- E (letter)
e, fifth letter of the alphabet, derived from a Semitic consonant that represented a sound similar to the English h, Greek ε, and Latin E. The original Semitic character may have derived from an earlier pictograph representing a lattice window or a fence. From the 4th century ce both the uncial and
- E (astronomy)
galaxy: Elliptical galaxies: These systems exhibit certain characteristic properties. They have complete rotational symmetry; i.e., they are figures of revolution with two equal principal axes. They have a third smaller axis that is the presumed axis of rotation. The surface brightness of ellipticals at optical wavelengths…
- e (mathematical constant)
e, mathematical constant that is the base of the natural logarithm function f(x) = ln x and of its related inverse, the exponential function y = ex. To five decimal places, the value used for the constant is 2.71828. The number e is an irrational number; that is, it cannot be expressed as the ratio
- E (physics)
electromotive force, energy per unit electric charge that is imparted by an energy source, such as an electric generator or a battery. Energy is converted from one form to another in the generator or battery as the device does work on the electric charge being transferred within itself. One
- E (musical note)
E, fifth note of the musical alphabet and the third degree of the natural scale of
- e (letter)
e, fifth letter of the alphabet, derived from a Semitic consonant that represented a sound similar to the English h, Greek ε, and Latin E. The original Semitic character may have derived from an earlier pictograph representing a lattice window or a fence. From the 4th century ce both the uncial and
- E (drug)
Ecstasy, MDMA (3,4, Methylenedioxymethamphetamine), a euphoria-inducing stimulant and hallucinogen. The use of Ecstasy, commonly known as “E,” has been widespread despite the drug’s having been banned worldwide in 1985 by its addition to the international Convention on Psychotropic Substances. It
- E = mc2 (equation)
E = mc2, equation in German-born physicist Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity that expresses the fact that mass and energy are the same physical entity and can be changed into each other. In the equation, the increased relativistic mass (m) of a body times the speed of light squared
- E horizon (soil type)
soil: Soil horizons: …is given the separate designation E horizon, or zone of eluviation (from Latin ex, “out,” and lavere, “to wash”). The development of E horizons is favoured by high rainfall and sandy parent material, two factors that help to ensure extensive water percolation. The solid particles lost through leaching are deposited…
- E la nave va (film by Fellini [1983])
Federico Fellini: Mature years of Federico Fellini: …E la nave va (1983; And the Ship Sails On), Ginger e Fred (1985; Ginger and Fred), Intervista (1987; “Interview”), and La voce della luna (1990; The Voice of the Moon), his last feature film. Unified only by his flair for the fantastic, the films reflect with typically Fellinian irony…
- E pluribus unum (United States motto)
Great Seal of the United States: Origin of the Great Seal: …adopted: the shield, the motto E pluribus unum (seemingly contributed by Franklin), the “Eye of Providence in a radiant Triangle,” and the date “MDCCLXXVI.”
- E proposition (logic)
history of logic: Categorical forms: ” Universal negative: “Every β is not an α,” or equivalently “No β is an α.” Particular affirmative: “Some β is an α.” Particular negative: “Some β is not an α.” Indefinite affirmative: “β is an α.” Indefinite negative: “β is not an α.”
- E region (atmospheric science)
E region, ionospheric region that generally extends from an altitude of 90 km (60 miles) to about 160 km (100 miles). As in the D region (70–90 km), the ionization is primarily molecular—i.e., resulting from the splitting of neutral molecules—oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2)—into electrons and
- E ring (astronomy)
Enceladus: …activity is responsible for Saturn’s E ring, a tenuous ring of micrometre-sized particles of water ice condensed from vapour ejected by the geysers. The particles are densest near Enceladus’s orbit and are analogous to the cloud of orbiting particles ejected from Jupiter’s volcanically active moon Io. The E ring, however,…
- E source (biblical criticism)
Elohist source, biblical source and one of four that, according to the documentary hypothesis, comprise the original literary constituents of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. It is so called because of its use of the Hebrew term Elohim for God, and hence labelled E, in contrast
- È stato così (work by Ginzburg)
Natalia Ginzburg: A second novella, È stato così (1947; “The Dry Heart,” in The Road to the City), also deals with an unhappy marriage; the heroine, a former teacher, explains the circumstances that impelled her to murder her husband. In Tutti i nostri ieri (1952; U.K. title, Dead Yesterdays; U.S.…
- E Street Band (American music group)
Bruce Springsteen: From Born to Run to Born in the U.S.A.: …and four-hour extravaganzas with his E Street Band that blended rock, folk, and soul with dramatic intensity and exuberant humour. The band—a crew of mixed stereotypes, from rock-and-roll bandit to cool music professional—was more like a gang than a musical unit, apparently held together by little other than faith in…
- E Yu (play by Mo Yan)
Mo Yan: In 2023 he published E Yu (“Crocodile”), which centers on a corrupt government official and features a 4-meter- (13-foot-) long crocodile that can talk. A production of the play was set to tour China in 2024. In March of that year, Mo was the subject a lawsuit filed by…
- (E)-2-butene (chemical compound)
isomerism: Cis and trans forms: …are traditionally called cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene or, in slightly more modern terms, (Z)- and (E)-2-butene. The Z and E stand for the German words for “together” (zusammen) and “apart” (entgegen). In principle, cis- and trans-2-butene are conformational isomers; in theory, they could be interconverted by a simple rotation about the…
- e-book (computing)
e-book, digital file containing a body of text and images suitable for distributing electronically and displaying on-screen in a manner similar to a printed book. E-books can be created by converting a printer’s source files to formats optimized for easy downloading and on-screen reading, or they
- E-cadherin (biochemistry)
cancer: Microinvasion: …that cell-adhesion molecules such as E-cadherin, which helps to keep cells in place, are in short supply.
- e-card (electronic greeting card)
greeting card: Growth of the greeting card industry: Despite the growing use of e-cards and social media to celebrate special occasions and holidays, the industry displayed a surprising resilience. In the 2010s, U.S. households annually purchased about seven billion cards, with retail sales topping $7.5 billion. Christmas cards accounted for the overwhelming majority of seasonal cards, while birthday…
- e-cigarette (inhalation device)
e-cigarette, battery-operated device modeled after regular cigarettes. The e-cigarette was invented in 2003 by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik, who initially developed the device to serve as an alternative to conventional smoking. In addition to the battery component, an e-cigarette comprises an
- E-class asteroid (astronomy)
asteroid: Composition: The E-class asteroids have the highest albedos and have spectral reflectances that match those of the enstatite achondrite meteorites.
- e-commerce (economics)
e-commerce, maintaining relationships and conducting business transactions that include selling information, services, and goods by means of computer telecommunications networks. Although in the vernacular e-commerce usually refers only to the trading of goods and services over the Internet,
- e-democracy (political science)
e-democracy, the use of information and communication technologies to enhance and in some accounts replace representative democracy. Theorists of e-democracy differ, but most share the belief that some of the traditional limits to citizenship in contemporary liberal-democratic polities—problems of
- E-Democracy.org (Internet discussion forum)
e-democracy: From community to politics: …these is Minnesota E-Democracy (later E-Democracy.org), which was established in 1994 and became one of the world’s largest subnational-level political discussion forums.
- e-government (political science)
e-government, the use of information and communication technologies, particularly the Internet, in government. A popular way of conceptualizing e-government is to distinguish between three spheres of technologically mediated interactions. Government-to-government interactions are concerned with the
- e-health (health care)
e-health, use of digital technologies and telecommunications, such as computers, the Internet, and mobile devices, to facilitate health improvement and health care services. E-health is often used alongside traditional “off-line” (non-digital) approaches for the delivery of information directed to
- e-health care (health care)
e-health, use of digital technologies and telecommunications, such as computers, the Internet, and mobile devices, to facilitate health improvement and health care services. E-health is often used alongside traditional “off-line” (non-digital) approaches for the delivery of information directed to
- e-ink (technology)
piracy: E-books and promotional piracy: …paperlike display technology, known as e-ink or e-paper, by the E Ink Corporation of Cambridge, Massachusetts, based on prior research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Laboratory.
- E-kur (ancient temple, Mesopotamia, Asia)
Nippur: …laid out Enlil’s sanctuary, the E-kur, in its present form. A ziggurat and a temple were built in an open courtyard surrounded by walls.
- e-learning (education)
distance learning, form of education in which the main elements include physical separation of teachers and students during instruction and the use of various technologies to facilitate student-teacher and student-student communication. Distance learning traditionally has focused on nontraditional
- e-mail (telecommunication)
e-mail, messages transmitted and received by digital computers through a network. An e-mail system allows computer users on a network to send text, graphics, sounds, and animated images to other users. The "at sign" (@) in the middle of an email address, separating the name of the emailer from the
- E-meter (instrument)
Scientology: Hubbard’s early life and beliefs: …process is use of an E-meter, an instrument that measures the strength of a small electrical current that passes through the body of the person undergoing auditing. According to church teachings, E-meter readings indicate changes in emotional states that allow the identification of stored engrams. In Dianetics the goal was…
- e-paper (technology)
piracy: E-books and promotional piracy: …paperlike display technology, known as e-ink or e-paper, by the E Ink Corporation of Cambridge, Massachusetts, based on prior research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Laboratory.
- e-reader (device)
e-book: How e-books are read: …computers and game consoles, dedicated e-readers, mobile phones (especially powerful smartphones), and consoles attached to televisions or other screens. Rapid changes and advances in screen technology, processing power, the miniaturization of computing components, and wireless Internet connectivity are constantly changing the nature and range of e-reading devices.
- e-trading (finance)
Nasdaq: …American stock market that handles electronic securities trading around the world. It was developed by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and is monitored by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
- E-trisomy (pathology)
trisomy 18, human chromosomal disorder that results from an extra (third) copy of chromosome 18. Infants born with this disorder are smaller than average and usually do not survive longer than a few months. Characteristics of the syndrome include severe mental and growth retardation; congenital
- e-voting (politics)
electronic voting: E-voting: Because of security and access concerns, most large-scale electronic voting is currently held in designated precincts using special-purpose machines. This type of voting mechanism is referred to as e-voting. There are two major types of e-voting equipment: direct recording electronic (DRE) machines and optical…
- e-waste
electronic waste, various forms of electric and electronic equipment that have ceased to be of value to their users or no longer satisfy their original purpose. Electronic waste (e-waste) products have exhausted their utility value through either redundancy, replacement, or breakage and include
- E. coli (bacteria)
E. coli, (Escherichia coli), species of bacterium that normally inhabits the stomach and intestines. When E. coli is consumed in contaminated water, milk, or food or is transmitted through the bite of a fly or other insect, it can cause gastrointestinal illness. Mutations can lead to strains that
- E. coli O104:H4 outbreak of 2011
German E. coli outbreak of 2011, bacterial disease outbreak that began in Germany in late April 2011 and that was caused by a previously rare strain of E. coli (Escherichia coli) known as O104:H4. The 2011 E. coli outbreak was the deadliest and the second largest on record—the largest was the Japan
- E. Luminata (work by Eltit)
Latin American literature: Post-boom writers: …discussed novel is Lumpérica (1983; E. Luminata); it is a text laden with stylistic games and a vague plot. With Puerto Ricans Ana Lydia Vega and Rosario Ferré, Eltit became part of an established group of women Latin American writers who were quickly accepted into the Latin American canon.
- E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (American company)
DuPont Company, American corporation engaged primarily in biotechnology and the manufacture of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The company was founded by Éleuthère Irénée du Pont (1771–1834) in Delaware in 1802 to produce black powder and later other explosives, which remained the company’s main
- E.N.D., The (album by Black Eyed Peas)
Black Eyed Peas: …Peas returned in 2009 with The E.N.D., which cemented their prominence in the pop music world. Between the singles “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling,” the group occupied the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 for an unprecedented 26 straight weeks in the middle of that year.…
- E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (film by Spielberg [1982])
Steven Spielberg: Commercial success: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) was a moving exploration of an alien encounter that cleverly eschewed the epic scale of Close Encounters for the microcosm of its effect on a single California family. Henry Thomas gave a strong performance as the boy who discovers and befriends…
- E1 (mountain, Asia)
Lhotse, mountain massif in the Himalayas on the border of Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It consists of three summits, the highest of which—Lhotse I at 27,940 feet (8,516 meters)—is the world’s fourth tallest peak. Lhotse lies just south of Mount Everest, to which it is joined by a
- E1 reaction (chemistry)
elimination reaction: In an E1 reaction, the reaction rate is proportional to the concentration of the substance to be transformed; in an E2 reaction, the reaction rate is proportional to the concentrations of both the substrate and the eliminating agent.
- E1A handset (telephone)
telephone: Development of the modern instrument: …Telegraph Company (AT&T) introduced the E1A handset, which employed a combined transmitter-receiver arrangement. The ringer and much of the telephone electronics remained in a separate box, on which the transmitter-receiver handle was cradled when not in use. The first telephone to incorporate all the components of the station apparatus into…
- E2 reaction (chemistry)
elimination reaction: …also classified as E1 or E2, depending on the reaction kinetics. In an E1 reaction, the reaction rate is proportional to the concentration of the substance to be transformed; in an E2 reaction, the reaction rate is proportional to the concentrations of both the substrate and the eliminating agent.
- E85 (fuel blend)
automobile: Ethanol and fuel cells: …ethanol (ethyl alcohol), marketed as E85. This initiative led numerous American, European, and Japanese manufacturers to certify some of their models as E85-compliant, which is indicated by the eighth character in the vehicle identification number, or VIN.
- E911 system (comunications system)
police: Computerization: The Enhanced 911 (E911) system, adopted in the United States, instantly identifies the number of the phone from which the call is made, as well as the name and physical address of the person who owns the phone. Data maintained in the E911 system sometimes include…
- E=mc2 (novel by Boulle)
Pierre Boulle: …several sequels and remakes) and E = mc2 (1957), which contains ironic but humane considerations of the fate of the modern individual caught in a political, social, and intellectual upheaval.
- E=MC2 (album by Carey)
Mariah Carey: “Touch My Body,” from E=MC2 (2008), became Carey’s 18th number one song on the Billboard singles chart, moving her past Elvis Presley on the all-time list and leaving her just two short of the Beatles’ record.
- EA (Ethiopian company)
Ethiopia: Transportation and telecommunications: The internal network of Ethiopian Airlines (EA), a state-owned but independently operated carrier, is well developed, connecting major cities and locations of tourist interest. Its international network provides excellent service to destinations throughout the world. Bole International Airport, near Addis Ababa, serves EA and other international airlines and is…
- EA (American company)
Electronic Arts, Inc. (EA), American developer and manufacturer of electronic games for personal computers (PCs) and video game consoles. Established in 1982 by William M. (“Trip”) Hawkins, Electronic Arts (EA) has a product line that includes the popular franchises The Sims, Command & Conquer,
- Ea (Mesopotamian deity)
Ea, Mesopotamian god of water and a member of the triad of deities completed by Anu (Sumerian: An) and Enlil. Ea is considered a member of the special class of Mesopotamian gods called the Anunnaki. From a local deity worshiped in the city of Eridu, Ea evolved into a major god, Lord of Apsu (also
- EA (social movement)
effective altruism, in ethics, a theory of conduct and a movement that centers on identifying ways to benefit others and then mobilizing and utilizing resources to bring those benefits to fruition. Effective altruism attempts to identify pressing social issues as well as corresponding solutions. As
- EAA (Kenyan political organization)
Jomo Kenyatta: Early life: …white-settler-dominated government began in 1921—the East Africa Association (EAA), led by an educated young Kikuyu named Harry Thuku. Kenyatta joined the following year. One of the EAA’s main purposes was to recover Kikuyu lands lost when Kenya became a British crown colony (1920). The Africans were dispossessed, leaseholds of land…
- EAA (aviation organization)
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), organization dedicated to supporting and promoting recreational aviation around the world. The EAA has members from more than 100 countries and more than 1,000 local chapters. Membership is open to anyone interested in aviation, but chapters must be
- EAA AirVenture Oshkosh (aviation convention)
Experimental Aircraft Association: …EAA Fly-In Convention to the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Regarded as the world’s largest gathering of general aviation enthusiasts, and one of the largest conventions of any type, EAA AirVenture had an annual attendance in the early 21st century of some 500,000, with more than 10,000 aircraft flown to the weeklong…
- EAA Fly-In Convention (aviation convention)
Experimental Aircraft Association: …EAA Fly-In Convention to the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Regarded as the world’s largest gathering of general aviation enthusiasts, and one of the largest conventions of any type, EAA AirVenture had an annual attendance in the early 21st century of some 500,000, with more than 10,000 aircraft flown to the weeklong…
- EAC (training center, Cologne, Germany)
European Space Agency: …retrieved and distributed, (4) the European Astronaut Centre (EAC), located in Cologne, Germany, which is a training centre, and (5) the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), located in Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid, Spain, which holds scientific operations centres as well as archives. ESA also operates the Guiana Space Centre (CSG),…
- EAC (African organization)
East African Community (EAC), organization that provides for cooperation, including the maintenance of a common market and the operation of common services, between the republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its headquarters are in Arusha, Tanzania. The
- Eacles imperialis (insect)
regal moth: The imperial moth (Eacles imperialis) has yellow wings and body with purple to brown markings. The green body of the larva has a sparse covering of long white hairs, yellow horns, and a brown head. Striped Anisota larvae (e.g., the green-striped mapleworm, A. rubicunda; the pink-striped…
- EACSO (African organization)
East African Community (EAC), organization that provides for cooperation, including the maintenance of a common market and the operation of common services, between the republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its headquarters are in Arusha, Tanzania. The
- Éadan Doire (Ireland)
Edenderry, market town, County Offaly, Ireland, on the northern edge of the Bog of Allen. The town, including the Court House, was largely built by the marquesses of Downshire in the 18th and early 19th centuries. South of the town are the ruins of Peter Blundell’s castle. There are many castles in
- Eadbald (king of Kent)
Eadbald was the king of Kent, who succeeded his father Aethelberht in 616. He had not been influenced by the teaching of the Christian missionaries, and his first step on his accession was to marry his father’s widow. After his subsequent conversion by Laurentius, archbishop of Canterbury, he built
- Eadberht (king of Northumbria)
Edbert was the king of Northumbrians from 737 to 758 in Anglo-Saxon England. He was a strong king whose reign was regarded by the contemporary scholar and churchman Alcuin as the kingdom’s golden age. Edbert succeeded to the throne on the abdication of his cousin Ceolwulf. In 750 he took the region
- Eadbert (king of Northumbria)
Edbert was the king of Northumbrians from 737 to 758 in Anglo-Saxon England. He was a strong king whose reign was regarded by the contemporary scholar and churchman Alcuin as the kingdom’s golden age. Edbert succeeded to the throne on the abdication of his cousin Ceolwulf. In 750 he took the region
- Eadgar (king of England)
Edgar was the king of the Mercians and Northumbrians from 957 who became king of the West Saxons, or Wessex, in 959 and is reckoned as king of all England from that year. He was efficient and tolerant of local customs, and his reign was peaceful. He was most important as a patron of the English
- Eadmer (English biographer and historian)
Edmer was an English biographer of St. Anselm and historian whose accounts are a uniquely accurate and credible portrait of the 12th-century monastic community at Canterbury. Born into a wealthy family that was impoverished by the Norman conquest, Edmer was raised at Christ Church, Canterbury,
- Eadred (king of England)
Eadred was the king of the English from 946 to 955, who brought Northumbria permanently under English rule. Eadred was the son of the West Saxon king Edward the Elder (ruled 899–924) and Eadgifu, the half brother of King Athelstan (ruled 924–939), and the brother of King Edmund I (ruled 939–946).
- Eadric (English noble)
Hlothere: …shared power with his nephew Eadric (Egbert’s son); laws still extant seem to have been issued in their joint names. A quarrel between them caused Eadric either to be banished or to flee the kingdom. He returned with an army of South Saxons, and in the ensuing battle Hlothere was…
- Eadric Streona (Mercian noble)
Eadric Streona was the ealdorman of the Mercians, who, though a man of ignoble birth, was advanced to the revived office of ealdorman by the English king Ethelred II, whose daughter Eadgyth Eadric married. Little is known of Eadric’s origins. His appointment to the office of ealdorman in 1007 was
- EADS (European consortium)
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), major European aerospace company that builds commercial and military aircraft, space systems, propulsion systems, missiles, and other defense products. It was formed in 2000 from the merger of three leading European aerospace firms: Aerospatiale
- Eads Bridge (bridge, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States)
James B. Eads: …contract for a steel triple-arch bridge over the river at St. Louis, which he began on Aug. 20, 1867. Its three spans, 502, 520, and 502 feet (152, 158, and 152 m), respectively, consisted of triangularly braced 18-inch (46-centimetre) hollow steel tubes linked in units and set in piers based…
- Eads, James B. (American engineer)
James B. Eads was an American engineer best known for his triple-arch steel bridge over the Mississippi River at St. Louis, Mo. (1874). Another project provided a year-round navigation channel for New Orleans by means of jetties (1879). Eads was named for his mother’s cousin James Buchanan, a
- Eads, James Buchanan (American engineer)
James B. Eads was an American engineer best known for his triple-arch steel bridge over the Mississippi River at St. Louis, Mo. (1874). Another project provided a year-round navigation channel for New Orleans by means of jetties (1879). Eads was named for his mother’s cousin James Buchanan, a
- Eadwig (king of the English)
Eadwig was the king of the English from 955 to 957 and ruler of Wessex and Kent from 957 to 959. The eldest son of King Edmund I (ruled 939–946) and the nephew of King Eadred (ruled 946–955), he was probably no more than 15 years old at the time of his accession. Early historical sources are biased
- EAEC (bacterium)
German E. coli outbreak of 2011: E. coli O104:H4: coli (EPEC), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), and diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC). The causative EAEC O104:H4 bacterium of the 2011 outbreak was initially described as a strain of EHEC, but subsequent genetic analyses revealed that it was closely related to EAEC; some scientists classified it as a…
- EAEC O104:H4 (bacterium)
German E. coli outbreak of 2011: E. coli O104:H4: There are more than 700 infectious serotypes (closely related though distinguishable forms) of E. coli. The serotypes are classified based on the antigens (proteins that stimulate antibody production in animals) on their surfaces, with the O (cell wall) and H (flagellar) antigens being of…
- EAEG (proposed regional economic bloc)
East Asian Economic Group (EAEG), proposed regional bloc of East Asian and Southeast Asian countries. Suggested in 1990 by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, the EAEG represented the idea of an exclusivist East Asian regionalism. As conceived by Mahathir, the EAEG would be led by Japan
- Eagan, Eddie (American boxer and bobsledder)
Eddie Eagan was an American boxer and bobsledder who was the only athlete to win gold medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. (Read Gene Tunney’s 1929 Britannica essay on boxing.) After their father died in a railroad accident when Eddie was only a year old, he and his four brothers were
- Eagan, Edward Patrick Francis (American boxer and bobsledder)
Eddie Eagan was an American boxer and bobsledder who was the only athlete to win gold medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. (Read Gene Tunney’s 1929 Britannica essay on boxing.) After their father died in a railroad accident when Eddie was only a year old, he and his four brothers were
- Eagels, Amelia Jean (American actress)
Jeanne Eagels was an American actress who, through force of will and personality rather than training, forged a successful career onstage and in motion pictures. Eagels left school early and worked at small jobs until, at age 15, she began to work in a traveling tent show. During the next seven
- Eagels, Jeanne (American actress)
Jeanne Eagels was an American actress who, through force of will and personality rather than training, forged a successful career onstage and in motion pictures. Eagels left school early and worked at small jobs until, at age 15, she began to work in a traveling tent show. During the next seven
- Eagle (aircraft)
F-15, twin-engine jet fighter produced by the McDonnell Douglas Corporation of the United States. Based on a design proposed in 1969 for an air-superiority fighter, it has also been built in fighter-bomber versions. F-15s were delivered to the U.S. Air Force between 1974 and 1994; they have also
- Eagle (United States lunar module)
Apollo 11: …tunnel into the lunar module, Eagle. Toward the end of the 12th lunar orbit, the Apollo 11 spacecraft became two separate spacecraft: Columbia, piloted by Collins, and Eagle, occupied by Armstrong and Aldrin.
- eagle (bird)
eagle, any of many large, heavy-beaked, big-footed birds of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae (order Accipitriformes). In general, an eagle is any bird of prey more powerful than a buteo. An eagle may resemble a vulture in build and flight characteristics but has a fully feathered (often
- Eagle Day (German history)
World War II: The Battle of Britain: …August 2 issued the “Eagle Day” directive, laying down a plan of attack in which a few massive blows from the air were to destroy British air power and so open the way for the amphibious invasion, termed Operation “Sea Lion.” Victory in the air battle for the Luftwaffe…
- Eagle Forum (American organization)
Phyllis Schlafly: …eventually subsumed into the broader-based Eagle Forum, which Schlafly founded in 1975.) Schlafly’s well-organized campaign became a cause célèbre, and when the ERA eventually failed to be ratified by the requisite majority of states, she was widely credited with having helped to bring about its collapse.
- Eagle Has Landed, The (film by Sturges [1976])
John Sturges: Later films: The Eagle Has Landed (1976) showed flashes of Sturges’s old prowess. The old-fashioned suspense thriller was based on a Jack Higgins best seller about a Nazi plot to kidnap British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. As with most of Sturges’s more-popular productions, it featured a stellar…
- eagle lectern
metalwork: Europe from the Middle Ages: …what are known as “eagle lecterns.” These are book stands with ornamental pedestals, with the panel supporting the enormous missals taking the form of the outspread wings of an eagle, a griffin, or a pelican. The earliest documented eagle lectern was made in 965, but the earliest example to…
- Eagle Nebula (nebula)
star cluster: Open clusters: A still younger cluster is NGC 6611, some of the stars in which formed only a few hundred thousand years ago. At the other end of the scale, some open clusters have ages approaching those of the globular clusters. M67 in the constellation Cancer is 4.5 billion years old, and…
- eagle owl (bird)
eagle owl, (Bubo bubo), bird of the family Strigidae (order Strigiformes), characterized by its large size (often 70 centimetres [about 2.3 feet] long), two tufts of feathers on the head (ear tufts), and large orange eyes. The overall coloration is tawny, mottled with brown, lighter below. The
- Eagle Pass (Texas, United States)
Eagle Pass, city, seat (1856) of Maverick county, southwestern Texas, U.S., on the Rio Grande, bridged to Piedras Negras, Mexico, 130 miles (210 km) southwest of San Antonio. It evolved as a garrison town laid out as El Paso de Aguila (Spanish: “Eagle Pass”), so named for the area’s abundant birds
- Eagle Peak (mountain, Wyoming, United States)
Yellowstone National Park: Physical features: The range’s Eagle Peak, on the park’s boundary in the southeast, is the high point, reaching 11,358 feet (3,462 meters). Aside from its rugged mountains and spectacular deep glacier-carved valleys, the park has unusual geologic features, including fossil forests, eroded basaltic lava flows, a black obsidian (volcanic…
- eagle ray (fish)
eagle ray, any of about two dozen species of exclusively marine rays constituting the family Myliobatidae (order Rajiformes), occurring in the major oceans. They have the enlarged, winglike pectoral fins characteristic of the order. Some species have a sharp-edged serrated spine at the base of the