Shah is an Indian politician and one of the most prominent leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He has served as the central government minister for home affairs since 2019 and the minister of cooperation since 2021. Shah, the BJP’s top strategist, is considered the architect of its... -
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Who is Priyanka Gandhi Vadra? Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is an Indian politician, a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, and a leader of the Indian National Congress. Her great-grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru, grandmother Indira Gandhi, and father Rajiv Gandhi served as prime minister of India. What is... -
omalizumab What conditions is omalizumab used to treat? Omalizumab is used to treat moderate to severe allergic asthma, chronic spontaneous urticaria (hives), and nasal polyps. It continues to be investigated for additional applications, including its potential use for atopic dermatitis and food allergies....
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Battle of the Frontiers Battle of the Frontiers, collective name for the first great clashes on the Western Front of World War I, which occurred from August 4 to September 6, 1914. The term Battle of the Frontiers encompasses the initial battles fought along the eastern frontier of France and in southern Belgium shortly... -
Battle of Edessa Battle of Edessa, battle fought in 260 ce between the later Sassanid Persian Empire and the Roman Empire, culminating in the crushing defeat of Roman Emperor Valerian at Edessa (modern Şanlıurfa, in what is now southeastern Turkey). “A great battle took place beyond Carrhae and Edessa between us... -
Battle of the Kalka River During the first Mongol invasion of Russia (Kievan Rus), an army led by Jebei and Subutai defeated an alliance of Russian princes and the Cuman tribal group along the Kalka River (probably the modern Kalchik River in southeastern Ukraine, which flows into the Sea of Azov) on May 31, 1223. The... -
Battle of Warsaw Battle of Warsaw, Polish victory on August 12–25, 1920, during the Russo-Polish War (1919–20). Polish forces won control of Ukraine, which resulted in the establishment of the Russo-Polish border that existed until 1939. In a war that pitted Bolshevik revolutionary fervor against Polish... -
A Fine Balance A Fine Balance, sweeping historical novel by Indian-born Canadian writer Rohinton Mistry. Published in 1995, it was Mistry’s second novel, and it garnered the Giller Prize for best Canadian novel as well as the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. A Fine Balance is set in India in the mid-1970s, during the... -
Ethan Frome Ethan Frome, novella that is perhaps the best-known work by American author Edith Wharton. First published in 1911, Ethan Frome is a departure from Wharton’s other works, which take place among the upper echelons of society, in that it is set in an impoverished New England farming community. The... -
Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife In 1654 Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the republican Commonwealth, declared war on Spain, unleashing English fleets to attack Spanish shipping and colonies in the Caribbean and Atlantic. On April 20, 1657, Admiral Robert Blake destroyed a Spanish treasure fleet in a daring raid at Santa Cruz... -
A24 When was A24 founded and by whom? A24 was founded in 2012 by film executives Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges. What is A24’s approach to marketing? A24 spends about 95 percent of its marketing budget on online outlets, focusing on social media. It creates viral content, such as fake... -
Tony Dungy What are some of Tony Dungy’s achievements as a coach? Tony Dungy led the Indianapolis Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI (2007), becoming the first African American head coach to win a Super Bowl. He also is a two-time recipient of the NFL Coach of the Year award (1997 and 2005), and he guided his... -
traditional Latin mass What significant changes did the Second Vatican Council bring to the Roman Catholic liturgy? The Second Vatican Council (1962–65) allowed for the use of modern vernacular languages and greater use of scripture in the Roman Catholic liturgy, emphasized active participation of laypeople, and... -
Rick Steves When he was 14 years old, Rick Steves went to Europe on a family vacation. He did not want to go. It was the summer of 1969, and he would have preferred to spend his school break hanging out with his friends. By the end of the trip, however, the encounters with different cultures had changed his... -
Jericho Brown A Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant,” Jericho Brown is known for poems that address themes of identity, racism, violence, queer sexuality, religious faith, and trauma. His work has been praised for its stark vulnerability and honesty as well... -
Dave Bautista Dave Bautista is an American actor and former professional wrestler. Known for his imposing physique, he made a name for himself as World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) Batista and transitioned easily into portraying intimidating characters on film. In Hollywood, Bautista quickly became known for...
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Medicare Part D: Navigating prescription drug coverage Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage for anyone age 65 and older who is enrolled in Medicare. Alongside Part A for hospital expenses and Part B for outpatient services, Part D is an important component of health care for millions of older adults. Prescription drugs often make up a... -
Special needs trust: 8 steps to securing a plan for future care If you are caring for a family member with special needs or facing a diagnosis that may require special care, your responsibilities extend beyond today’s needs. Establishing a plan now will help ensure access to resources, care, and financial stability even as circumstances change. Estate planning... -
Should you pay a financial advisor? 4 fee types and how they work Working with a financial advisor can be a game changer, helping you to reach your financial goals more quickly. But expert advice isn’t free, and knowing how your advisor is paid is an important consideration when deciding whom to hire. The way a financial advisor is compensated can influence the... -
Fixed vs. variable annuity: Choosing the right option for your retirement goals Fixed and variable annuities are insurance products that can each provide a steady stream of income for life, although they achieve that aim differently. Fixed annuities appeal to savers who are seeking predictable income based on a fixed interest rate. This is ideal for retirees focused on... -
Estate planning strategies for dependents with disabilities If you’re caring for a loved one with special needs, you may be thinking about how to enhance their care without compromising their eligibility for government benefits. Or perhaps you’re considering ways to provide for them after your death. Estate planning can be challenging in the best... -
Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor, U.S. blockade and attack on Tripoli, Libya, on August 3, 1804, as part of the larger Tripolitan War (First Barbary War), which was fought 1801–05. Pirates based in the ports of the Muslim north African coast were a serious threat to international shipping in the... -
Battle of Heligoland Battle of Heligoland, naval engagement on May 9, 1864, during the Second Schleswig War (see German-Danish War), pitting the Danes against a joint Prussian-Austrian force. Although a relatively small action, the battle provided the Danes with their greatest success in the war. It could not change... -
Battle of Dogger Bank Battle of Dogger Bank, a naval encounter on June 17, 1696, between a French force, under the command of the famous privateer Jean Bart, and a squadron of Dutch ships acting as escort to a convoy of more than one hundred merchant vessels. The battle was part of the ongoing War of the Grand Alliance.... -
Charli XCX Charli XCX is a British singer and songwriter who was known to fans for her experimental electro-pop music for more than a decade when she found mainstream success with the release of her sixth album, Brat, in 2024. Critics have often praised her music for challenging boundaries while maintaining... -
Apophis Apophis, asteroid classified as a Near-Earth Object (NEO) and a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA). It is approximately 335 meters (1,100 feet) wide and has a peanutlike shape. Apophis will make a very close approach to Earth on April 13, 2029, when it will pass less than 32,000 km (20,000 miles)... -
esports What are esports? Esports, or electronic sports, are online gaming competitions in which amateur and professional gamers participate individually or on teams through organized leagues, often with monetary prizes on the line. When did esports gain prominence? Esports gained prominence about the cusp... -
American Kennel Club American Kennel Club (AKC), the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and the chief promoter of purebred breeding and exhibiting in the United States. Founded in 1884, it records and tracks the lineage of purebred dogs, establishes breed standards, and sanctions some of the most famous dog... -
Jon Batiste What is Jon Batiste known for? Jon Batiste is known for his role as bandleader and musical director for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from 2015 to 2022, as well as for his numerous Grammy Award nominations and contributions to furthering music education. What are some of Jon Batiste’s musical... -
List of Television Series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an entertainment-industry juggernaut. Starting with its first film release, Iron Man (2008), the MCU has succeeded in weaving many superheroes and villains from Marvel comic books into a single shared world. Most of its films have been commercially successful,...
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Siege of Paris Siege of Paris, Viking siege of Paris that lasted from November 885 to October 886. It was notable as the first occasion on which the Vikings dug themselves in for a long siege rather than conduct a hit-and-run raid or fight a battle. Their failure to capture the city, which was at the time the... -
Sinclair C5 Sinclair C5, tiny, electrically powered tricycle-like vehicle invented by British entrepreneur Clive Sinclair in 1985. Sinclair, a talented inventor, was long fascinated by miniaturization. He invented the first slimline electronic pocket calculator in 1972 and followed that success with a series... -
Bel-Ami Bel-Ami, novel by Guy de Maupassant, his second, published in 1885. Maupassant is perhaps best known as a writer of short fiction, and he utilizes the shorter form as a structuring principle for his longer productions. The hero of Bel-Ami (“Good Friend”), Georges Duroy, arrives in Paris as an... -
Oklahoma! Who wrote the musical Oklahoma!? Oklahoma! was written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. What was the source material for Oklahoma!? Oklahoma! is based on the 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs by Cherokee playwright Lynn Riggs. What was significant about... -
Jaylen Brown What is Jaylen Brown known for? In 2024 Jaylen Brown played a pivotal role in the Boston Celtics winning a record-setting 18th NBA championship. He was named MVP of the series, having averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. What positions does Jaylen Brown play? Jaylen Brown is... -
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Trans-Siberian Orchestra, American rock band known for its symphonic heavy metal renditions of Christmas songs and classical music. Its theatrical concerts during holiday-season tours include laser light shows, pyrotechnics, and other visual effects. Its first album, Christmas Eve and Other Stories... -
List of Presidents of Iran What role does the president of Iran play in foreign policy? The president represents the face of Iranian foreign policy to the world, but within the confines set by the supreme leader. Still, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hassan Rouhani, and Ebrahim Raisi all had different approaches to foreign policy... -
Bill Watterson Bill Watterson is an American cartoonist best known for creating the popular and award-winning comic strip Calvin and Hobbes (1985–95). Watterson notably refused to license the strip’s characters for merchandising or allow any film version of the strip to be made. He retired Calvin and Hobbes in... -
Christina Applegate What role made Christina Applegate famous? Christina Applegate rose to fame as Kelly Bundy on the sitcom Married... with Children (1987–97). What health challenges has Christina Applegate faced? Christina Applegate was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2021. What... -
Double top and double bottom patterns: Spotting trend exhaustion When a stock that’s trending higher or lower reaches the same price level twice and fails to break through, it may be a sign that the trend has lost momentum and is vulnerable to a reversal in direction. In technical analysis, this type of event forms a classic chart pattern: a double top (when the... -
Withania somnifera What is Withania somnifera commonly known as? Withania somnifera is commonly known as winter cherry or Indian ginseng. In Ayurvedic medicine and as a botanical dietary supplement, it is known as ashwagandha. Where is Withania somnifera native to? Withania somnifera is native to India, North Africa,...
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nonverbal learning disorder What is nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD)? NVLD is a neurological condition characterized by cognitive and social difficulties affecting areas other than verbal communication, encountered by individuals of average or above-average intelligence. What are some common challenges faced by individuals... -
Battle of Covadonga Occurring in about 720, the Battle of Covadonga was a clash between Muslim warriors and a much smaller Christians from Asturias in northern Spain, who were led by their king, Pelayo. It guaranteed the survival of a Christian foothold in Iberia and is sometimes described as the start of the... -
Battle of Ctesiphon Battle of Ctesiphon, clash of June 26–27, 363 ce, during the realm of Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, who had invaded Persia. At Ctesiphon, just a few miles south of present-day Baghdad, Iraq, Julian’s army battled the Sassanid forces of Shāpūr II. The Romans won on the battlefield, but then... -
A Plea for Captain John Brown On October 16, 1859, staunch abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now in West Virginia), in an attempt to incite a major insurrection of enslaved people. The raid, conducted by Brown and 21 recruits (his 2 sons, 14 white men, and 5 Black men), was to... -
Y.M.C.A. Who wrote the song “Y.M.C.A.”? “Y.M.C.A.” was written by the Village People’s lead singer Victor Willis and the group’s coproducer Jacques Morali. Why is “Y.M.C.A.” considered a gay anthem? “Y.M.C.A.” is considered a gay anthem because its lyrics resonated with the experiences of LGBTQ people in... -
Jack Antonoff What is Jack Antonoff known for? Jack Antonoff is known as the founder and lead singer of the indie pop band Bleachers and for his songwriting and production work for artists such as Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Lorde, and St. Vincent. What influenced Jack Antonoff’s early music career? Jack... -
St. Elizabeth Who was St. Elizabeth in the New Testament? St. Elizabeth was the wife of Zechariah, mother of St. John the Baptist, and a relative of the Virgin Mary. What is the significance of Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary? Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary, “Blessed art thou among women,” is part of the Roman... -
Disgrace Disgrace, novel written by South African author J.M. Coetzee and published in 1999. It was his second work to win the Booker Prize and came to be regarded as a masterpiece. Disgrace is set in South Africa after the end of apartheid, a time in which social and political structures that had once... -
The Diary of Alice James The Diary of Alice James, journal kept by Alice James for the last four years of her life, beginning in 1889, until her death at the age of 43 on March 6, 1892. She was born on August 7, 1848, the youngest of five children born to American philosophical theologian Henry James. Although she did...
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Jane Luu Jane Luu is a Vietnamese American astronomer who codiscovered the first Kuiper Belt object (KBO). The second of four children, Luu grew up in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam. Her father worked as a clerk for the U.S. Army, and her mother was a homemaker. In April 1975, as the Vietnam War... -
cane toad Cane toad, (Rhinella marina), a large terrestrial omnivorous amphibian considered to be one of the most invasive pests on Earth. This toxic species is native to South and Central America but is now found across the world, from Australia and Oceania to Caribbean islands and parts of the United... -
Paetongtarn Shinawatra Who is Paetongtarn Shinawatra? Paetongtarn Shinawatra is a Thai businesswoman and politician who serves as the 31st prime minister of Thailand, starting in 2024. She is the daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the second woman to hold the office. What is Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s... -
pileated woodpecker What is the appearance of the pileated woodpecker? The pileated woodpecker has black plumage, a red crest, and bold white stripes on the face and neck. Adults of both sexes have yellow eyes. Males can be distinguished from females by the presence of a red stripe on each cheek, whereas females have... -
Utah Hockey Club Utah Hockey Club, American professional ice hockey team based in Salt Lake City, Utah, that competes in the Western Conference of the NHL. The team began play as an expansion team in the 2024–25 season. Billionaire tech businessman and Utah resident Ryan Smith started making inquiries about... -
cyclic vomiting syndrome Cyclic vomiting syndrome, condition characterized by sudden repeated episodes of severe nausea and vomiting, the cause of which is unclear. The duration of each episode may vary, sometimes lasting several hours and other times lasting several days. There are also often periods of time when affected...
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goliath frog What is the size and weight of the goliath frog? The goliath frog can grow as long as 32 cm (12.6 inches), and the largest adults (which are often females) can weigh 3 kg (6.6 pounds) or more. It is the world’s largest living frog species. Researchers suggest that the physical demands of moving... -
ghost gun What is a ghost gun? A ghost gun is a homemade firearm that is assembled by the owner from separately purchased pieces, a kit, or through 3D printing. They are virtually untraceable. How are ghost guns acquired? Ghost guns can be acquired by purchasing parts online or using a kit. They do not... -
circuit-switched network What is a circuit-switched network? A circuit-switched network is a technology used for landline telephones and data networks where two endpoints are connected by a single physical path with a fixed bandwidth. When did circuit-switched networks start operating? Circuit-switched networks started... -
Camp Grant massacre What was the Camp Grant massacre? The Camp Grant massacre was the mass murder of more than a hundred members of the Apache people by a vigilante group from Tucson, Arizona, on April 30, 1871. Who were the attackers in the Camp Grant massacre? The attackers were a vigilante group consisting of... -
Financial benchmarks: Does your portfolio measure up or fall short? Suppose you want to gauge how well your investment portfolio is doing. You’ll need some kind of a yardstick to measure its performance. This is where financial benchmarks come into play. Much like a fund manager, you can compare your portfolio’s performance against a set of assets that’s... -
Ravichandran Ashwin Ravichandran Ashwin is an Indian international cricketer. A right-arm off-spin bowler and batter, he is considered one of the best all-arounders to play cricket for India. He has more than 750 international wickets in addition to six Test centuries. Ashwin rose to prominence in performances for his... -
Ibrahim Prize What is the Ibrahim Prize? The Ibrahim Prize is an award sponsored by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation that recognizes excellence in African leadership. Who was the first recipient of the Ibrahim Prize? The first recipient of the Ibrahim Prize was former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano in 2007.... -
Golden Triangle Golden Triangle, mountainous region in Southeast Asia where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar (Burma) meet near the confluence of the Mekong and Ruak rivers. Some definitions of the region include parts of northern Vietnam and Yunnan province, China. Long associated with drug cartels and... -
We’wha We’wha was a potter, textile artist, weaver, spiritual leader, and A:Shiwi (Zuni) cultural ambassador who is perhaps the most well-known lhamana. The A:Shiwi people’s term for “two-spirit,” a lhamana is an individual who takes on attributes of men and women. Like other lhamanas, We’wha was born... -
shilajit Shilajit, sticky, tarlike substance found in certain mountainous regions of the world that is formed from the slow decomposition of plant matter and other organic materials, which become compressed and preserved under layers of rock. The substance is found in rock fissures primarily in the...
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Battle of Copenhagen Battle of Copenhagen, an engagement during the Napoleonic Wars that occurred August 15–September 7, 1807. Fearful that Napoleon Bonaparte’s defeat of Russia and Prussia might lead to French control of Baltic fleets, Britain acted decisively to neutralize the substantial Danish navy, which was... -
Cider with Rosie Cider with Rosie, autobiographical novel by Laurie Lee (1914–1997), published in 1959. An account of the author’s idyllic childhood in an isolated village in the Cotswolds of Gloucestershire immediately after World War I, the book was an instant classic, widely read in British schools. The book... -
Studio 54 Studio 54, discotheque in New York City that was one of the most popular nightclubs in the late 1970s and a mecca for the glitterati of culture and the arts in the disco era. Tales of hedonism and excess from the heyday of Studio 54 are legion, and in its brief existence (1977–86) it came to define... -
Edith Kanaka‘ole Edith Kanaka‘ole dedicated her life to the preservation of Hawaiian language and culture. A Native Hawaiian herself, Aunty Edith (as she was often called) ensured the continuation of Hawaiian traditions in her roles as teacher, dancer, chanter, and composer. She performed her chants and hulas for... -
Hilma af Klint Hilma af Klint was a Swedish painter who worked at the turn of the 20th century but whose art was largely unknown until a 2018 exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum, New York. The show drew attention to her bold abstract paintings, which were influenced by spiritualism, a popular 19th-century belief... -
hash table Hash table, in computer science, a dictionary that maps keys to values using a hash function. A hash function is a mathematical function that maps data of arbitrary length to data of a fixed length. Hashing is a highly efficient way of performing certain operations, such as searches, insertions,...
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Moon exploration Moon exploration, the investigation and study of the Moon by robotic and crewed spacecraft. Following the launch in 1957 of the U.S.S.R.’s satellite Sputnik, the first spacecraft to orbit Earth, the next major goal of both the Soviet and the U.S. space programs was the Moon. The United States... -
Zwarte Piet Zwarte Piet is a character in Dutch folklore who serves St. Nicholas (in Dutch, Sinterklaas) in St. Nicholas Day (December 6 and its eve) festivities in the Netherlands. Usually performed in blackface, Zwarte Piet is widely considered a racist caricature, though some defend the character as part of... -
List of African Countries’ Independence Dates The people and cultures of the 54 African countries that exist today have long and fascinating histories. But part of their history has been impacted by colonialism: as European powers became aware of the continent and began exploring in the 15th century, and especially after the Scramble for... -
Sarah McBride Sarah McBride is a transgender politician serving as a Democratic state senator in Delaware who was elected to the state’s single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2024. When she takes her oath of office in January 2025, McBride will become the first openly transgender member of... -
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a Canadian basketball player who is one of the NBA’s leading scorers and among the most exciting players in the league. Gilgeous-Alexander, a guard, is known for evading defenders with twists, turns, and head fakes on his way to the hoop. After playing one season with the... -
Marwan Barghouti Marwan Barghouti is a Palestinian political activist and politician who rose to prominence as a youth leader in the years leading up to the first Palestinian uprising, or intifada, (1987–93). Barghouti, who was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 1996, built a strong rapport with his... -
chord progression Chord progression, sequence of chords, consisting of three or more single pitches heard simultaneously, played in a specific order and forming the harmonic foundation of a piece of music. A chord progression essentially is the arrangement of chords that underpins the melody and sets the mood, tone,...
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Ticonderoga-class cruiser Ticonderoga-class cruiser, class of warships used by the United States Navy. First commissioned in 1983, they were the first surface combat ships outfitted with the Aegis Weapon System, the Navy’s most sophisticated air-defense system. They are equipped for air, surface, and undersea warfare. The... -
Atlantic herring Atlantic herring, (Clupea harengus), species of herring in the family Clupeidae (order Clupeiformes) and one of the most commercially important fish in the world. Atlantic herring travel in large schools, migrating between feeding, spawning, and overwintering areas (see also schooling behavior).... -
ocean warming What is ocean warming? Ocean warming refers to the absorption of surplus heat attributed to global warming (which is caused by burning fossil fuels in various human activities) by the water in the oceans. It is measured as the change in thermal energy in a set volume of water, which is known as... -
decarbonization Decarbonization, type of climate-change mitigation designed to reduce the production of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming by human activities and to remove excess amounts of greenhouse gases from Earth’s atmosphere. Decarbonization can be achieved... -
cousin Cousin, a person whose last common ancestor with a given individual is at least two generations away. In English-speaking cultures, the word cousin most commonly refers to an individual’s first cousin, or the child of an individual’s aunt or uncle. First cousins share a grandparent or set of... -
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, historical romance and war novel written by British author Louis de Bernières and published in 1994. It received the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize in 1995 and became an international best seller. De Bernières has often been compared to Gabriel García Márquez because his... -
The Day of the Triffids The Day of the Triffids, post-apocalyptic science fiction novel that was created by English science fiction writer John Wyndham and published in 1951. Though it initially received only moderate acclaim, The Day of the Triffids later became a science fiction classic (as well as a low-budget movie in... -
Vera Rubin Vera Rubin was an American astronomer known for her research on galaxy rotation rates, which provided evidence for the existence of dark matter. Dark matter is a component of the universe whose presence is discerned from its gravitational attraction rather than its luminosity, and it accounts for... -
Rob Gronkowski Rob Gronkowski is a former NFL tight end who was one of quarterback Tom Brady’s favorite receiving targets—first with the New England Patriots and later with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nicknamed Gronk, the fun-loving Gronkowski was one of the league’s most colorful and talented players during his... -
Clear Light of Day Clear Light of Day, novel that is regarded as the best work written by English-language Indian author Anita Desai. The book, published in 1980, evokes the world in which Desai grew up. Clear Light of Day, a finely detailed novel, is set in a crumbling mansion in Old Delhi. It describes the tense... -
spironolactone What is spironolactone used for? Spironolactone is a diuretic drug that is used to treat conditions related to edema, hypertension, and hormonal imbalances. Examples include cirrhosis, congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome (a sign of kidney malfunction), and primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn...
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Darién Gap Darién Gap, an approximately 60-mile (100-km) break in the Pan-American Highway, which otherwise runs continuously from Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina. The gap is located in the thickly vegetated marshland and jungle of the Darién region, which spans the easternmost part of Panama and... -
Golden cross and death cross: Identifying and confirming chart trends Suppose you have a long or short position in a stock, exchange-traded fund (ETF), cryptocurrency, or futures contract, and it begins to reverse course for a few days. Is this part of a minor fluctuation—what traders call market noise—or could it be a sign that a major trend reversal is underway?... -
Sahm rule: A real-time recession indicator When a recession appears on the horizon, you—as an investor, business owner, or policymaker—might find yourself needing to take action. You don’t want to wait until the recession is in full swing. But you also want to refrain from jumping the gun, taking evasive action on a contraction that may or... -
darknet Darknet, encrypted network within the Internet that can be accessed only by specialty software or certain software configurations. Darknets may be small and intended just for groups of friends or much larger, like the popular Tor network. Darknet services allow users to remain anonymous online and... -
Ruben Gallego Ruben Gallego is an American Democratic politician who serves in the U.S. House of Representatives (2015– ). In 2024 he was narrowly elected to the Senate seat that was being vacated by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. Ruben Marinelarena grew up in working-class Black and Latino neighborhoods on the South Side... -
Battle of Chapultepec Battle of Chapultepec, an engagement of the Mexican-American War that occurred September 12–14, 1847. The fortified castle of Chapultepec, commissioned by Spanish Viceroy Bernardo de Gálvez in 1785, sat on a rocky hill overlooking causeways leading to Mexico City’s two western gates. It was the... -
Squid Game Squid Game, South Korean horror thriller television series that was released on the streaming service Netflix in September 2021 and quickly became its most-watched series that year, going on to achieve global popularity and become a pop culture phenomenon. The series, created and directed by South... -
Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor, symphony by Gustav Mahler. Premiering on October 18, 1904, in Cologne, the work’s ultimately optimistic colors may have been influenced by the composer’s marriage in 1902 to artistically gifted Alma Schindler; many music historians have interpreted the instrumental... -
methaqualone What is methaqualone used for? Methaqualone was historically used as a sedative-hypnotic drug for treating insomnia and anxiety. It was developed in the 1950s and was widely used for medical purposes in the 1960s and ’70s. However, it also became a popular recreational drug. Owing to its high...
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Matthew Broderick Matthew Broderick is an American actor best known for playing the title character in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) and for performing in such stage hits as The Producers (2001). He also gave Tony Award-winning performances in the Broadway shows Brighton Beach Memoirs (1983) and How to Succeed in... -
Fred Armisen Fred Armisen is an American comedian and musician, best known for his many recurring characters and impersonations as a cast member (2002–13) on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and for cocreating and costarring in the sketch comedy show Portlandia. Armisen’s comedic voice is marked by deft mimicry,... -
Exempt vs. nonexempt employees: How your status affects you If you are an office, retail, or blue-collar worker, you may have heard the terms “exempt” and “nonexempt” in discussions about job status. These classifications, which are defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), determine whether you’re eligible for overtime pay: Both employees and... -
pseudoscience Pseudoscience, any system that tries to explain physical phenomena but cannot be proved by the scientific method. Despite the fact that they are unproven, pseudosciences remain popular, especially astrology, parapsychology, and graphology. Their validity has been debated by scientists and... -
manga Manga, individual comic strip, comic book, or graphic novel originating in Japan or, collectively, Japanese comic books and graphic novels as a genre. In Japan the term manga is used to refer to comics regardless of culture of origin. In the West, it largely refers only to comic books or graphic... -
Disco Demolition Night On July 12, 1979, a riot in a ballpark in Chicago changed the history of popular music. Known as Disco Demolition Night, the event originated as a promotional gimmick for the Chicago White Sox baseball team. Given its incendiary fallout (both literally and figuratively), some people came to call it... -
War Stories: 13 Modern Writers Who Served in War War is one of the most common themes in literature. Indeed, some of the earliest great literary works are epics recounting the events or aftermath of a war. The Iliad, traditionally said to have been composed by the Greek poet Homer in the 8th century bce, is an epic poem about the Trojan War.... -
luminol Luminol, chemical compound that emits a blue fluorescent light when it reacts with certain oxidizing agents. Luminol is most widely known for its application in forensic science, in which it is used to detect the presence of blood at crime scenes. The chemical formula of luminol is C8H7N3O2. It is... -
The art of changing jobs: Strategies for finding career success Whether you’re looking to change jobs or switch careers, getting started can feel overwhelming. But there are steps you can take to ease the journey, such as crafting a solid plan. It will take time and persistence, but a detailed road map can help lead you to a more fulfilling role. You can make... -
Feast of the Seven Fishes Feast of the Seven Fishes, Italian American Christmas Eve meal involving the serving of a meatless dinner composed of seven different dishes of fish. Although Feast of the Seven Fishes is the most common name for this meal, it is also referred to as Christmas Eve Fish Dinner or the Vigil, and many... -
The Pursuit of Love The Pursuit of Love, novel written by the English author Nancy Mitford (1904–1973), published in 1945. The Pursuit of Love and its sequel, Love in a Cold Climate, are thinly disguised autobiographical novels based on Mitford’s life and her outlandish upper-class family. The narrator is sensible,... -
Siege of Malta Siege of Malta, one of the most savagely contested encounters of the 16th century, carried out from May to September 1565, the siege of Malta followed after the forces of the Ottoman Empire invaded the island. The successful defense of Malta by the Knights Hospitaller shattered the Ottomans’... -
sarcasm Sarcasm, form of verbal irony used to convey the opposite of what is actually spoken, especially in order to criticize or insult someone, show irritation, or be funny. For example, if a person is late to a meeting, someone in the room may sarcastically say, “I’m glad to see you could make it on... -
Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair is one of the four astronauts selected for India’s Gaganyaan crewed space mission to low Earth orbit, planned for 2025. A test and fighter pilot of group captain rank in the Indian Air Force (IAF), Nair is also one of the astronauts selected for the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)... -
Ben Elton Ben Elton is a multifaceted comic actor, novelist, stand-up comedian, screenwriter and dramatist. A prominent figure in the 1980s British comedy scene, Elton is perhaps best known for cowriting the 1980s television sitcom The Young Ones (1982–84) and the final three of the four Blackadder series... -
Global North and Global South Global North and Global SouthA map showing a common depiction of the Global North and the Global South, as divided by the Brandt Line. However, it is important to note that there is not universal agreement regarding where some countries belong within this framework.Encyclopædia Britannica,... -
Las Vegas Strip Las Vegas Strip, hub of casinos, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues that spans an approximately 4-mile (6-km) portion of Las Vegas Boulevard. The Strip is a major tourist attraction in the United States, raking in billions of dollars a year in profits from its casinos. Although it is... -
Battle of Djerba The Battle of Djerba was fought in May 1560 off the coast of Tunisia between the fleets of the Ottoman Empire and a Spanish-led alliance, commanded by the Genoese admiral Giovanni Andrea Doria. Victory for the Ottomans marked the pinnacle of their naval superiority in the Mediterranean. Victory in... -
Battle of Carillon Battle of Carillon, one of the bloodiest conflicts of the French and Indian War (1754–63) and a major defeat for the British. It was fought on July 8, 1758, at Fort Carillon on the shores of the southern tip of Lake Champlain on the border of New York and Vermont. (The battle is also known as the... -
Professional Women’s Hockey League Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), organization of professional women’s ice hockey teams in North America. The PWHL was formed in 2023 with six teams, three in the United States and three in Canada, and played its the inaugural season in 2024. Similar to the National Hockey League (NHL),... -
Bezalel Smotrich Bezalel Smotrich is a far-right Israeli politician and the head of the Religious Zionism party. In a coalition deal with Benjamin Netanyahu in 2022, he became finance minister, gained oversight of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and pushed a controversial attempt at judicial reform that led... -
Hays Code Hays Code, set of guidelines, self-imposed by Hollywood studios, regulating the moral content of films produced from 1934 to 1968. The Hays Code forbade the use of profanity, obscenity, and racial slurs and included detailed instructions outlining how certain topics should be shown on screen,... -
swatting Swatting, act of reporting a false crime at a specific address with the aim of involving armed law enforcement. The term refers to the division in police departments called Special Weapons and Tactics, or SWAT, teams. The Anti-Defamation League estimates that about 1,000 swatting incidents occur... -
Mike Tomlin Mike Tomlin is an American football head coach who, since 2007, has coached the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. Tomlin is the second youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl (2009), and he has never had a losing season. Tomlin is one of three children born to Julia Tomlin and Ed Tomlin, a civil rights... -
David Tennant David Tennant is a Scottish stage and screen actor perhaps best known for his portrayal of the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who, the British science-fiction television series. Apart from the show, Tennant has enjoyed a prolific career with more than 100 TV, film, stage, and voice-over credits to his... -
Mark Rutte Mark Rutte is a Dutch politician who drew praise for his chameleonic ability to find common ground and broker unlikely alliances to form coalition governments during his four terms as prime minister of the Netherlands (2010–24). He eschewed visionary ideals in favor of practicalities, saying... -
List of Influential Women and Nonbinary People in Computing Computer science, like many other STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines, is primarily male-dominated. Women have made important contributions to the field with significantly less recognition than their male counterparts, and, as of 2023, approximately a fifth of... -
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, beloved Thanksgiving Day tradition enjoyed by generations of Americans that draws an estimated 3.5 million attendees in person in Manhattan, New York, and tens of millions more viewers for television. The annual parade, which is sponsored by American department store... -
First-time homebuyer programs: Help with becoming a homeowner Buying your first house or condominium has long been a monumental step, but steadily increasing home prices have made affording a home even more challenging for many first-time homebuyers. High costs, fluctuating mortgage rates, and a shortage of homes for sale have left aspiring homeowners feeling... -
Tyreek Hill Tyreek Hill is one of the most explosive and prolific wide receivers in the NFL. In 2020 he helped the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV. However, Hill’s exploits on the field have occasionally been overshadowed by run-ins with law enforcement. Hill was born to Anesha Sanchez and Derrick Shaw.... -
Axis of Resistance Axis of Resistance, loose and informal military network of militant groups, which bill themselves as resistance forces, and state-controlled armed forces in the Middle East that are supported by Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In addition to the IRGC, the axis comprises... -
What Time of Night It Is In 1881 National Woman Suffrage Association founders Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Matilda Joslyn Gage published History of Woman Suffrage. Through newspaper articles, letters, and other related materials, the women endeavored to document the 30-year history of the women’s suffrage... -
Svetlana Mojsov Svetlana Mojsov is a Yugoslavian-born Macedonian American chemist known for her pioneering contributions to the discovery and understanding of peptide hormones that regulate physiological processes. Her work has been especially influential in the study of glucagon-like peptides (GLPs), a class of... -
10 Legendary Creatures from Around the World Come encounter 10 strange and astonishing legendary creatures.... -
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Are you a taxpayer in the U.S.? Then you need to know the rules that determine your tax obligations. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)—signed into law by then-president Donald Trump on December 22, 2017—is significant legislation that altered many parts of the federal U.S. tax code. The goals of the... -
Crunchyroll Crunchyroll, LLC is an American production, distribution, licensing, and streaming company dedicated to anime, manga, and dorama (a type of Japanese drama similar to American television soap operas). It is a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music... -
Shailene Woodley Shailene Woodley is an American actress who first received recognition for her authentic, emotionally rich portrayals of teenaged characters in the ABC Family television series The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008–13) and Alexander Payne’s film The Descendants (2011). Her notable later... -
Anti-slavery address by William Lloyd Garrison Antislavery movements had existed in the United States since the Revolution. They had even received occasional support in the South, on moral grounds; but the invention of the cotton gin in 1793 made slavery appear as an economic necessity. In addition, rebellions of enslaved people stirred old... -
List of Provinces and Territories of Canada Canada is the second largest country in the world in area (after Russia), measuring more than 3.8 million square miles (nearly 10 million square kilometers). It consists of 10 provinces and 3 territories that vary greatly in size. The combination of vast area and discontinuous settlement has led to... -
Ja Morant Ja Morant is an American basketball player who is one of the NBA’s leading point guards, known for his dynamic and acrobatic plays. Morant was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, and he was named Rookie of the Year in 2020. He faced controversy in... -
Taylor Tomlinson Taylor Tomlinson is an American comedian and television host known for stand-up that combines commentary on contemporary sexuality and dating with frank personal reflections on mental health, therapy, and mortality. She achieved wide popularity through several stand-up specials, social media, and a... -
Freedom’s Journal Letter to the Editor Freedom’s Journal—with its masthead slogan “Righteousness Exalteth a Nation,”—was the first Black-owned and operated weekly newspaper in the United States. The paper served not only as a forum for the abolitionist sentiments of educated African Americans but also as an official sounding board for... -
red-light district What is a red-light district? A red-light district is an area in a city where people perform sex acts for money or participate in sexually evocative performances, often at strip clubs and peep shows. The area is also often home to shops selling sex-related products. Where might the term red-light... -
Mount Erebus Mount Erebus, the world’s southernmost active volcano, located on the western half of Ross Island, off the coast of Antarctica in the Ross Sea. Its summit is 12,448 feet (3,794 meters) above sea level, making it the second tallest volcano in Antarctica, after Mount Sidley. Mount Erebus is also one... -
How to ask for a raise: 6 steps to a bigger paycheck Perhaps you’ve been at your job for a while, doing great work but thinking you should be better paid for your efforts. If that strikes a chord, it might be time to ask for a raise. The idea of hitting your boss up for more money may seem daunting, but getting the pay you deserve is essential to... -
A Canticle for Leibowitz What is A Canticle for Leibowitz about? Walter M. Miller, Jr.’s novel explores themes of Christian theology, the tension between religion and science, and the cyclical nature of human civilizations. It is post-apocalyptic science fiction set after a nuclear war. Its narrative, which is divided into...
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Kyle Shanahan Kyle Shanahan is an American football coach who is considered one of the most creative offensive minds in the NFL. Since 2017 Shanahan has been the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, and he has led the team to two Super Bowl appearances (2020 and 2024). Shanahan is the eldest of two children... -
nostalgia Nostalgia, affectionate and often sentimental feeling experienced when remembering past times, places, and experiences, especially those with happy personal associations. The feeling may also connote a desire to return to past times and places or wishing that they could be experienced again.... -
Cueva de las Manos Cueva de las Manos, archaeological site comprising a stunning collection of cave art, perhaps best known for featuring more than 2,000 black, white, red, yellow, and purple stenciled handprints dating back more than 9,000 years. There are also depictions of geometric shapes, zigzag patterns, red... -
A Thousand Splendid Suns A Thousand Splendid Suns, novel by Khaled Hosseini, published in 2007. Through its depiction of the relationship between two women, Mariam and Laila, the novel describes the shifting political and social climate of Afghanistan from the Soviet invasion of 1979 and subsequent war through the... -
Sean Sherman Sean Sherman is a chef, activist, ethnobotanist, educator, and member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe. Sherman garnered attention for spotlighting traditional North American Indigenous foods and their ecological and human health advantages. Sherman’s food philosophy centers on his ancestry and... -
Wham! In the early 1980s, American fans of pop music found themselves in the midst of the Second British Invasion. British pop and new wave groups such as Culture Club, Duran Duran, the Police, Depeche Mode, Human League, and A Flock of Seagulls stormed American radio, the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and... -
Demographics of the United States The United States contains a highly diverse population. Unlike a country such as China that largely incorporated Indigenous peoples, the United States has a diversity that to a great degree has come from immense and sustained global immigration. Probably no other country has a wider range of... -
milpa Milpa, symbiotic and symbolic interplanting of beans, corn (maize), and squash in Mesoamerican and North American Indigenous agricultural tradition. These three crops have long been viewed as the most important food plants to many people groups, and ancient communities found that planting the three... -
2020 Beirut explosion 2020 Beirut explosion, deadly blast that took place on August 4, 2020, in Beirut and was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. It was caused by the improper storage of ammonium nitrate in a port warehouse. The explosion killed 218 people, injured about 7,000, displaced some 300,000,... -
navagraha Navagraha, in Indian astrology (jyotisha), the set of nine celestial bodies that is thought to impact people’s lives in positive and negative ways, which many Hindus, and some Jains and Buddhists, endeavor to influence through rituals. The term navagraha comes from the Sanskrit words nava (“nine”)... -
whale vocalization Whale vocalization, process used by whales that produces any of several vocal sounds that assist in communication and the collection of information about their environment. Whales vocalize primarily to navigate, share information with one another, find food, locate other whales, and compete (for... -
Alia Bhatt Alia Bhatt is an Indian-born actress known for her contributions to contemporary Bollywood cinema. She is celebrated for her endearing screen presence, versatility, and success at the box office. She is also an entrepreneur, producer, and fashion trendsetter. Bhatt belongs to a new wave of... -
Big Dig Big Dig, the largest and most expensive highway infrastructure project in American history. Initially conceived in the 1970s and begun in 1991, it took 15 years of construction to reroute Boston’s major highway, Interstate Highway 93 (I-93), through an underground tunnel. The project was plagued... -
doxing Doxing, the act of exposing private or identifying information on the Internet about an individual or group without the person’s or group’s consent, usually with malicious intent. It derives from the phrase “dropping dox,” a term for disclosing another person’s “documents” or personal information....