The auroras—the aurora borealis (or northern lights) in the Northern Hemisphere, and the aurora australis (the southern lights) in the Southern Hemisphere—are brilliant natural spectacles that can be seen in the evening sky especially at higher latitudes. Unlike other phenomena of the night sky,

Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion of air heated by a lightning discharge. When lightning strikes, it heats the air in its path to temperatures as high as 30,000 °C (54,000 °F). This intense heat causes the air to expand rapidly, creating a shock wave that travels outward. As this shock wave

The main cause of tides in the ocean are the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun on Earth. When it comes to tide generation, the Moon’s gravitational pull is about 2.2 times stronger than that of the Sun . The Moon’s gravitational field varies across Earth’s surface because of

As natural disasters go, tsunamis are among the worst in terms of overall destruction and loss of life. They rival earthquakes in their ability to suddenly devastate a wide area. In recent years massive tsunamis have caused extensive damage in northern Sumatra and Thailand, parts of Japan’s Honshu

Want to know how hot a fire is burning? The color of its flames can help. When something burns, it is undergoing combustion. Combustion is a chemical reaction that, typically, turns oxygen and fuel into heat and light in the form of a flame, which can range in color depending on how efficiently

Most people don’t spend time thinking about the smallest units of data, bits and bytes. But when it comes to data transfer or storage, most of us are concerned with the megabytes, gigabytes, or even terabytes. As data capacity increases, what size hard drive should you be looking for next? Data

When you apply for loans and other financial products, you’ll probably agree to a credit check. The bank or lender wants to know that you can handle debt and that you have a solid history of making payments. It uses your credit score to determine whether you’re a good credit risk. If you have a

British naturalist Charles Darwin is one of the most celebrated people in the biological sciences. One of his principal accomplishments was voyaging around the world in the HMS Beagle. During the journey, he collected and described many strange and unusual forms of life. For most scientists of the

More than 2,000 years after her death in 30 BCE, the Egyptian queen Cleopatra still looms large in the popular imagination. Despite what is known of her brilliance and charm, in mass media depictions what often comes to the forefront is Cleopatra as a ravishingly seductive proto-femme fatale. Are

Warren G. Harding was hardly a people’s president. Handpicked by the Republican Party as an inoffensive alternative to the erratic tenure of Woodrow Wilson (and as a likely candidate to win Ohio, his home state), Harding was the first to admit his own shortcomings: he once called himself “a man of

Dutch-born British physician and scientist Jan Ingenhousz discovered that light is necessary for photosynthesis. This observation built upon work begun by English scientist Joseph Priestley, who had burned a candle in a closed container until the air within the container could no longer support

Of course, since there was no recording technology in Shakespeare’s time, we can never really know what the bard and his contemporaries sounded like. But using linguistic principles, we can guess. Shakespeare almost certainly didn’t sound like John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, or any of the other

Sir Walter Scott’s early work consisted of poetic romances such as The Lady of the Lake (1810). He later wrote The Waverley Novels, a series of historical novels published anonymously between 1814 and 1832 that were popular in his day. The earlier books are set in Scotland and demonstrate Scott’s

Astor. Rockefeller. Kennedy. Bezos. In 2011 the Occupy Wall Street protest movement spread the term 1 percent in reference to America’s richest people. At the time, 1 percent of the population controlled about 30 percent of the country’s wealth. But Occupy was no more the origin of American class

The abbreviations am and pm are used in the 12-hour clock system, which divides the day into two 12-hour periods, distinguishing between the morning and afternoon or evening hours. This system is based on the position of the Sun relative to the meridian, an imaginary north–south line on the Earth’s

There are approximately 10,000 species of ants on Earth, with a wide range of diets and behaviors among them. Many ant species are opportunistic omnivores and consume plant-based foods, such as nectar, resins, and saps, as well as animal-based foods, including live prey and scavenged carcasses, as

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

Cheetahs are carnivores, which means that their diet consists primarily of meat. They hunt a variety of animals, such as birds, rabbits, and young warthogs. They also prey on many species of antelope, including the springbok, impala, gazelle, kudu, hartebeest, oryx, and roan. These animals are not

Ducks are omnivorous birds that feed on both plants and animals. Their varied diet may include aquatic vegetation, insects, seeds, and sometimes even small animals. What they eat largely depends on their species, habitat, and the time of year. Most ducks feed in or near water. Dabbling ducks, such

Easter is the principal festival of the Christian church, a celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. So where do the colored eggs fit in? The egg was a widely used premodern and pre-Christian symbol of fertility and restoration. European “Pagans” (a

Frogs have a diverse diet that primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates, though some species also consume larger prey. As insectivores, most frogs feed on a wide array of bugs such as flies, mosquitoes, and beetles, using their long, sticky tongues to snatch fast-moving prey with

Giraffes, as browsers, primarily feed on new, tender shoots and leaves of trees, with a particular fondness for the thorny acacia tree. They use their long necks to browse foliage that is as high as 6 meters (20 feet) off the ground. This ability to reach tall branches gives them access to food

Kangaroos are herbivores, which means they eat only plant-based foods. Their diet mainly includes grass and other types of vegetation. Larger species, such as red and gray kangaroos, are grazers. They feed mostly on grass, much like cattle and sheep, which eat large amounts of grass in open areas.

Rabbits are herbivores and primarily consume a diet rich in plant material, such as grasses and forbs (herbs other than grasses). Their diet is rich in cellulose, a complex carbohydrate that is a key component of plant cell walls. Cellulose is difficult to digest, but rabbits have adapted to

Squirrels’ diets vary based on their species and habitat. The most commonly recognized squirrel, the bushy-tailed tree squirrel, has a diet that primarily consists of nuts and fruits. Squirrels are equipped with strong, chisel-like incisors and powerful jaws, which are essential for gnawing open

The Olympic Games were founded on a love of sport, unity, and competition and an ancient tradition of physical fitness. With such rich history and meaning, an event like the Olympics glows with symbolism and iconography that references its powerful themes. Two unique and well-known symbols of the

Turtles’ diets vary based on their species and where they live. Many turtles are herbivorous, and mainly live off of plants. For instance, tortoises, which are land-dwelling turtles, often feast on a variety of plants and plant parts. However, some tortoise species in moist forest habitats have

Whales have a diverse diet that varies significantly between species, primarily depending on whether they are baleen or toothed whales. Baleen whales, such as the blue whale and humpback whale, are filter feeders. They take in large mouthfuls of water and then use their baleen plates to trap small

Frank Loesser: …song of the infantry, “What Do You Do in the Infantry?” From 1947 Loesser enjoyed major successes on Broadway and in Hollywood, often with songs employing an urban postwar vernacular. His song “On a Slow Boat to China” was a leading hit of 1948. Where’s Charley? (1948), a musical…

Black pill ideology is inspired by the 1999 film The Matrix, which created a futuristic world in which fighters against the status quo are presented with a choice between taking a blue pill or a red pill. Those who pick the blue pill remain blissfully ignorant about the true ways of the world.

A day at the beach is incomplete without the sticky feel of sunscreen leaving white streaks across your cheeks. We wear it because we know we have to. Dermatologists and our mothers alike have instilled into our brains the need for a high SPF sunscreen since before we could walk. But what exactly

A variety of theories have been proposed for the specific function of the narwhal’s long, straight tusk, but first we have to point out that it’s not a horn. You can be forgiven for thinking it’s a horn, especially since the narwhal’s tusk is grooved in a left-handed spiral, resembling traditional

Buying your first home? Congratulations! You’ll need homeowner’s insurance. Insurance helps to protect you from financial risk, and a home is often a person’s biggest asset. While researching the best policy, you’ll want to know what a given homeowner’s insurance plan covers, and just as

Dark horse is a term used to describe a contender in a competition who is either not well known or not expected to win, but nonetheless performs exceptionally well. It is typically used in the discussion of sports, politics, or other types of contests to describe an unexpected winner. In politics,

Proofing bread means allowing the yeast within the dough to ferment. During fermentation, the yeast absorbs sugar and converts it into carbon dioxide gas. This gas causes the dough to rise, creating the characteristic airy texture of bread and developing its flavor. The environment in which

Photosynthesis produces sugar, with oxygen gas as a by-product. The process of photosynthesis is commonly written as: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2. This means that six carbon dioxide molecules and six water molecules are converted by light energy captured by chlorophyll (implied by the arrow) into a

SOS is a series of dots and dashes in International Morse Code that is used to signal distress. SOS is communicated by sending three dots, three dashes, and three dots—three dots representing the letter “S” and three dashes representing the letter “O.” This sequence is simple and easy to remember,

The Easter Bunny is an odd character to associate with the Christian festival celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just as Santa Claus has become synonymous with Christmas, the festival celebrating Jesus’ birth, the Easter Bunny has become one of the most-recognized symbols of Easter. But

The monthly jobs report from the U.S. Department of Labor provides a useful snapshot of how many jobs the economy created the previous month, how many people were unemployed, and what kind of wage hikes workers received. It also delivers an excellent snapshot of overall economic health. If you

In 1799—about a year into Napoleon Bonaparte’s occupation of Egypt—French engineers doing demolition work in the delta town of El-Rashid (Europeanized as “Rosetta”) made a remarkable find. While tearing down a wall, they unearthed a large black granite stone with parallel inscriptions in two

The secretary of state is the head of the U.S. Department of State, responsible for managing the country’s foreign affairs and relations with other nations. The role is often called being the nation’s chief diplomat. The secretary of state plays a crucial role in shaping and implementing U.S.

The term “Judea and Samaria” is a reference to the biblical regions of Judaea and Samaria. It is also the name given by the Israeli government to the West Bank, an area west of the Jordan River whose borders were defined by the 1949 armistice agreement between Israel and Jordan at the end of the

There are several dogs that are closely associated with dingoes, including the rare Carolina Dog and the wild New Guinea singing dog. But the Australian Cattle Dog is the dog breed that was developed in the 19th century by crossing a Blue Merle Collie with a dingo. Breeders sought to imbue the

All dogs are close relatives of wolves—after all, domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) descend from gray wolves (C. lupus). Yet, several breeds, including the Shiba Inu, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, and Chow Chow, remain genetically closer to wolves than others. Because of this, they

An American Bully is a type of dog created to incorporate the physical traits of the American Pit Bull Terrier with the temperament of the more gentle-natured Bulldog breeds. To achieve this, breeders often mate pit bulls with English, American, or Old English Bulldogs. American Bullies were first

Cuba Gooding, Jr.: …portrayed by Robin Williams in What Dreams May Come (1998). He appeared in the badly reviewed thrillers A Murder of Crows (1998) and Instinct (1999) and won praise for his performance in the lead role of the biopic Men of Honor (2000) and as heroic petty officer Dorie Miller in…

Although snakes are predators, they are also themselves eaten by other creatures, making them secondary consumers in the trophic pyramid. Birds of prey, such as hawks and eagles, are some of the most common predators of snakes. These birds have keen eyesight and powerful talons, making them

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, American psychological thriller film, released in 1962, that was a late-career triumph for both Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Baby Jane Hudson (played by Davis) is a former child star of the vaudeville era whose fame was so widespread that there was even a “Baby

Margaret Sanger: …on the topics, including “What Every Girl Should Know” for the New York Call. In 1914 she issued a short-lived magazine, The Woman Rebel, and distributed a pamphlet, Family Limitation, advocating her views. She was indicted for mailing materials advocating birth control, but the charges were dropped in 1916.…

Gregory La Cava: Heyday: Barrie play; Helen Hayes reprised her stage role as the canny wife who props up her rather dim politician husband (Brian Aherne). In 1935 La Cava made two films with Claudette Colbert: Private Worlds, a drama about doctors in a mental institution that also starred Charles…

Gregory La Cava: Heyday: What Every Woman Knows (1934) was an adept adaptation of the J.M. Barrie play; Helen Hayes reprised her stage role as the canny wife who props up her rather dim politician husband (Brian Aherne). In 1935 La Cava made two films with Claudette Colbert: Private…

If you’re wondering about debt collection and how it works, then you may have gotten yourself into a financial pickle. Life happens—and sometimes your debt obligations exceed your repayment capacity. Understanding the nuances of debt collection is important for every borrower, even if you always

Hillary Clinton: Secretary of state and 2016 presidential candidate: In What Happened (2017), she wrote candidly about the election and offered reasons why she lost.

Elfriede Jelinek: …oder, Stützen der Gesellschaften (1980; What Happened After Nora Left Her Husband; or, Pillars of Society, 1994), which she wrote as a sequel to Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House; Clara S.: musikalische Tragödie (1984; Clara S., 1997); and Bambiland (2003).

Gunshots rang out on the afternoon of September 2, 1885, in Rock Springs, Wyoming Territory. Home to hundreds of Chinese coal miners who had come to the United States for work, the settlement’s Chinatown was facing impending bloodshed. After a morning of violence against Chinese workers in one of

During the 1970s and ’80s the phenomenon called acid rain was one of the most well-known environmental problems in Europe and North America, appearing frequently in news features and mentioned, on occasion, in situation comedies of the day. Since that time, the visibility of acid rain in the media

In 1986 Aileen Wuornos met Tyria Moore at a bar in South Daytona, Florida, and the two women began a romantic relationship. After Moore left her job as a motel maid, Wuornos supported them through sex work. In 1989 Wuornos killed her first known victim, 51-year-old Richard Mallory. He had picked

Albert Einstein, touted as one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century, died April 18, 1955, as a result of a fatal aneurysm, in Princeton, New Jersey. Despite Einstein’s wishes to have his entire body cremated, the doctor who conducted his autopsy, Thomas Harvey, had other plans—he kept the

On August 28, 1955, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, both of whom were white, kidnapped and killed Emmett Till, an African American teenager. Earlier that day Till had reportedly whistled at, touched, or flirted with Bryant’s wife, Carolyn Bryant, a cashier at the local grocery store. The two men were

Nevil Shute: …include So Disdained (1928) and What Happened to the Corbetts (1939), a foretaste of World War II’s bombing of civilians. His later novels—all set in Australia—reflected a growing feeling of despair about the future. A Town Like Alice (1950) dealt with the Pacific theatre of World War II.

One day 66 million years ago, an asteroid the size of a mountain struck near the Yucatán Peninsula with an explosive force equivalent to 100 trillion tons of TNT. In that cataclysmic instant, the 165-million-year reign of the dinosaurs came to an end. The asteroid theory of the dinosaurs’ demise

Megalodon (Carcharocles megalodon) was the scourge of the seas some 23 million to about 2.6 million years ago, during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs. The largest megalodons likely measured about 17.9 meters (58.7 feet) long, which made them the largest sharks, the largest fish, and possibly even

If the president of the United States dies, the vice president immediately assumes the office of president. The Twenty-fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1967, clearly outlines the process of presidential succession, codifying what had been a traditional practice. The amendment

Dover Wilson: His most famous book, What Happens in Hamlet (1959), is an original reading of that play, and The Fortunes of Falstaff (1943) presents a picture of Falstaff as a force of evil ultimately rejected by the king. His other works include Life in Shakespeare’s England: A Book of Elizabethan…

Cameron Diaz: Later films: Charlie’s Angels, Shrek, and Gangs of New York: …also featured Kate Winslet, and What Happens in Vegas (2008). In 2010 Diaz reteamed with Cruise on the action-comedy Knight and Day. She later switched gears with Ridley Scott’s crime thriller The Counselor (2013), about drug trafficking. Her credits from 2014 include the comedy The Other Woman and Annie, an

Meg Ryan: Later work: …in 2023 with the film What Happens Later, which she directed, cowrote, and starred in opposite David Duchovny.

Metaphorically speaking, the vast tropical rainforest in South America’s Amazon River basin is often called the “lungs of the planet.” Some people claim that the Amazon Rainforest alone is responsible for 20 percent of Earth’s oxygen, but is this really true? As the region experiences more fires in

What happens to our bodies after we die isn’t a mystery, even if we may want it to be. If you want to confront the physical changes that take place, read on. The first visible change to the body—occurring 15 to 20 minutes after death—is pallor mortis, in which the body begins to pale. Pallor mortis

Your parents may have warned you not to swallow your chewing gum because it would remain in your stomach for seven years. Could this possibly be true? Chewing gum consists of a gum base and flavorings, including sweeteners. It is true that the gum base (made from synthetic chicle and similar

In July 1969 Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history as the first human beings to land on the Moon’s surface. Five more crewed missions made it to the Moon in the years that followed before the Apollo program ended in 1972. To date, 24 astronauts (all Americans) have visited the Moon, 12 of

About 65% of Americans own their homes, spending massive amounts to buy, furnish, and maintain their humble (and not-so-humble) abodes. That’s why many investors view housing data as a bellwether of the U.S. economy, and, to a certain extent, the stock market. Making a down payment is only your

Rascal Flatts: The hit singles “What Hurts the Most” (2006), a rueful ballad, and “Life Is a Highway” (2006), a rollicking tune featured on the soundtrack to the animated film Cars, contributed to the act’s growing mainstream popularity. During this time, Rascal Flatts also won accolades from its peers, collecting…

Leo Tolstoy: Conversion and religious beliefs: …chyom moya vera? (written 1884; What I Believe); he later added Tsarstvo bozhiye vnutri vas (1893; The Kingdom of God Is Within You) and many other essays and tracts. In brief, Tolstoy rejected all the sacraments, all miracles, the Holy Trinity, the immortality of the soul, and many other tenets…

Larry Woiwode: What I Think I Did (2000) and A Step from Death (2008) are memoirs.

Larry Woiwode: Woiwode’s critically acclaimed first novel, What I’m Going to Do, I Think (1969), is a study of a newly married couple. Beyond the Bedroom Wall: A Family Album (1975) is a multigenerational saga of a North Dakota family; Born Brothers (1988) continues the story of Charles and Jerome Neumiller, characters…

accentual verse: The poem "what if a much of a which of a wind’’ by E.E. Cummings is an example of accentual verse. In the following lines from the poem the number of accents is constant at four while the number of syllables per line varies from seven to…

Caryl Churchill: … (2016), and the short play What If If Only (2021).

Impeachment proceedings begin when the president is accused of “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” (U.S. Constitution, Article II, section 4). The House of Representatives votes on articles of impeachment, or formal charges of misconduct. If approved by a majority of members,

When you start a new job, your employer might offer several different types of insurance. You definitely need health insurance, but what about the other types, like vision and dental? And here’s a confusing one: Disability insurance. There are two types—short-term disability (STD) and long-term

“Pay for slay” is a term used by critics to describe a system of welfare payments by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization that, the critics contend, rewards terrorism and incentivizes violence. Until 2025 the system consisted of multiple programs that made

If you’re a public school teacher or you work for a nonprofit organization, any retirement savings plan offered through your job will most likely be a 403(b). Total assets held by 403(b) plans amounted to more than $1.1 trillion in 2020, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in

Have you ever wondered how an organization can be nonprofit? A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization earns its classification from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) based on its primary purpose. Charitable, religious, educational, and scientific organizations commonly obtain 501(c)(3) status. The main

You’ve finally gotten a real job and it comes with benefits! Wow—health insurance and a retirement plan and even some life insurance! But what are these extra forms asking for “beneficiary information”? What should you fill in? What is a beneficiary, and why do you need one? Or maybe you’ve been

Business development companies (BDCs) are investment entities that focus on supporting smaller private enterprises. By providing both funding and managerial assistance, a BDC aims to encourage entrepreneurship and deliver returns for investors. If you’re considering adding BDCs to your portfolio,

It’s one of the key components of capitalism: Accessing money as cheaply as possible and seeking the highest possible return. Companies issue stock and bonds to investors, then use the money to fund their business enterprises. Banks attract deposits from savers by paying interest, then loan it out

Guaranteed retirement income through a company-sponsored pension plan is far less common than it used to be. Nevertheless, some employers still offer pensions, including one type that has grown in popularity: cash balance plans. These defined benefit plans are akin to traditional pension plans and

A cashless society is one in which cash, in the form of physical banknotes and coins, is not accepted in any financial transaction. Instead, people and businesses transfer money to one another digitally—via credit or debit cards, electronic money transfers, cryptocurrency, or online and mobile

Looking to measure how a company’s marketing about its sustainability practices matches up with reality? Turn to the firm’s corporate social responsibility report. Also known as corporate sustainability reporting, CSR reports are meant to demonstrate to various company stakeholders—employees,

Are you working on paying down debt, but high interest charges have been making the process slow and arduous? If so, you might be wondering if there’s a way to move things along. You might consider taking advantage of credit card introductory incentives and consolidation by making a balance

Just about anytime you make a sizable financial transaction or agreement—apply for a loan, rent an apartment, or even land a job—someone wants to look at your credit report. But what is a credit report, and what can it be used for? And how does your credit report differ from your credit score?

You’ve probably heard a car commercial that mentions how “well-qualified” buyers can get a 0% interest rate for 72 months. Or maybe you’ve had to provide a bigger security deposit for an apartment compared to a friend with the same income. What does it all mean? You can find the answer in your

When you’re managing your money, do you feel comfortable being just another number at a big bank? Or are you looking for a more personal feel to your finances? Depending on your situation and preferences, you might prefer a credit union. But before joining a credit union, it’s smart to compare

Initial public offerings, or IPOs, are a well-traveled road that many companies use to sell shares to the public for the first time. But shorter paths exist, including the direct public offering (DPO), also known as a direct listing. This is when a company puts shares directly onto a stock exchange

A mature female elephant is called a cow. Cows are fundamental to elephant herds. As seen in most mammals, the cows are responsible for nurturing the young and ensuring the continuity of the herd. In African savanna elephant herds, a family unit, which may comprise up to 70 elephants, is built

In English, a female yak is called a cow. This designation aligns with the common practice of using cow for mature females within the bovine subfamily of bovids, to which yaks belong. Likewise, adult male yaks are called bulls in English. Terminology for this animal is different in Tibetan, where

Fiduciary. It sounds official, doesn’t it? Like those 19th century bankers in their three-piece suits and bowler hats. In a way, that’s not far off—minus the hats. In general, a fiduciary is a person or organization who acts on behalf of others. A fiduciary can be a professional like an attorney,

Have you heard of fixed-income laddering? It’s an advanced strategy that structures your investments in fixed-income securities to resemble a ladder with a series of maturity dates for the “rungs.” If you commit to fixed-income laddering by continually reinvesting, then a fixed-income ladder can

What will the price of a barrel of oil be in six months? How much will a bushel of wheat set you back a year from now? Nobody knows for sure. But such questions are why futures markets and futures contracts exist. Futures markets are a mechanism through which investors and traders track the fair

A group of cows is called a herd. This is the standard term used universally in both common speech and scientific contexts to describe a collection of cattle, including cows, bulls, and calves. So in most cases the word cow is used for both female individuals and all domestic bovines. The use of

A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged account designed to help you save for health care costs. Plus, when your HSA savings levels reach a certain threshold, you can invest the money, much like a 401(k) plan or other retirement account. Health Savings AccountsA wellness checkup for your