51 Pegasi b, the first extrasolar planet confirmed to orbit a sunlike star. The planet orbits a fifth-magnitude star, 51 Pegasi, located 48 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Pegasus. 51 Pegasi has physical properties (luminosity and temperature, for example) very similar to those of

Eddie Van Halen: Career with Van Halen: …released their first number-one album, 5150, which features the hit song “Why Can’t This Be Love.” The next three Van Halen studio albums, OU812 (1988), For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991), and Balance (1995), also reached number one. The relationship between Eddie Van Halen and Hagar began to fray in 1996,…

John Frankenheimer: The 1970s and ’80s: The brutal dramas 52 Pick-Up (1986) and Dead Bang (1989) were also critical and commercial failures.

Billy Joel: Socially conscious songwriting and MTV pioneer: …award-winning platinum albums continued with 52nd Street (1979), winner of the Grammy for album of the year; Glass Houses (1980); and The Nylon Curtain (1982). On the last album, Joel, whose lyrics had previously dealt primarily with romance and slices of life, introduced his first socially conscious songs, “Allentown” and…

Jean Nouvel: …skyscraper, 53 West 53 (or 53W53), New York City, was completed in 2019. The tower provided several levels of gallery space to the adjacent Museum of Modern Art. Projects from the 2020s include the Henderson CIFI Tiandi building (2021), a mixed-use building in Shanghai, the facade of which is covered…

Toots and the Maytals: …emerging style of reggae, “54-46 (That’s My Number).” A pumping, frantic account of Hibbert’s term in prison on a marijuana charge, it is considered one of reggae’s greatest songs. Subsequent hits included “Do the Reggay” (thought to be the first explicit use of the term), “Monkey Man,” “Funky Kingston,”…

54th Regiment, Massachusetts infantry unit made up of African Americans that was active during the American Civil War (1861–65). The 54th Regiment became famous for its fighting prowess and for the great courage of its members. Its exploits were depicted in the 1989 film Glory. The abolitionist

54th Regiment, Massachusetts infantry unit made up of African Americans that was active during the American Civil War (1861–65). The 54th Regiment became famous for its fighting prowess and for the great courage of its members. Its exploits were depicted in the 1989 film Glory. The abolitionist

54th Regiment, Massachusetts infantry unit made up of African Americans that was active during the American Civil War (1861–65). The 54th Regiment became famous for its fighting prowess and for the great courage of its members. Its exploits were depicted in the 1989 film Glory. The abolitionist

55 Days at Peking, American war film, released in 1963, that is an epic retelling of the siege of foreign legations in Beijing (Peking) during the Boxer Rebellion. The film is set during the 1900 uprising, in which Chinese nationals sought to drive out foreigners whom they believed were undermining

Max Wolf: In 1906 he discovered Achilles, the first of the Trojan planets, two groups of asteroids that move around the Sun in Jupiter’s orbit: one group 60° ahead of Jupiter, the other 60° behind.

5G, fifth-generation telecommunications technology. Introduced in 2019 and now globally deployed, 5G delivers faster connectivity with higher bandwidth and “lower latency” (shorter delay times), improving the performance of phone calls, streaming, videoconferencing, gaming, and business

serotonin, biological molecule that acts as a potent vasoconstrictor and neurotransmitter. Serotonin is derived from the amino acid tryptophan. It occurs in the brain, intestinal tissue, blood platelets, and mast cells. It also is a constituent of many venoms, including wasp venom and toad venom.

nervous system: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine): Serotonin receptors, or 5HT receptors, activate calcium and potassium channels through linking proteins and the cAMP second-messenger systems. After acting on the postsynaptic receptors, the neurotransmitter is taken up by the presynaptic terminal and enzymatically degraded.

cri-du-chat syndrome, congenital disorder caused by partial deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5. It is named for its characteristic symptom, a high-pitched wailing cry likened to that of a cat (the name is French for “cat cry”), which occurs in most affected infants. It has an incidence of

Battle of the Chosin Reservoir: Advancing to Chosin: …reinforced regiments, the 7th and 5th Marines, in column and moving cautiously. Each regiment was a regimental combat team with attached artillery battalions, a tank company, engineers, and headquarters and service units. On November 15 lead elements of the 7th Marines reached Hagaru-ri. From there the regiment prepared for its…

number symbolism: 6: By a wonderful conjunction of mathematical coincidences, 6 is both the sum (1 + 2 + 3) and the product (1 × 2 × 3) of the first three numbers. It is therefore considered “perfect.” In mathematics, a perfect number is one that equals…

Nearly everything we know about the universe comes from electromagnetic radiation—that is, light. Astronomy began with visible light and then expanded to the rest of the electromagnetic spectrum. By using the spectrum, from the short wavelengths of gamma rays to the long wavelengths of radio waves,

Lifelong monogamous relationships are common among humans but far less so within the broader animal kingdom. Animals that do bond for life include: list, animals, mating, mate for life, monogamy, partners, partnership The European version of these dam-building rodents remains faithful once a

Mating is a dangerous game in the animal world. In many cases, the males may end up dead. But they aren’t just killed by competing males. In some species, they are not only killed by the bigger and stronger females, but they also are eaten. It takes a lot of energy to give birth to offspring, and

Humans are not always great at self-moderation, especially when things seem both bountiful and tasty. While extinctions are always multi-faceted, the extermination of some species can be almost directly linked to the insatiable appetites of modern humans. Read on to discover a few of the animals we

You may have heard of the tyrant king of lizards, Tyrannosaurus rex. Or maybe the gigantic Apatosaurus is more your speed. But there are literally hundreds of species of lesser-known dinosaurs. Here are six more species to know. list, dinosaurs, favorite, best, species, prehistoric, animals,

When you’re in Los Angeles, you need to visit more than just the beach. Don’t miss these six breathtaking buildings, from the Disney Concert Hall to Case Study House No. 22. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die, edited

In the Netherlands, architecture is art. In this list, you’ll find buildings inspired by famous paintings and buildings that resemble paintings themselves. Once you learn about Café de Unie, the Berlage, and more, you won’t be able to help but plan your next visit to Rotterdam. Earlier versions of

Think back to your high school biology class. Do you still remember the names and functions of all those little cell parts? A little foggy on the details, perhaps? Here’s a quick refresher course of some of the major eukaryotic organelles to keep your science skills sharp. It might come in handy

Dance is an ancient and celebrated cultural tradition in India. Folk dances abound all across the country, and huge crowds of people can be found dancing at festivals and weddings. Dance and song features heavily in Indian cinema (so-called “Bollywood” films), too. But where does Indian dance draw

We all miss a day of school or work here and there thanks to a cold or a sore throat. But those maladies have nothing against the ones presented in this list—six afflictions that many of us have come to know all too well. And if by some miracle of hygiene you’ve somehow managed to escape the

What do you think of when you envision a trip to your local art museum? You might picture old paintings framed in ornate gold, Classical nude sculptures, and embellished porcelain enclosed in glass. It may feel as though the objects are trapped in time. But art is not just a thing of the past. It

Throughout history, many cultures have recognized gender identities other than male and female. Nonbinary people have often occupied unique positions in their societies, serving as priests, artists, and ceremonial leaders. Here are some nonbinary genders recognized by cultures around the world.

The domestication of wild animals, beginning with the dog, heavily influenced human evolution. These creatures, and the protection, sustenance, clothing, and labor they supplied, were key factors that allowed our nomadic ancestors to form permanent settlements. Though to many urbanites livestock

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum, which was founded in 1862 as the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy and was later called the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, is known for its collection of modern and contemporary art. Here are six notable paintings in its collection. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these

Alexander Graham Bell, best known as the inventor of the telephone, also made other significant contributions to society during his extraordinary life. He created other useful tools and devices, he made a lifelong commitment to deaf education, and he helped fund some of the most influential

Many of the languages that are made up for television and books are just gibberish. However, a rare few have been developed into fully functioning living languages, some even by linguistic professionals and professors. If learning French and Spanish at school wasn’t quite your cup of tea, you may

At its height, a period extending from the middle of the 16th century to the beginning of the 18th, the Mughal Empire controlled almost the entire Indian subcontinent, marshaling vast amounts of money and manpower. The best-known members of the Mughal dynasty are its first emperors—Babur and five

Individuals often find themselves in circumstances that…well, they’d rather not be in. Here are six ingenious escapes throughout history. list, escapes, breakouts, jailbreak, prison break, Alcatraz, Tower of London, Dalai Lama, El Chapo, Berlin Wall For much of England’s history, the Tower of

She is arguably the world’s most popular doll. In fact, more than 100 are sold every minute. But how much do you know about Barbara Millicent Roberts? (And yes, that’s Barbie’s full name.) Read on for some fascinating facts about the iconic toy. list, Barbie, Mattel, Ken, Ruth Handler, Jack Ryan,

Fidel Castro, the father of the Cuban Revolution, ruled his country for 47 years, from 1959 to 2006. For comparison, during that same period, 10 men served as the president of the United States: Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald

Srinivasa Ramanujan was one of the world’s greatest mathematicians. His life story, with its humble and sometimes difficult beginnings, is as interesting in its own right as his astonishing work was. Companion, mathematics, Srinivasa Ramanujan, India, pi, numbers, math,

Are you looking to design a debt management program? Perhaps one of your goals is to avoid the debt collection process. A debt management program that accomplishes your money objectives may involve some combination of financial planning, debt restructuring, and getting hardship assistance. You can

In general, rain, snow, and other types of precipitation fall in different amounts in different environments. Deserts receive little rain; however, rainforests receive vast amounts by comparison. Between these two extremes lie grasslands, steppelands, and large forested areas. Once precipitation

Throughout the course of human history, great civilizations have been built, thrived, and declined. Many of these have been well documented by historians, and later civilizations have been able to track their rise and fall. But some seem to have suddenly disappeared. Some civilizations left clues

The National Gallery of Victoria, which was founded in 1861, houses its collection in two spaces in Melbourne: NGV Australia and NGV International, the nams of which signal the works to be found there. The museum holds more than 70,000 artworks and provides a sweeping view of the history of art

Whoever comes up with these names deserves a raise or maybe just needs a nap. list, covert, United States, CIA, operations, odd names, U.S. history, military Operation Paul Bunyan—also known as that time the U.S. military deployed helicopters to cut down a tree—commenced in 1976 after the murders

Throughout history, women have often been pushed to the sidelines in politics and kept from power. As of 2016, only 44 of the 196 countries in the world had ever had a woman as head of state. From earning the right to vote in democracies to holding office and becoming national leaders, women have

In 1963 Alfred Hitchcock released The Birds, one of his most iconic thrillers. The movie considered what would happen if flocks of birds, animals that linger in the background of many of our daily lives, suddenly rose up and attacked a small coastal town in California. The film was inspired by a

The artists who created these paintings hail from Venice, the Netherlands, Paris, and other countries around the world, but today you can find their work in St. Petersburg, Russia. Even if you aren’t planning a trip, you can learn more about these incredible paintings right here. Earlier versions

The Pinacoteca di Brera was founded in Milan in 1809, and it grew to become one of the largest art galleries in Italy. Its collection includes artworks that reach from 4000 BCE through the 20th century. This list includes just six of its notable paintings. Earlier versions of the descriptions of

Hoping to see more than just Oktoberfest beer steins on your next trip to Munich? Here are six paintings at the Alte Pinakothek that will make your visit to the city even more worthwhile. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these paintings first appeared in 1001 Paintings You Must See Before

The Canadian War Museum, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Art Gallery of Ontario are the unique venues that offer access to these six paintings. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these paintings first appeared in 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die, edited by Stephen Farthing

Deoxyribonucleic acid, better known as DNA, is crucial to life on Earth. The questions and answers in this list are taken from the Top Questions sections of the articles on DNA, recombinant DNA, and chloroplast, where you can find more questions answered. list, DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid,

Earlier versions of these questions and answers first appeared in The Handy Personal Finance Answer Book by Paul A. Tucci (2012). list, finance, history, banks, money, spending, saving, coins The English word money first appeared in the 14th century. It was derived from the Latin word moneta, a

Earlier versions of these questions and answers first appeared in the second edition of The Handy Answer Book for Kids (and Parents) by Gina Misiroglu (2010). list, Sun, astronomy The Sun is a star, made up of hot gases that contain elements including hydrogen, helium, calcium, sodium, magnesium,

Marie Kondo has displayed a passion for organizing spaces since childhood. She was born in Tokyo on October 9, 1984, and, when at school, she volunteered to tidy up books and classroom equipment while other students played. At age 19, while studying sociology at Tokyo Woman’s Christian University,

Humans may be this planet’s dominant species, but our superior intellect doesn’t protect us from occasionally falling prey to larger animals—the so-called man-eaters. Here are a few examples through history. list, man-eating animals, dangerous, danger, human-eating, tigers, lions, leopards,

Cephalopods, those wacky many-armed creatures of the sea, are found the world over—from the oceans to aquariums and on dinner plates. Whether you encounter them daily or not at all, here are six reasons everyone should love (or at least appreciate) cephalopods. list, cephalopods, sea life, marine,

Venice and its lagoon were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987 in recognition of its extraordinary cultural heritage. Its architectural riches are almost incalculable; here are just six of the city’s most significant buildings. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings

The rich history of Brazil’s visual arts is echoed by the country’s museums, which hold notable collections of Brazilian and international art. Here are just six paintings in those collections. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these paintings first appeared in 1001 Paintings You Must See

Sometimes—when watching a good sci-fi movie or stuck in traffic or failing to brew a perfect cup of coffee—we lament the fact that we don’t have futuristic technology now. But future tech may be closer than you think. It’s possible some of the things you wish for, like the following, have already

The 20th century saw the fall of many monarchies and their replacement by republican forms of government around the world. There are still a significant number of countries and smaller political units that retain monarchies, however. These six countries are some of the smallest kingdoms of the

Though the word castle has been applied to some prehistoric structures, the evolution of what we know today as the archetypal castle began accelerating in the 9th century in Europe. But some came much earlier, including one in this list. Here are six of the most notable castles in Italy. Earlier

Once in a while, a very savvy and smart kid makes a difference and changes the course of history. Here are six people who left their mark at a young age. list, teenagers, famous, important, Joan of Arc, Bobby Fischer, Louis Braille, Braille, Malala Yousafzai, Mary Shelley At age 16 or 17, believing

Her marriage to Prince Harry made Meghan an international icon—and one of the most-talked-about royals. From tabloids to social media, everyone seems to have something to say. To help sort through all the chatter, here are six things we think you should know about the American actress who became a

Antony Gormley: For 6 Times (2010; in Edinburgh), he placed six figures along the Water of Leith, four of them partly submerged in the water, one partly buried on land, and the sixth standing at the end of an old pier, facing the sea.

Ryan Reynolds: Hollywood career: …(played by Denzel Washington); and 6 Underground (2019), about a billionaire who recruits a team to overthrow a dictator. In 2021 he starred in Free Guy, portraying a bank teller who learns he is a character in a video game; the sci-fi comedy also featured Jodie Comer. In The Adam…

While it may be difficult to get an event added to the contemporary Olympic roster, the early Games were noted for a willingness to include many sports that at best might be defined as questionable…and at worst might be defined as not really a sport. At least organizers were usually quick to note

People usually don’t take kindly to commands and demands. For as long as people have been overpowering one another, there has been resistance to power. And for as long as states have been ruling one another, there have been wars of independence. Here is a list of six groups of people or individual

How can you start investing if you don’t have much money to spare? Planning for your financial future doesn’t require oodles of extra cash—just a thoughtful approach to building and managing your investment portfolio. A tight budget may feel like a major constraint, but you can stretch your dollars

Tyrian purple, naturally occurring dye highly valued in antiquity. It is closely related to indigo

metabolism: The oxidation of pyruvate: …(S) of the coenzyme (6,8-dithio-n-octanoate or lipS2) of the second enzyme in the complex, dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (enzyme 2). The hydroxyethyl group attaches to lipS2 at one of its sulfur atoms, as shown in [35]; the result is that coenzyme lipS2 is reduced and the hydroxyethyl moiety is oxidized.

cytokinin: Cytokinins such as 6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin) are used commercially in the storage of green vegetables to reduce yellowing. In horticultural tissue culture, high auxin and low cytokinin conditions give rise to root development, whereas low auxin and high cytokinin conditions encourage shoot development.

organosulfur compound: Thiols: …as a corrosion inhibitor, whereas 6-mercaptopurine has been employed in cancer therapy.

metabolism: The phosphogluconate pathway: …product of the reaction is 6-phosphogluconate.

Tiananmen Square incident, series of protests and demonstrations in China in the spring of 1989 that culminated on the night of June 3–4 with a government crackdown on the demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Although the demonstrations and their subsequent repression occurred in cities

60 Minutes, prime-time American television news show. It debuted in 1968 on CBS and has become one of the most successful programs in broadcast history. Created by Don Hewitt and grounded in investigative journalism, 60 Minutes is television’s longest continually running prime-time series. The

60 Minutes, prime-time American television news show. It debuted in 1968 on CBS and has become one of the most successful programs in broadcast history. Created by Don Hewitt and grounded in investigative journalism, 60 Minutes is television’s longest continually running prime-time series. The

carbon: Properties and uses: Spheroidal, closed-cage fullerenes are called buckerminsterfullerenes, or “buckyballs,” and cylindrical fullerenes are called nanotubes. A fourth form, called Q-carbon, is crystalline and magnetic. Yet another form, called amorphous carbon, has no crystalline structure. Other forms—such as carbon black, charcoal, lampblack, coal, and

61 Cygni, first star whose distance from Earth was measured. German astronomer Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel obtained a value of 10.3 light-years in 1838; the European Space Agency satellite Hipparcos made much more accurate distance measurements than ground-based telescopes had accomplished and

Billy Crystal: …love of baseball in directing 61* (2001), about the 1961 race of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle to beat Babe Ruth’s home run record. In 2004 Crystal made his Broadway debut with 700 Sundays, an autobiographical solo show focusing heavily on his relationship with his father; it won a Tony…

number of the beast, well-known instance of biblical numerology appearing in chapter 13, verse 18 of the Revelation to John. The number of the beast is usually referred to as 666, although the earliest extant written copy of Revelation gives the number as 616. While the exact identity of the beast

asteroid: Trojan asteroids: …two more were found: (617) Patroclus, located near the trailing Lagrangian point, and (624) Hektor, near the leading Lagrangian point. It was later decided to continue naming such asteroids after participants in the Trojan War as recounted in Homer’s epic work the Iliad and, furthermore, to name those near the…

asteroid: Trojan asteroids: …trailing Lagrangian point, and (624) Hektor, near the leading Lagrangian point. It was later decided to continue naming such asteroids after participants in the Trojan War as recounted in Homer’s epic work the Iliad and, furthermore, to name those near the leading point after Greek warriors and those near the…

Julio Cortázar: …62: modelo para armar (1968; 62: A Model Kit), and Libro de Manuel (1973; A Manual for Manuel). A series of playful and humorous stories that Cortázar wrote between 1952 and 1959 were published in Historias de cronopios y de famas (1962; Cronopios and Famas). His later collections of short…

Julio Cortázar: …62: modelo para armar (1968; 62: A Model Kit), and Libro de Manuel (1973; A Manual for Manuel). A series of playful and humorous stories that Cortázar wrote between 1952 and 1959 were published in Historias de cronopios y de famas (1962; Cronopios and Famas). His later collections of short…

James Purdy: …Name and Other Stories and 63: Dream Palace, a novella (both 1956)—were rejected by a number of American publishing houses and were first published by Purdy through a subsidy publisher. These books won the support of Dame Edith Sitwell and, following their publication in England, met with critical acclaim in…

quiz show: …the spectacular top prize of The $64,000 Question on television. The era of television’s big-money quiz shows began in 1955.

Germanic law: …had similar functions, while the Edictum Rothari (643) applied to Lombards only.

number of the beast, well-known instance of biblical numerology appearing in chapter 13, verse 18 of the Revelation to John. The number of the beast is usually referred to as 666, although the earliest extant written copy of Revelation gives the number as 616. While the exact identity of the beast

comet: Spacecraft exploration of comets: …hieroglyphics) on a trajectory to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P). Rendezvous with 67P took place on August 6, 2014. Along the way, Rosetta successfully flew by the asteroids 2849 Steins and 21 Lutetia and obtained considerable scientific data. Rosetta uses 11 scientific instruments to study the nucleus, coma, and solar wind interaction.…

Battle of Stalingrad: …the eastward advance of the Sixth Army, under Gen. Friedrich Paulus, with 330,000 of the German army’s finest troops. The Red Army, however, put up a determined resistance, yielding ground only very slowly and at a high cost to the Sixth Army as it approached Stalingrad.

Jacob L. Devers: …during World War II, whose 6th Army Group successfully penetrated German-held positions in central Europe and helped wrest the mainland from Nazi control.

Yvonne Jacquette: …View at Night (1978) and 6th Ave Night, with Traffic II (2008), both of which paired an aerial perspective with her longtime use of New York City as subject matter. Other cities featured in her paintings include San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Vancouver.

Arnold Schwarzenegger: … (1990), True Lies (1994), and The 6th Day (2000).

September: …from septem, Latin for “seven,” an indication of its position in the early Roman calendar.

Mountaineers can all agree that climbing the Seven Summits, the highest peaks of each of the world’s continents, is among the supreme accomplishments of their sport; it is harder to get them to agree on exactly which peaks make up the Seven Summits. The problem is one of geographical classification

Richard Bissell: …71⁄2 Cents (1953; British title A Gross of Pyjamas), based on his experiences as a supervisor in a pajama factory in Dubuque. In collaboration with George Abbott, he turned 71⁄2 Cents into a musical, The Pajama Game (1954), which had a long run on Broadway and was made into a…

Closed quarters, vehicles faster than the speed of sound, zero gravity, and extremely volatile rockets. Do any of these things sound particularly prone to accidents? Space travel is tricky work that takes careful calculations and even more careful actions when situations get tough. Here is a list

Moscow’s documented history reaches back to the 12th century, though there is evidence of prehistoric habitation of the site. These seven paintings are just a small sampling of the city’s equally rich and varied cultural heritage. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these paintings first

It’s clear that Franklin Delano Roosevelt wasn’t messing around when he came into the U.S. presidency during the Great Depression. His administration created the New Deal program, in which a large number of agencies—known colloquially as “alphabet soup” because of their three- or four-lettered

The African continent has long been inhabited and has some amazing historical sites to show for it. Check out these impressive examples of architecture, culture, and evolution. list, Great Zimbabwe, Olduvai Gorge, Rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, Leptis Magna, Timbuktu, Meroe, ThebesThis

As temperatures drop and autumn gives way to the seemingly ceaseless snows of winter, some animals in northerly climes exchange their pelage or plumage of summer drab for the purest white. Unlike many white animals associated with the north, such as polar bears and snowy owls, which are white all