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ultra-processed food Ultra-processed food (UPF), any of a variety of industrially produced foods that contain or are made primarily of highly processed ingredients, including artificial additives, and that typically have high levels of fat, sugar, or salt. Examples of ultra-processed foods include frozen foods,... -
U.S. Agency for International Development U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), lead U.S. government agency working in more than 100 countries to promote global economic prosperity, advance food security, strengthen democracy, protect human rights, improve public health, and provide humanitarian assistance. The agency was... -
David Remnick David Remnick is one of the leading figures in American media, especially known as the editor of The New Yorker magazine (1998– ). He previously worked as a reporter at The Washington Post. Remnick has also written numerous articles and books, and he won a Pulitzer Prize for Lenin’s Tomb: The Last... -
The put-call ratio: Gauge the market’s mood with an old-school volatility indicator The stock market has historically risen over time, but it also goes through significant cycles of bull and bear markets. And if you know the basics of trading options, you know that put and call options may be used to—among other things—speculate on the market’s direction. Put options in particular... -
Mary Barra Mary Barra, née Mary Teresa Makela (born December 24, 1961, Waterford, Michigan), is chief executive officer (CEO) and chair of the board of General Motors Company (GM). When she was appointed CEO in 2014, Barra became the first woman to head a global automaker. The Pontiac Fiero: Innovation and... -
Great Moravia Great Moravia, former state located in central Europe, the earliest widely attested primarily West Slavic state in recorded history. Most of its territory was in present-day Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. It existed from approximately the 830s until sometime in the early 10th century.... -
Life plan communities: What they offer and how they work Retirement can bring the freedom to travel, garden, cook, and enjoy life at your own pace. But if maintaining a home, preparing every meal, and handling household chores no longer appeal to you, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) might be worth considering. A CCRC, also known as a life... -
Filing a tax return: When it’s required and when it’s worth it Filing taxes can feel like a hassle, but not everyone needs to file a return. If you started a new job or are recently retired or unemployed, your income may be low enough that you’re not required to submit a return. Still, filing may be worth it—if taxes were withheld from your paycheck, you might... -
The Graduate The Graduate, novel by American writer Charles Webb, that was published in 1963 and was adapted as a 1967 film. The film became an enduring classic and won its director an Academy Award. The Graduate, Webb’s most successful novel, is so much eclipsed by the movie (starring Anne Bancroft and Dustin... -
The English Patient The English Patient, acclaimed novel by Sri-Lankan-born Canadian writer Michael Ondaatje. Published in 1992, it won the Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction and a Booker Prize. It was adapted as a 1996 film, which won the Academy Award for best picture. The novel is set in a bombed-out... -
Constitution of India Constitution of India, the supreme law that defines the organizing principles of the Republic of India, the structure and functions of the government, and the rights of citizens. It was framed after India achieved independence from British rule in 1947, and it went into effect on January 26,... -
Department of Government Efficiency Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), temporary U.S. federal department, led by Elon Musk, that was formerly called the United States Digital Service (USDS). On January 20, 2025, U.S. Pres. Donald Trump issued an executive order that reorganized the USDS and changed its name to the United... -
Meg Ryan Meg Ryan is an American actress known especially for her roles as the plucky leading lady in such romantic comedies as When Harry Met Sally… (1989), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and You’ve Got Mail (1998). She later pursued roles behind the camera as well, directing the films Ithaca (2015) and What... -
exponential distribution Exponential distribution, a continuous probability distribution used to determine the time taken by a continuous process, occurring at an average rate, to change its state. The exponential distribution is used to model situations in which smaller values are more likely to occur than larger values.... -
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs—meant to address historical and systemic disparities based on race, gender, age, ability, and sexual orientation in the workplace—became a controversial cornerstone for both the government and private sector in the 21st century. The practice, once... -
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM), natural marine area made up of an isolated archipelago of islets, coral atolls, coral reefs, and surrounding deep-ocean waters in the northern Pacific Ocean. It is located approximately 155 miles (250 km) to the northwest of the main Hawaiian... -
confessional poetry Confessional poetry, literary movement that emerged in American poetry in the 1950s and ’60s and remained influential into the 21st century. Confessional poetry is characterized by poems that are self-revelatory and often deeply personal, written from the perspective of “I” (the author) rather than... -
Myanmar Civil War Myanmar Civil War, ongoing conflict in Myanmar involving more than a hundred armed groups, triggered by military officers’ 2021 coup d’état. Following the coup a state of war erupted between the military junta—officially known as the State Administration Council (SAC)—and the National Unity... -
Jameson Raid Jameson Raid, unsuccessful attempt by British officials and mining industry leaders to overthrow the government of the Transvaal—more formally known as the South African Republic (SAR)—that began on December 29, 1895, and ended in a stunning collapse on January 2, 1896. Considered to be the... -
Hawa Abdi Hawa Abdi was a Somali physician, lawyer, community leader, and human rights activist. Amid the dangerous landscape of the Somali Civil War, Abdi organized a safe shelter, school, and clinical camp for internally displaced people, which grew into a city-sized community. Abdi’s father was a port... -
tragacanth Tragacanth, dried, mucilage-forming gum that comes primarily from the shrub Astragalus gummifer. Tragacanth is second to gum arabic in commercial importance and has an ancient history of use in traditional medicine. Known for its chemical stability and long shelf life, the gum is still used... -
Rajaraja I Rajaraja I, emperor of the Chola dynasty from 985 to 1014, known today for reinstating the Chola empire to a position of power in southern India and expanding its territory within southern India and overseas, conquering northern Sri Lanka, Lakshadweep, and the Maldives. He built the Brihadishvara... -
puberty blocker Puberty blocker, medication that temporarily stops the actions of hormones responsible for physical changes that occur during puberty, such as breast development in females and growth of the testes and deepening of the voice in males. Puberty blockers are often used in medical settings for children...
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sporting dog Sporting dog, dog that scents and either points, flushes, or retrieves birds and other game on land and in water. The four basic types of sporting dogs are pointers, retrievers, setters, and spaniels. Vizslas and Weimaraners are also sporting dogs. While the breeds differ in size, they tend to be... -
C.N. Annadurai C.N. Annadurai was an Indian politician who served as the last chief minister of the erstwhile Madras state from 1967 to 1969 and as the first chief minister of Tamil Nadu (renamed from Madras) from January 14 to February 3, 1969. He founded the Dravidian Progressive Federation (Dravida Munnetra...
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Jamie Dimon James “Jamie” Dimon (born March 13, 1956, New York City, U.S.) is a billionaire businessman and the chair and chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM). He has been called one of the most powerful leaders in corporate America. One of three children to parents Theodore and Themis Dimon,... -
Where the Crawdads Sing Where the Crawdads Sing, debut novel by author Delia Owens, first published in 2018 and later adapted into a feature film starring Daisy Edgar-Jones in 2022. The book quickly became a best-seller, selling over 1.1 million copies in its first year and surpassing 12 million copies sold by 2022. The... -
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, nonfiction book by American writer Tom Wolfe, published in 1968, that became a classic of the 1960s counterculture and is one of the most notable works of New Journalism. As exemplified by the work of Hunter S. Thompson, Norman Mailer, and Joan Didion, as well as... -
the Emergency The Emergency, period of 21 months (June 1975–March 1977) in India during which emergency powers were applied across the country at the behest of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of the Indian National Congress (Congress Party). The Emergency has been widely condemned for its curtailment of civil... -
maltose Maltose, organic compound composed of two glucose molecules linked together. The compound (C12H22O11) is a disaccharide formed during the breakdown of starch. It occurs naturally in sprouted grains, such as barley, corn (maize), and wheat, and is found in malted foods and beverages, particularly... -
What Does the Term “Judea and Samaria” Mean? The term “Judea and Samaria” is a reference to the biblical regions of Judaea and Samaria. It is also the name given by the Israeli government to the West Bank, an area west of the Jordan River whose borders were defined by the 1949 armistice agreement between Israel and Jordan at the end of the... -
March 23 Movement March 23 Movement (M23), rebel group primarily based in North Kivu, a mineral-rich province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is one of many armed groups in the conflict-ridden eastern DRC that have been fighting against other armed groups as well as the DRC’s army, the Armed... -
beta distribution Beta distribution, continuous probability distribution used to represent outcomes of random behavior within fixed bounds, usually the range from 0 to 1. Beta distributions have two parameters α and β, which define the distribution’s shape in a range [a,b], where a is less than b. The lower limit,...
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Hanlon’s razor Hanlon’s razor, adage attributed to American writer Robert J. Hanlon that states, “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” As a heuristic reasoning tool, the statement is a reminder to give others the benefit of the doubt by considering alternative explanations... -
Ron Livingston Ron Livingston is an American actor whose lengthy résumé includes the workplace satire Office Space (1999), the World War II miniseries Band of Brothers (2001), and the TV show Loudermilk (2017–20), about a substance-use counselor. Livingston also had a memorable role on the hit HBO show Sex and... -
DeepSeek DeepSeek is a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company that rose to international prominence in January 2025 following the release of its mobile chatbot application and the large language model DeepSeek-R1. Released on January 10, it became the most downloaded app on Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) U.S.... -
Solitude of Self On January 18, 1892, suffrage activists Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, and Isabella Beecher Hooker appeared before the Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of House resolution 14, which proposed amending the Constitution of the United... -
Sabena flight 548 Sabena flight 548, flight of a Boeing 707 airliner that crashed on February 15, 1961, in Brussels, killing all 72 people on board and one person on the ground. The entire U.S. figure skating team was on the flight, and their deaths have become most associated with this disaster. The 1961 U.S.... -
One Piece (manga) One Piece (manga), Japanese manga series created, written, and illustrated by manga artist Oda Eiichiro. It debuted in the Japanese manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1997 and has been serialized in the magazine since then. One Piece follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the... -
List of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Vaccines are among the most effective tools available in modern medicine, offering protection against a wide range of diseases that once caused significant illness, disability, and death. By stimulating the immune system to recognize and fight specific pathogens, vaccines not only protect... -
blue-footed booby Blue-footed booby, (Sula nebouxii), large seabird inhabiting arid islands and coastal areas along the eastern Pacific Ocean from Baja California in Mexico south to Peru. The species is distinguished from the cormorants, gannets, and other boobies classified in the family Sulidae by its blue webbed... -
Midsommar Midsommar, 2019 folk horror film written and directed by American filmmaker Ari Aster that follows the disastrous fate of a group of unsuspecting Americans who visit a rural Scandinavian cult to participate in its mysterious Midsummer festival. Dani (played by Florence Pugh) and Christian’s (Jack... -
Aaron Taylor-Johnson Aaron Taylor-Johnson is an English actor known for his versatility and deep commitment to his work. He first gained widespread attention with the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy (2009) and then found success in many other films, including the action hits Kick-Ass (2010) and Avengers: Age of Ultron... -
Selling cash-secured put options: Stock accumulation and targeted premium collection If you’re familiar with option basics, you know that a put option contract gives the owner (i.e., the buyer) the right, but not the obligation, to sell 100 shares of the underlying stock or ETF at a specific price (the “strike” or “exercise” price) by a certain date (the option’s “expiration... -
Ismat Chughtai Ismat Chughtai was an Indian writer of Urdu fiction and nonfiction, whose writing both questioned and broke traditions. Best known for her short story “Lihaaf” (1942; “The Quilt”) and the autobiographical novel Terhi Lakeer (1944; The Crooked Line), she is one of the pioneers of modern Urdu... -
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSMC) is the world’s first and largest independent foundry for semiconductor chips. Headquartered in Hsin-chu, Taiwan, TSMC was founded in 1987 by Morris Chang, who is widely regarded for pioneering the semiconductor foundry business model. Since its... -
FTC junk fees rule: Shining the light on hidden costs It’s a common scenario: You snag concert tickets at a great price, excited you found a good deal. But once you head to the checkout page, you discover your total cost is much higher—thanks to hidden fees. In some cases, you might pay more in fees than the cost of your tickets. In December 2024 the... -
Bhimsen Joshi Bhimsen Joshi was a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Kirana gharana (musical style), renowned for his powerful voice, breath control, and emotive performances. He was honored with the title “Pandit,” a term traditionally given to masters of Indian classical arts. Over a career spanning more... -
The Sea, The Sea The Sea, The Sea, novel by British writer Iris Murdoch. Published in 1978, it was her 19th novel and her only work to win the Booker Prize. The Sea, The Sea is written in the first person, narrated by Charles Arrowby, a noted and self-satisfied thespian who retires from London to a dilapidated and... -
Shame Shame, novel by Indian-born British-American writer Salman Rushdie that was published in 1983. Following the discussion of India’s partition in Midnight’s Children (1981), Shame focuses on the country that emerged from that partition, Pakistan. Shame is written in the first person, narrated by a... -
Option butterfly spreads: Volatility, magnitude, and defined risk Options—on a stock, index, commodity, or whatever you’re trading—are a lot like chess. No matter how the market (or chessboard) is set up, there are strategies designed to give you good odds for a successful outcome. And if the market looks to be stuck in a range, or you think it’s poised to move... -
Iron butterfly: Body and wings (or a straddle with endpoints) When new options traders get their feet wet, learn the math behind the numbers, and go through a few (or more than a few) expiration cycles, they frequently move from single- or two-leg directional plays to something a little more complex, like volatility and magnitude plays. Such trades seek to...
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Santa Ana winds Santa Ana winds, hot, dry, gusty winds that blow into southern California from inland deserts, descending down the leeward slopes of California’s Pacific Coast mountain ranges toward the Pacific Ocean. The Santa Ana winds bring spells of low humidity and warm weather to the region from early fall... -
Option strangles and iron condors: Targeting movement but not direction Traders who are starting out in options tend to focus on directional plays. For example, a beginner might buy a call option because they think a stock, exchange-traded fund (ETF), or other security is going higher, or buy a put option if they think it’s going lower. Or they might prefer to collect... -
gacaca court Gacaca court, traditional system of justice in Rwanda. It was revived and modified in the aftermath of the country’s 1994 genocide, during which more than 800,000 civilians—primarily those of the Tutsi ethnic group—were killed. Gacaca courts were one of the means used to bring the many perpetrators... -
Regeneration Trilogy Regeneration Trilogy, trilogy of novels written by British novelist Pat Barker, published 1991–95, that are set during World War I and focus on the experience and treatment of soldiers suffering from what was then called shell shock. The Regeneration Trilogy explores the imagined relationships... -
goliath birdeater Goliath birdeater, (Theraphosa blondi), South American tarantula that is widely considered to be the largest known arachnid by mass. The goliath birdeater is found in the Amazonian rainforests of northern South America, its range stretching from Venezuela to northern Brazil. Despite its common... -
Ahilyabai Holkar Ahilyabai Holkar was a ruler of the Malwa territory, a part of the Maratha Confederacy, from 1767 to 1795. She is one of the few women to have led an Indian polity during the era. She served first as regent and then as ruler of the Holkar dynasty with its seats at Maheshwar and Indore in central...
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Vasant Panchami Vasant Panchami, Hindu festival that celebrates the onset of spring in India. The term vasant means “spring” in Hindi, and since the festival is observed on the fifth day (panchami) of the season, it is named Vasant Panchami. The day is usually marked by people dressing in yellow and worshipping... -
vice president of India Vice president of India, deputy to the head of state (president) of the Republic of India. This officer serves as the ex officio chair of the Council of States, or Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house of parliament. The vice president, who serves a five-year term, takes over all duties of the president... -
When and Where Was Mohamed Siad Barre Born? The date and location of Mohamed Siad Barre’s birth have long been unclear. Several dates between 1910 and 1921 have been reported as the year of his birth. The years 1919, 1920, and 1921 are said to have been presented at different times by Somali government sources or Siad himself, but other...
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mRNA vaccine MRNA vaccine, type of vaccine that uses a synthetic version of a molecule known as messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct cells in the body to produce a specific protein that trains the immune system to recognize and destroy the targeted disease-associated entity. Vaccines based on mRNA rely primarily on... -
Your guide to student loan consolidation College loan debt can be crushing, and many individuals struggle to balance monthly payments with other essential expenses such as rent and utilities. For those who have taken out multiple loans to cover tuition and other higher education costs, managing separate payments for each loan can add to... -
slender-billed curlew Slender-billed curlew, (Numenius tenuirostris), wide-ranging migratory shorebird once found in wetlands, grasslands, and intertidal areas on three continents. During the 20th century, the species inhabited Eurasia and Africa, likely migrating from breeding areas located in Central Asia to winter...
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The sandwich generation: Squeezed between growing children and aging parents If your kids—including adult children—still need you at the same time your aging parents need support, you’re likely part of the sandwich generation. Many adults, particularly those in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, find themselves giving time, mental and physical energy, and often financial resources to... -
Deaths in 2025 Below is a list of notable deaths in 2025, arranged in chronological order. (The age of the individual is in... -
Sholay SholayIndian actors Amitabh Bachchan (right) and Dharmendra (left) as Jai and Veeru, respectively, in Sholay (1975; “Embers”), regarded as a landmark Bollywood film.© 1975 NH Studioz/Sippy Films and Dinodia Photos/Alamy Sholay, landmark Indian film, released in 1975. Directed by Ramesh Sippy,... -
Nissim Ezekiel Nissim Ezekiel was an Indian Jewish poet and playwright who wrote in English. His major works of poetry include “Night of the Scorpion” (1965), “The Patriot” (1977), and The Unfinished Man (1960). His work attracted criticism both during his life and after because of the reflection of British...
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drug overdose Drug overdose, ingestion or administration of a drug or drugs in an amount that exceeds recommended levels or quantities typically used, resulting in toxicity. Drug overdose can occur with prescription, over-the-counter, or recreational drugs and can be intentional or accidental. Symptoms vary... -
Savitribai Phule Savitribai Phule was social reformer and pioneer of education for women in India. She was one of the first female teachers in India and opened several schools for girls with her husband, Jyotirao Phule. She also played a key role in the Satyashodhak Samaj (“Society of Truth Seekers”), a society... -
Sushmita Sen Sushmita Sen is an Indian model and actress who made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win the Miss Universe international beauty pageant, in 1994, at age 18. In addition to featuring in television commercials, Sen has acted in Hindi, Tamil, and Bengali movies as well as in a streaming... -
Flowers for Algernon Flowers for Algernon, award-winning short story by American author Daniel Keyes that was first published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in April 1959. The short story was expanded into a novel in 1966. A science fiction exploration of topics such as human intelligence, intellectual... -
Red Harvest Red Harvest, first novel written by American master of detective fiction Dashiell Hammett. Originally published as a four-part serial in the monthly magazine Black Mask beginning in November 1927, it first appeared as a novel in 1929. Red Harvest is narrated by a nameless operative of the... -
List of Famous Game Shows Game shows were first introduced to audiences on radio broadcasts in the mid-1930s, and they have been captivating television viewers since the first one aired on the BBC in May 1938. The blend of entertainment, competition, and suspense, combined with the ability to play along from home, continues... -
Kiawah Island Kiawah Island, barrier island in Charleston county, South Carolina. Located 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Charleston. It is one of the Sea Islands off the Atlantic coast and is bordered by the Kiawah River. The island is primarily a private gated community known for its 10 miles (16 km) of beach,... -
Jesse Eisenberg Jesse Eisenberg is an American actor, writer, and director best known for playing smart but awkward characters. He appeared in such popular movies as The Squid and the Whale (2005) and Zombieland (2009) before his star-making turn as Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network (2010).... -
rejection sensitive dysphoria Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), a feeling of severe emotional pain in response to rejection, criticism, or failure, whether real or perceived. RSD is closely associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), though it can affect persons who are not diagnosed with ADHD. It is not...
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great tit Great tit, (Parus major), small, colorful woodland songbird identifiable by its vibrant body coloration and black head and chin, as well as its distinctive two-syllable vocalization, often described as its “tea-cher, tea-cher, tea-cher” call. Great tits have a vast geographic range that stretches... -
Understanding public benefit corporations: Profit with a purpose Public benefit corporations (PBCs) provide businesses with a structure that balances profit and purpose. These entities merge elements of for-profit corporations and nonprofit organizations, allowing companies to address societal or environmental challenges while generating returns for... -
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), unified body of Catholic bishops, representing both Roman Catholic and Eastern rite churches, who serve the dioceses of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was formed in 2001 with the consolidation of the National Conference of Catholic... -
Khushwant Singh Khushwant Singh was one of the best-known writers of India. He wrote novels such as Train to Pakistan (1956) and I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale (1959), several essays and short stories, and a definitive history of Sikhism in two volumes. Singh won the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest... -
Pierre Poilievre Pierre Poilievre is a Canadian politician serving as the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party. Poilievre has sometimes been compared to U.S. Pres. Donald Trump for his populist politics and his acerbic and confrontational style. Poilievre and his biological half brother, Patrick, were adopted by... -
Wee Worlds: Our 5 (Official) Dwarf Planets Learn all about Pluto and its pals.... -
Shahzia Sikander Shahzia Sikander is a Pakistani-American artist known for reviving the practice of traditional Indian miniature painting, or the art of illustrating manuscripts. In addition to painting, her work spans sculpture, installation, animation, and performance. It has been celebrated for its high level of... -
camp Camp, style and aesthetic sentiment that values the extravagant, the ironic, and the flamboyant and typically bridges the gap between high and popular culture. Blending artifice and affectation with the absurd and outrageous, camp subverts conventional ideas about artistic taste, seriousness, and... -
Akhilesh Yadav Akhilesh Yadav is an Indian politician and president of the Samajwadi Party, a socialist political party largely based in the key electoral state of Uttar Pradesh, which sends the highest number of elected representatives to the houses of the Indian parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. He served... -
leap second Leap second, a second added to the clock to resolve discrepancies between Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is measured by atomic clocks, and astronomical time (UT1), as measured by Earth’s rotation. Leap seconds are added to keep the difference between UTC and UT1 at less than 0.9 second....