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Hailee Steinfeld Hailee Steinfeld is an American actress who was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress as a 14-year-old for her commanding debut performance as the fast-talking Mattie Ross in the Coen brothers’ western True Grit (2010). She has since appeared in a diverse array of movies and television...
Rashid Johnson Rashid Johnson is an American multimedia artist whose work explores the anxieties of the modern world, intellectual and artistic lineages, and the African American experience. Early in his career Johnson was acclaimed for his portrait photography, which was at times laced with slyly humorous social...
Why Is Chicago Called the “Second City”? Chicago is called the “Second City” due to a combination of historical and cultural factors, primarily stemming from its rivalry with New York City and the name of a book by A.J. Liebling, who coined the term in the 1950s. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chicago was in fierce competition...
Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails? Dogs wag their tails primarily as a form of communication, allowing them to express a range of emotions. Tail wagging in dogs is a complex behavior that allows them to convey happiness, excitement, or even nervousness to other dogs or humans. The nature of the emotion can often be determined by the...
Why Are Maine Coon Cats So Big? Maine Coons are one of the largest domestic cat breeds and North America’s only native breed of longhaired domestic cat. Although their origins are unknown, they were first shown in Boston in the 1870s. Weighing up to 22 pounds (10 kg), Maine Coons are muscular and heavy-boned and may have been...
Artificial Intelligence Act Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), European Union (EU) legislation that seeks to improve EU citizens’ experience, privacy, and safety when using artificial intelligence (AI). The act places limitations on corporations and other entities that use AI in sharing or gathering information, and it...
Why Are Black Cats Unlucky? Black cats are considered unlucky in some cultures because of superstitious beliefs that have been passed down over time. These beliefs were especially prevalent in Europe and the Americas between the 14th and 18th centuries, when black cats were often implicated in witchcraft activities during...
Warner Music Group Warner Music Group (WMG) is an American multinational music and entertainment company headquartered in New York City. It was founded by Warner Bros. film studios in 1958 as a strategic hedge to prevent its artists from recording with rival labels. Over the decades, WMG rapidly became one of the...
Kemalism Kemalism, the political, economic, and social principles advocated by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and designed to create a modern republican secular Turkish state out of a portion of the Ottoman Empire. Mustafa Kemal’s guiding principle in setting out the early policy agenda of Turkey (Türkiye) was the...
Dharmendra Dharmendra is a veteran Indian actor known for his work in Bollywood. Especially noted for his powerful dialogue delivery and ability to portray a wide range of characters, Dharmendra was counted among Bollywood’s reigning stars in the 1960s and ’70s. He is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan (2012),...
adult contemporary music Adult contemporary music, a style of music that blends elements of pop with soft rock, folk rock, smooth soul, and other genres such as jazz, country, and rhythm and blues (R&B). A popular radio format, adult contemporary music is known for its easy-flowing rhythms, gentle instrumentation, vocal...
How Long Was the Ice Age? The most recent major ice age, known as the Great Ice Age or Pleistocene Epoch, spanned approximately 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago. Extensive ice sheets and glaciers formed and retreated in a series of glacial and interglacial cycles during this epoch, shaping much of the Earth’s surface as we...
How Long Was Odysseus Gone? Odysseus was gone from his kingdom of Ithaca for a total of 20 years. The first 10 years of his absence were spent fighting in the Trojan War. This legendary conflict, chronicled by Homer in the Iliad, was sparked by the seduction of the Spartan queen Helen by the Trojan prince Paris and saw...
Why Is It Called the Cold War? The term “Cold War” is used to describe the period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies after World War II. The Cold War was unique in that it did not involve direct military confrontation between the U.S.-led Western bloc and the...
Lagaan Lagaan, Bollywood film released in 2001, remarkable for its rousing depiction of anticolonial resistance by Indian villagers who humble their British overlords in a cricket match. Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and starring Aamir Khan (also the producer), Lagaan (“Land Tax”) was nominated for the...
Germaine Dulac Germaine Dulac was a French filmmaker known for her impressionistic and experimental silent films, including The Smiling Madame Beudet (1923) and The Seashell and the Clergyman (1928). Dulac’s father was a brigadier general who held posts in different parts of France, and her mother entered a...
ponderosa pine Ponderosa pine, (Pinus ponderosa), species of large, North Americapine tree noted for its soft, easily worked wood. It is the most widely distributed American pine, found in the mountain forests of western North America from British Columbia to North Dakota and south to Texas and Mexico. The...
How Was Saddam Hussein Killed? After Saddam Hussein was captured in 2003 during the Iraq War, he was tried before an Iraqi tribunal and convicted. In November 2006 the tribunal found him guilty of crimes against humanity, which included willful killing, illegal imprisonment, deportation, and torture. He was sentenced to death by...
How Long Were the Dark Ages? The term “Dark Ages” has previously been used to describe the period in European history spanning from the fall of the Western Roman Empire about 476 ce to approximately 1000 ce. Today this period is rarely called the Dark Ages by historians because of the value judgment it implies. Though...
fast Fourier transform Fast Fourier transform (FFT), an algorithm for calculating the discrete Fourier transform (DFT), which reduces the number of computations needed for an N-point transform from N2 to N log2(N). FFTs have applications in electrical engineering, digital signal processing, neural networks, and radio...
How Rich Was John D. Rockefeller? At the time of his death in 1937, John D. Rockefeller was worth an estimated $1.4 billion—a staggering sum that equaled roughly 1.5% of the U.S. economy as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP). In GDP terms, his wealth would be worth $435 billion in 2025 dollars—more than any living...
What Is the Difference Between Cotton and Polyester? Cotton and polyester can both be made into fabrics, but they are otherwise very different. Cotton is a natural fiber harvested from the seed-hair of cotton plants. Polyester, on the other hand, is a synthetic polymer made from a chemical reaction between an organic alcohol and a carboxylic acid,...
What Is a Visa, and How Does It Differ from a Passport? A visa is a supplement to a passport, usually in the form of a stamp, sticker, or insert and sometimes as a separate document. It represents a national government’s official approval of a foreign individual’s presence and specified activity in the country (such as tourism, work, or study), usually...
Dorothy Kilgallen Dorothy Kilgallen was an American journalist and TV personality whose work ranged from covering high-profile murder cases to appearing on television quiz shows. She was investigating the assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy when she died of what was reported as an accidental drug and alcohol...
Who Has Won the Career Grand Slam in Golf? In modern men’s professional golf, the four major tournaments are the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and British Open (Open Championship). A player who wins all four trophies over multiple years is said to have achieved a career Grand Slam. (In 1930, before the modern era, American golfer...
Why Is Benjamin Franklin on the Hundred Dollar Bill? Benjamin Franklin appears on the $100 bill not because he was a president—he wasn’t—but because of the role he played in shaping America’s identity, economy, and institutions. His presence on one of the most widely recognized denominations of U.S. currency is a tribute to his many contributions as...
Producer vs. Consumer: What’s the Difference? In economics, producers and consumers play essential roles in how resources are used and exchanged. A producer is an individual or organization that creates something others can buy, including manufacturers, farmers, and service providers such as teachers or doctors. Producers use inputs—the basic...
Félix Tshisekedi Félix Tshisekedi is a Congolese politician who has served as the fifth president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since 2019. Tshisekedi was born to Congolese politician Étienne Tshisekedi and his wife, Marthe Kasalu Jibikila. Étienne Tshisekedi held multiple high-ranking positions in...
How Did the Ivy League Get Its Name? The term “Ivy League” originated from a combination of historical traditions and a sportswriter’s creative flair. The association with “ivy” likely comes from a 19th-century tradition known as “planting the ivy.” This ceremony involved students, usually graduating seniors, planting ivy—a symbol of...
Why Is It Called the Mandela Effect? The Mandela effect is named after former South African president Nelson Mandela due to a widespread but false memory about his death. The term was coined by Fiona Broome, a paranormal researcher, after she discovered in 2009 that she and many others shared a vivid, yet incorrect, memory of Mandela...
ice storm Ice storm, weather event characterized by rain freezing on contact with cold surfaces that results in ice accumulations of 6.35 mm (0.25 inch) or more on those surfaces. It can cause ice to build up on roads, vehicles, and residences and other structures as well as on trees and electric power...
Why Is the Vigil Before a Burial Called a Wake? A wake is a religious rite that traditionally involves mourners staying awake to watch over the body of a deceased person the night before the person’s burial. The term wake has its roots in ancient customs, particularly in the British Isles. The original purpose of a wake was rooted in the belief...
How Long Does It Take for Plastic to Decompose? Conventional plastics are not biodegradable and often take hundreds of years to break down. Plastics are primarily made from synthetic polymers derived from petroleum, which are designed to resist natural decay processes and thus persist in the environment for extended periods. Unlike organic...
Why Do Catholics Pray to Mary? Mary, the mother of Jesus, is venerated by Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians because they view her as a significant intercessor and a spiritual mother in their faith. In Roman Catholic belief, Mary holds a special place in heaven and serves as a “mediatrix” between God and humanity, meaning...
List of NBA Players with the Most Championships Which NBA player has won the most titles? The answer is legendary center Bill Russell, who won 11 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics: 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1969. His final two titles came when he was both player and coach. Russell’s teammates are...
U.S.–China trade war The U.S.–China trade war has become one of the defining economic conflicts of the 21st century. Launched in 2018 during Donald J. Trump’s first presidential term, the dispute began with American tariffs on Chinese goods. These actions were presented as a response to unfair trade practices that had...
Volume-weighted average price (VWAP): A versatile technical indicator for pros and day traders When it comes to stock market analysis, few indicators offer as much insight into intraday price dynamics and execution quality as the volume-weighted average price (VWAP). Used widely by institutional traders (such as hedge funds and professional money managers) as well as day-to-day technical...
Why Do Mosquitoes Drink Blood? Female mosquitoes drink blood to produce viable eggs. The proteins and iron in blood are essential for mosquito egg maturation, meaning that a blood meal is a crucial part of their reproductive cycle. Different species of mosquitoes show host preferences and, in many cases, have narrow restrictions...
Means testing: Assessing your ability to pay If you’re going through a rough financial patch, you may qualify for help through government assistance or bankruptcy relief, but you’ll likely need to pass a means test first. Means testing is the process of reviewing your income and assets. Government programs use it to ensure benefits go to...
How to use SMART goals in your personal finance SMART is a goal-setting framework that helps you define clear, achievable objectives. Although it’s often used to measure employee performance in the workplace, it can be a useful tool for managing your finances. An acronym, SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and...
Saver, spender, sharer, investor, or gambler: What’s your money personality type? Self-awareness is a wonderful thing. When you know yourself, you’re more likely to make choices that bring you positive results—and that includes making decisions about your money. We each have a money personality type that influences how we feel about money and how we manage it. By getting a...
Insider transaction reports: What stock deals can tell you about a company Wish you were a fly on the wall when executives make decisions about their company’s future? You can be, in a way. By reviewing insider transactions, you can gain insight into how key stakeholders, especially those in the C-suite, view the company’s outlook. By reading Securities and Exchange...
How Was Islam Founded? Islam was promulgated by the Prophet Muhammad in Arabia in the 7th century ce. According to tradition, Muhammad received a revelation from the angel Gabriel at the age of 40, marking the beginning of his role as a prophet in the legacy of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and others. The revelations continued...
Nirmala Sitharaman Nirmala Sitharaman (born August 18, 1959, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India) is an Indian politician and economist who was first appointed as the minister of finance and minister of corporate affairs in the central government in May 2019, becoming the country’s first woman to hold either position full...
Why Are Some U.S. States Called Commonwealths? Four U.S. states are officially known as commonwealths because their constitutions use that term. So why did the writers of those constitutions make that choice? Because the word commonwealth has traditionally referred to a political community founded on law for the common good—and that was an...
Why Are the Olympics Held Every Four Years? The Olympic Games are held every four years to honor their origins and maintain a tradition that dates back to ancient Greece. The original Olympic Games, which began in 776 bce, were held every four years in Olympia, Greece, as part of a religious festival honoring Zeus. The Games occupied such an...
What’s the Difference Between Coffee and Tea? Coffee and tea, two of the world’s most beloved beverages, differ significantly in their origins and cultivation. Coffee is brewed from the roasted and ground seeds of the coffee plant, primarily Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, which thrive in tropical and subtropical climates. These plants...
Massive Tomes: 10 of the World’s Longest Novels If you’re a book lover, you’ve probably been asked the eternal bookworm’s question: If you were stranded on a desert island, which book would you want by your side? Would you want a beach read to peruse as you sit on the sand and scan the horizon for rescue? Or a beginner’s guide to survival...
Why Is a Dollar Called a Buck? The word buck as a term for the U.S. dollar dates back to the 1700s, when deer hides, or buckskins, were often used in trade on the American frontier. Settlers and traders in sparsely populated regions relied on bartering, and buckskins were durable, valuable, and widely accepted. Some of the...
leukapheresis Leukapheresis, the separation and collection of white blood cells (leukocytes) from other blood components, including red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Leukapheresis is a type of therapeutic apheresis, in which excess, often abnormal blood cells are removed from the body; it is used...
addiction recovery Addiction recovery, process through which individuals overcome dependency on substances or compulsive behaviors and work toward building a healthy, stable life. Addiction recovery is a long-term journey of physical, emotional, and psychological healing. Experts often divide the process into five...
Why Is St. Patrick’s Day Celebrated on March 17th? St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17 because, according to legend, it marks the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick, originally from Roman Britain, was kidnapped, enslaved, and brought to Ireland at the age of 16. After escaping and making his way back to Britain,...
Why Is Utah Called the Beehive State? Utah is called the Beehive State because the beehive is a symbol of industry and hard work, which are values deeply rooted in the state’s history and culture. The beehive symbol is derived from the sacred Book of Mormon, where “Deseret” means “honeybee.” This term was used by the early Mormon...
AI-Generated Summer Reading List Features Fake Books ProCon Debate: Is Artificial Intelligence Good for Society? ProCon Issue in the News: In May 2025 several U.S. newspapers, including the Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer, published an AI-generated summer reading list that featured 10 fake books. Writer Marco Buscaglia claimed...
Frank Abagnale, Jr. Frank Abagnale, Jr. is an American author, former con artist, and financial security consultant. He became a household name after the 1980 publication of his memoir, Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake, which tells the story of Abagnale’s various fraudulent activities throughout the...
Elisabetta Sirani Elisabetta Sirani was a painter of the Baroque period, among the most famed Bolognese artists during her lifetime. Notably, she painted large-scale historical subjects during an era in which female artists were often relegated to the less prestigious genres of portraiture and still life. Sirani...
peace lily Peace lily, (genus Spathiphyllum), genus of about 40 to 60 species of flowering plants, native to tropical regions and sometimes considered a symbol of peace and tranquility. The name is often used specifically for Spathiphyllum wallisii, a popular houseplant. The common name has been attributed to...
Ilia Malinin What is undeniable about American figure skater Ilia Malinin is that he has achieved athletic feats in his sport that many thought impossible. He was the first and, as of 2025, the only athlete to land a quadruple axel—the hardest jump in skating—in competition (2022). He also was the first...
RedNote RedNote, Chinese e-commerce and lifestyle app that gained unexpected popularity when a ban of the popular short-form content app TikTok seemed imminent in the United States. The large number of “TikTok refugees” who made their way onto RedNote led to it briefly holding the top spot in both Apple’s...
How does a country become a member of NATO? The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, commonly referred to as NATO, was created in 1949 by 12 countries as a military alliance between North America and Europe to protect its members against attack. Since its inception in the wake of World War II, the alliance has grown to 32 countries, with...
Los Angeles wildfires of 2025 Los Angeles wildfires of 2025, series of wildfires that scorched parts of the Los Angeles region in January to early February 2025. The episode was marked by the emergence of two major conflagrations—the Pacific Palisades Fire (also known as the Palisades Fire) and the Eaton Fire—and several other...
molar mass Molar mass, the mass of a substance in grams of one mole of that substance. A mole is a standard scientific unit for measuring large quantities of very small entities, such as atoms, molecules, or other specified particles. The mole designates an extremely large number of units, 6.02214076 × 1023....
Jupiter and Io Jupiter and Io, oil painting created by Italian Renaissance artist Correggio about 1530 as part of a series depicting the loves of the Roman god Jupiter as described in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. These painting were commissioned by Federigo Gonzaga II, duke of Mantua, and Jupiter and Io may have been...
Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games The Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games were an international athletic competition held in Pyeongchang county, South Korea, from February 9 to 25, 2018. It was the 23rd occurrence of the Winter Olympic Games, the first Winter Games hosted by South Korea, and the second Olympic event hosted by the...
Portrait of Fritza Riedler Portrait of Fritza Riedler, oil painting by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt that was created in 1906 and is regarded as among his most successful works. Noted mechanical engineer Alois Riedler commissioned Klimt to paint this majestic portrait of his wife, and, after the death of both Alois and Fritza...
Procession of the Magi Procession of the Magi, frescoes that cover the east, south, and west walls of the main room of the chapel in the Medici-Riccardi Palace in Florence, Italy, and were painted by early Italian Renaissance artist Benozzo Gozzoli in 1459–60. These complex and detailed paintings are considered Gozzoli’s...
ProCon’s Free Summer School ProCon’s 2025 Summer School is a perfect way for students and nonstudents alike to complete a rewarding summer project. Learn about diverse social and cultural issues while honing your critical thinking skills. Upon successfully finishing the program, you can receive a certificate of completion,...
Rapunzel Rapunzel, fairy tale about a young woman who is locked away in a tower and falls in love with a prince who visits her by climbing up her extremely long hair. The story appears in Grimm’s Fairy Tales, a collection of German folk stories published by the Brothers Grimm in the 19th century. Many other...
Darryl Strawberry Darryl Strawberry is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player who burst onto the scene in the 1980s with seemingly limitless potential. Despite being Rookie of the Year and named to eight All-Star teams, his career was marred by drug addiction, legal problems, and injuries. Strawberry was born...
Neom Neom, futuristic, high-tech planned mega-project in Saudi Arabia designed to harness technology, sustainability, and development to diversify the country’s oil-dependent economy. It is the cornerstone of the Vision 2030 project proposed by Mohammed bin Salman, the son of King Salman (2015– ) who...
mechanical ventilation Mechanical ventilation, the use of an automated machine to move air in and out of the lungs, doing the work of breathing for patients who have stopped breathing or whose breathing is sporadic. Mechanical ventilation machines keep the airways open, allowing for the continual exchange of oxygen and...
Tottenham Hotspur FC Tottenham Hotspur FC, English men’s football (soccer) team that competes in the English Premier League, the country’s top-tier men’s football league. The club is based in the Tottenham area of North London’s Haringey borough. It is one of seven Premier League clubs based in London. Since 2019, the...
Korean drama Korean drama, television series in the Korean language originating in South Korea. First produced in the 1950s, Korean drama series have since garnered a robust global fan base. The shows are especially noted for their evocative narratives, nuanced characterizations, and cinematography. The...
Muscovy duck Muscovy duck, (Cairina moschata), species of large perching duck belonging to the family Anatidae of the order Anseriformes. Male Muscovy ducks are the largest ducks in the world. Unlike other duck species the Muscovy duck does not descend from the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos). It is native to...
The Matrix The Matrix, groundbreaking science-fiction film, released in 1999. The Matrix was written and directed by Lilly and Lana Wachowski, and it stars Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, and Hugo Weaving. The film’s innovative visual effects and seminal plot that questions the nature of...
Kevin Warsh Kevin Warsh is a former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors (the Fed) and served as an economic policy adviser to President George W. Bush. He is considered a front-runner to succeed Fed Chair Jerome Powell when his term ends in 2026. Warsh grew up in the Albany suburb of Loudonville,...
Jaish-e-Mohammed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Islamist militant group, founded in Pakistan in 2000 by Masood Azhar, primarily known for its armed insurgency against Indian troops in the Kashmir region. The group is designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations and several countries, including India, the...
Naomi Wolf Naomi Wolf is a celebrated feminist writer whose groundbreaking work in the 1990s, including The Beauty Myth, gained her popular acclaim and occasional critical scrutiny. In 2019 serious questions about her scholarship led to the cancellation of the publication of one of her books. She has since...
technical breakout In financial markets, a technical breakout takes place when the price of an asset—a stock, commodity, or cryptocurrency, for example—moves decisively above a resistance level or below a support level. These breakouts are often accompanied by a surge in trading volume and may signal a continuation...
Overton window Overton window, political model describing the range of policies considered acceptable by the majority of a population at a particular time. The concept of the Overton window was developed in the 1990s by Joseph Overton, a libertarian political scientist. The model portrays a spectrum of positions,...
Cuba Certified as a “Not Fully Cooperating Country” by United States ProCon Debate: Should the United States Maintain Its Embargo Against Cuba? ProCon Issue in the News: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio certified Cuba as a “not fully cooperating country” on May 13, 2025. The designation means that the U.S. Department of State has determined that Cuba “did not...
convolution Convolution, a mathematical operation performed on two functions that yields a function that is a combination of the two original functions. Convolutions have been used in mathematics since the 18th century, but the term convolution was first used to describe the concept in 1934 by mathematician...
American craft beer revolution American craft beer revolution, term commonly used to describe the foundation, growth, and proliferation of independent and artisanal breweries (producers of so-called craft beer) in the United States, a process that began in the 1960s and continued into the 21st century. Before the passage of the...
Nikole Hannah-Jones Nikole Hannah-Jones is a long-form narrative journalist for The New York Times Magazine and a professor at Howard University. Hannah-Jones created The 1619 Project for The New York Times Magazine as an immersive exploration of American slavery and its lasting impact on U.S. society. Published to...
Cooper Flagg Cooper Flagg is an American basketball power forward who is expected to be the first selection in the 2025 NBA draft. Standing 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters) tall with a 7-foot (2.13-meter) wingspan, Flagg is known for his well-rounded game, especially his shot-blocking and playmaking abilities. In...
Examination of Country Magistrates Examination of Country Magistrates, watercolor painting that was created by an unknown artist during the Qing dynasty in China and that dates from about 1700–20. It is held by the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris. The Qing dynasty, which was established in 1644, retained all the protocols...
Liane Moriarty Liane Moriarty is an Australian author known for her contemporary fiction that often explores the complexities of relationships, buried secrets, and the emotional intricacies of everyday life. Her work typically features compelling characters, witty dialogue, and suspenseful storytelling grounded...
Fruit and Insects Fruit and Insects, oil painting by Dutch artist Rachel Ruysch, that, together with Basket of Flowers, was commissioned by her patron, Johann Wilhelm von der Pfalz, and was created in 1711. The paintings were a gift for Cosimo III, grand duke of Tuscany, and hang in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence,...
The Flower Thrower The Flower Thrower, one of the most iconic and best-known pieces of stencil art by enigmatic British graffiti artist Banksy. Reportedly first created in 1999 in London, The Flower Thrower, which is also known as Rage and as Love is in the Air, most famously appeared as a large mural on a wall in...
Jana Gana Mana Jana Gana Mana, national anthem of India, written in Sanskritized form of Bengali (called Sadhubhasa) by polymath and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It is the first stanza of Tagore’s poem “Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata,” (in Bengali; translated by Tagore with the title “The Morning Song of India”)....
Fortune Fortune is an American business magazine, known for its in-depth reporting and for its annual ranking of America’s biggest companies, the Fortune 500. Fortune published its first issue in 1930, several months after the onset of the Great Depression. It was the brainchild of publisher Henry Luce....
List of 10 Old Wives’ Tales Old wives’ tales are traditional beliefs that are not based on fact. They are a form of superstition or cultural folklore, often incorporating handed-down beliefs about health and medicine. Such stories and pieces of advice were likely exchanged in all periods of human history. The phrase old...
geographical indication Geographical indication, sign designating a product derived from a specific geographic area and often denoting an item’s reputed quality and regionally specific characteristics. A geographical indication, or GI, typically takes the form of the place name associated with the product’s site of...
How the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protects your job Needing time away from work can cause real anxiety, especially when it’s because you or someone close to you is facing a serious health issue. Whether it’s surgery, childbirth, or a chronic condition, stepping away can leave you wondering if you’re putting your job in jeopardy. The Family and...
Madagascar hissing cockroach Madagascar hissing cockroach, (Gromphadorhina portentosa), large species of cockroach known for its ability to make hissing sounds. The insect is one of the largest of all cockroach species (the largest being the South American Megaloblatta longipennis) and is endemic to Madagascar. Like most other...
Mia Goth Mia Goth is an English actress best known for her roles in dark and disturbing auteur-directed films such as Lars von Trier’s Nymphomaniac: Volume II (2013), Stephen Fingleton’s The Survivalist (2015), and Ti West’s X horror trilogy (X [2022], Pearl [2022], and MaXXXine [2024]). Goth was born in...
history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo History of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a survey of notable events and people in the history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, focusing on the events from the 15th century up to the present day. Located in Central Africa, the country has a 25-mile (40-km) coastline on the Atlantic...
Drug Enforcement Administration Ends Body Camera Use ProCon Debate: Should Law Enforcement Agents Wear Body Cameras? ProCon Issue in the News: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ended body camera use as of April 2, 2025, according to an internal email obtained by ProPublica. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which oversees the DEA,...
Guru Purnima Guru Purnima, a festival observed in India, Nepal, and Bhutan to honor spiritual and academic teachers and mentors. It is celebrated on a full-moon day (purnima) during the Hindu lunar calendar month of Ashadha (June–July). The term guru means a spiritual teacher or guide. Hindus, Buddhists, and...
aphantasia Aphantasia, inability to create mental imagery during cognition. The word aphantasia is derived from the combination of the Greek word phantasia, meaning “imagination,” and the prefix a-, meaning “without.” The term was coined in 2015 by British neurologist Adam Zeman. Aphantasia affects between...
Ruskin Bond Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent, known for his extensive body of work in English, which includes The Room on the Roof (1956) and A Flight of Pigeons (1978). Over a career spanning more than six decades, he has written about 500 short stories, articles, essays, and novels. His...
Timeline of the India-Pakistan Conflict After a century-long struggle for freedom, India and Pakistan won independence from British colonial rule at midnight on August 14–15, 1947. This freedom, however, was bittersweet: while it paved the way for two newly independent countries to forge their own paths, it also brought with it the pain...
AIDS Memorial Quilt The AIDS Memorial Quilt is an artistic endeavor meant to honor, remember, and celebrate those who died of HIV and AIDS-related diseases in the United States, and it is considered to be the largest community arts project in history. The quilt is made up of nearly 50,000 hand-sewn panels, each...
Paul Goldschmidt Paul Goldschmidt is an American slugging first baseman who rose from being a relatively unknown professional baseball prospect to being named, at age 35, the 2022 Most Valuable Player of Major League Baseball’s (MLB’s) National League (NL). At 6 feet 2 inches (1.9 meters) tall and 225 pounds (102...
Rashida Jones Rashida Jones is an American actress, writer, and producer known for her roles in such TV shows as Parks and Recreation, Boston Public, and The Office. She is the daughter of legendary songwriter and Grammy Award-winning producer Quincy Jones and actress Peggy Lipton. Rashida Jones grew up in the...
Children’s Day Children’s Day, any of the various holidays in honor of children that are celebrated on different dates in countries throughout the world. In general, Children’s Day festivities promote children’s human rights and welfare, recognize children’s contributions to society, and celebrate the joys of...
Duolingo Duolingo, application known for its gamified approach to language learning, its wide accessibility, and its cast of quirky characters, which include Duo the owl. Duolingo is the most popular language-learning app worldwide, with more than 100 million monthly users. Its popularity can be attributed...
Shirley Caesar Shirley Caesar is an American gospel singer and Pentecostal pastor who is often called the “First Lady of Gospel.” She is known for her powerful vocals and for weaving short sermons into her songs. Her recordings have garnered many Grammy Awards and Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association....
Ebenezer Baptist Church Ebenezer Baptist Church, Baptist church located in Atlanta, noteworthy as the church where Martin Luther King, Jr., and members of his family worshipped and led. Known as “America’s freedom church,” Ebenezer Baptist served as a gathering and organizing place during the American civil rights...
Wagah-Attari border Wagah-Attari border, only legal land transit point between India and Pakistan. On the Indian side the border is located in Attari, a village about 19 miles (30 km) from Amritsar, Punjab. On the Pakistani side it lies in Wagah, a village located 15 miles (24 km) from Lahore. The border falls on the...
Robert Eggers Robert Eggers is an American filmmaker known for writing and directing The Witch (2015), The Lighthouse (2019), The Northman (2022), and Nosferatu (2024). Eggers has been praised for his stylistic take on period horror and drama and for drawing on themes from folklore in his films. At a young age,...
Asim Munir Asim Munir is a Pakistani military officer who has served as the chief of Army Staff of Pakistan since November 2022. An intelligence veteran, he has also served as the director general of Military Intelligence (MI) and the director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the country’s...
shea butter Shea butter, edible fat made from the seeds of shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa; family Sapotaceae) fruit. Shea butter is used in cosmetics, as a skin moisturizer, and as a cooking oil. It is also thought to have medicinal properties. The shea tree is indigenous to the dry savannah region of West and...
Blake Lively Blake Lively is an American actress who first garnered attention for her role in the coming-of-age comedy-drama The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005). She then became a star with her portrayal of “It” girl Serena van der Woodsen in the TV series Gossip Girl (2007–12), about the scandalous...
The Terminator The Terminator, an American science-fiction, action-adventure film, released in 1984. It was directed and cowritten by James Cameron and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular Terminator, a nearly indestructible humanoid cyborg assassin sent back in time from the year 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah...
2006 Mumbai train bombings 2006 Mumbai train bombings, terror attack in the form of serial blasts carried out on the Suburban Railway network (often referred to as “local trains”) in Mumbai on July 11, 2006. Seven coordinated explosions occurred on local trains over roughly 11 minutes during the evening rush hour, killing...
India-Pakistan conflict In August 1947 the Indian Independence Movement culminated in the end of British rule over the Indian subcontinent. However, the ecstasy of freedom was attended by the agony of partition, in which India and Pakistan were created as separate countries. The partition was engineered by Lord...
Station Eleven Station Eleven, novel by Emily St. John Mandel, published in 2014. Mandel’s fourth novel, Station Eleven tells the story of a devastating flu pandemic and the postapocalyptic world order forged by the pandemic’s survivors. As befits a novel concerned with mortality, grief, and resilience, Station...
Disability Rights Movement Timeline Most people know someone with a disability. The statistics bear that out. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about a quarter of Americans have some sort of disability. Worldwide, the World Health Organization estimates that 1.3 billion people, or 16 percent,...
The Condottiere The Condottiere, one of the most striking portraits by Italian painter Antonello da Messina, created in 1475 and now hanging in the Louvre, Paris. Originally one of several paintings by Messina titled Portrait of a Man, this portrait later came to be called The Condottiere. The identity of the...
Michael Connelly Michael Connelly is doing what he has long wanted to do: writing crime novels. It was his aspiration as a college student, and, more than 40 books (not to mention movie and television adaptations) later, he has created some of the 21st century’s most iconic crime fighters, including Hieronymus...
Why Hasn’t There Been an American Pope? The election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the first American pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church surprised many Vatican watchers, who had wondered if a U.S. passport would forever be disqualifying for the papacy. The answer as to why there hadn’t been an American pontiff...
The Descent from the Cross The Descent from the Cross, an early oil painting by Northern Renaissance artist Rogier van der Weyden that is not only a supreme example of the Early Netherlandish tradition but also an extremely influential work that is regarded as the artist’s most accomplished piece. It was created about...
Boy with a Basket of Fruit Boy with a Basket of Fruit, early oil painting by Italian artist Caravaggio, created about 1593. At the time of the painting, Caravaggio was an apprentice in the workshop of Mannerist artist Cavaliere D’Arpino in Rome. The model for the boy in the painting was Caravaggio’s friend, Sicilian painter...
turret spider Turret spider, (Atypoides riversi), species of small burrowing spider endemic to California, one of the best-known folding-door spiders. The turret spider inhabits shady slopes and banks in forests of northern and central California west of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is reclusive, rarely...
Leonard Leo Leonard Leo is an influential American advocate and fundraiser for conservative legal causes and is cochair of the Federalist Society. He played key roles in helping Republican presidents select conservative judges to nominate to the U.S. Supreme Court, including Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A....
Jayne Mansfield In the 1950s no American actress epitomized the archetype of the “blonde bombshell” better than Jayne Mansfield, with the exception of Marilyn Monroe. Sometimes promoted as Monroe’s rival by their film studio, Twentieth Century–Fox, Mansfield rocketed to fame as a gifted comedic actress in movies...
princely state Princely state, nominally autonomous territory in colonial India, subject to indirect rule by the East India Company and, after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, by the British crown. British-controlled India was divided into provinces, which were directly administered by colonial authorities, and...
Leo XIV Leo XIV is the pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. He was elected to the papacy on May 8, 2025, succeeding Pope Francis and becoming the first American pope in history. An Augustinian priest who performed extensive missionary work in Peru and served as head of the Augustinian order from...
Why the Name a Pope Chooses Matters William Shakespeare may have poo-pooed the importance of names by asking “What’s in a name?” But when it comes to the Roman Catholic Church the answer is: “A lot.” The name chosen by a pope has, throughout the history of the church, offered insight into the way he would lead the Church’s now 1.3...
Lindsay Lohan Lindsay Lohan is an American actress, singer, and producer who started out as a child actress and went on to become an A-list star with such films as Mean Girls (2004). Her career faltered during her 20s when she had a series of criminal run-ins and incidents of drug and alcohol misuse, but, after...
The role of repurchase agreements (repos) and reverse repos in finance Repurchase agreements (“repos”)—and their counterparts, reverse repos—are somewhat complex transactions that are based on a simple premise. To temporarily obtain money, one party sells an asset with the promise to buy it back at a specified time and price. The other side buys it with the promise...
Encyclopedia Brown Encyclopedia Brown, series of children’s mystery novels written by American author Donald J. Sobol, featuring the 10-year-old detective Leroy (“Encyclopedia”) Brown, who has tremendous knowledge of trivia and powers of deduction. The series features 29 books published from 1963 to 2012, each...
Why Is It Called the Persian Gulf? The term Persian Gulf refers to Persia—a historic region associated with modern Iran—whose coastal lands lie along the gulf’s northern shoreline. From early in recorded history the gulf was identified consistently with its northern shore because of the prominence of the Persian Achaemenian Empire...
Yashasvi Jaiswal Yashasvi Jaiswal is an Indian professional cricket player. He plays franchise cricket for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and represented Mumbai in Indian domestic cricket from 2018 to 2025. He transferred from Mumbai to Goa for the start of the 2025–26 season. Jaiswal is a...
Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam was an influential and prolific Bengali poet and anti-imperial activist. He was known as Bidrohi Kobi (“Rebel Poet”) because of his revolutionary activities and participation in the Indian Independence Movement. His literary output includes poems, songs, short stories, novels,...
Independence Day Independence Day, in the Philippines, national holiday observed every June 12. It commemorates the country’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1898. On June 12, 1898, rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines’ independence from the window of his ancestral home in Cavite el...
Diljit Dosanjh Diljit Dosanjh is an Indian singer, actor, and producer who has made a significant impact on the Punjabi and Bollywood entertainment industries, with multiple blockbuster films and chart-topping music. He became the first Indian artist to perform in Punjabi at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts...
Federal Open Market Committee Eight months out of the year, the financial market tends to get eerily quiet for two days. Then boom, a big move hits—sometimes a rally, and sometimes a drop. That’s the market’s reaction to the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) interest rate decision (more specifically, where to set the target...
Byron Donalds Byron Donalds is an American congressman, representing southwest Florida, and is widely considered a rising star in the Republican Party. One of the country’s top Black Republicans, Donalds was on the short list to be Donald Trump’s running mate in 2024 and is running to be governor of Florida in...
Fiona Apple Fiona Apple is an American singer-songwriter whose profoundly personal lyrics helped her ride the wave of alternative rock music in the 1990s to achieve popular success and critical acclaim. Her albums include her debut, Tidal (1996), which went multiplatinum in the United States and spawned the...
The Treachery of Images The Treachery of Images, oil on canvas painting by Belgian artist René Magritte, completed in 1929. It is considered a notable work of Surrealist art, as well as one of Magritte’s most famous paintings. Since 1978 it has been displayed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). The Treachery...
Did Anyone Escape from Alcatraz? There are no known successful escapes from Alcatraz. While inmates were able to break out of the prison in both 1937 and 1962, there is no credible evidence that they reached the mainland. Instead, the escapees are believed to have drowned. Before closing in 1963, Alcatraz was considered escape...
Today Today, more commonly known as the Today show, is an American morning talk show that has aired on NBC since 1952. Showcasing news, weather, interviews, pop-culture reports, human-interest stories, and musical performances, Today invented the morning television genre and remains one of the longest...
ethnicity Ethnicity, a complex concept that refers to a person’s identification with a specific group of people, based on one or more shared traits, which may include ancestry, culture, language, religion, customs, and nationality. The term derives from the Greek word ethnos, which usually refers to a...
Jasmine Crockett Jasmine Crockett is a Democratic congresswoman from Texas. She is an outspoken civil rights advocate, known for her forceful criticism of Pres. Donald Trump and her highly publicized verbal tussles with Republican lawmakers. Crockett was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents are...
What Do Cardinals and Popes Wear? Representing centuries of ecclesiastical tradition, the religious dress worn by clergy and consecrated religious members of the Roman Catholic Church is rich with symbolism, cultural significance, and historical continuity. From humble robes and habits to ornate liturgical vestments, the garments...
chitlins Chitlins, dish made from intestines, primarily of a hog, though cow, sheep, and even goat intestines are used in some cultures. Although a staple of cuisines in countries worldwide, chitlins are especially tied to the American South, where they formed part of the cuisine of slave culture....
Schindler’s List Schindler’s List, American historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, released in 1993, starring Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley. The screenplay was written by Steven Zaillian and based on Australian writer Thomas Keneally’s 1982 novel Schindler’s Ark. Schindler’s List has won...
Yankee Doodle Yankee Doodle, patriotic American song that was popularized during the American Revolution. Ironically, the song was a favorite of British soldiers in the mid-18th century because it originally featured comical lyrics that insulted American colonists. Over time the song’s lyrics became more...
Vande Mataram Vande Mataram, poem by Bengali writer Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, which became a rallying cry in the Indian Independence Movement. It became popular after being published in his novel Anandamath (1882; “The Abbey of Bliss”), although it may have been composed much before the novel was written. Part...
Jaya Bachchan Jaya Bachchan is an Indian actress and politician known for her significant contributions to Bollywood and her active role in Indian politics. Despite a relatively brief acting career as a leading lady, Jaya Bachchan (née Bhaduri) starred in numerous critically and commercially successful films....
Former Research Chimpanzees Retire ProCon Debate: Should Animal Testing Be Allowed? ProCon Issue in the News: Former National Institutes of Health (NIH) research chimpanzees Al and Kamaka have retired from the Alamogordo Primate Facility, which is located on a U.S. Air Force base in New Mexico, and were moved to their new home at...
Saadat Hasan Manto Saadat Hasan Manto was an Indo-Pakistani writer of Urdu fiction and nonfiction whose works presented untempered depictions of the grim realities of society, including sexual violence, prostitution, murder, the inhumanity and trauma brought on by the partition of India, and more. His oeuvre of more...