Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, November 1, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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importunity
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| Article of the Day | |
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 The Blue Peacock Nuclear BombBlue Peacock was the codename of a British 1950s Cold War defense project that aimed to place several 10-kiloton nuclear mines on the North German Plain in case of war. Fears that cold winter temperatures might prevent the buried bombs from working properly led scientists to propose several solutions, including one that earned it the nickname the "chicken-powered nuclear bomb." How were live chickens to be used in the operation of this device? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Malbone Street Wreck (1918)One of the deadliest train crashes in US history took place during a strike of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, some of whose members operated elevated trains for the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT). To keep service running, the BRT brought in inexperienced motormen to replace the striking workers. That evening, a five-car train derailed in the Malbone Street tunnel after negotiating a curve too quickly, killing 93. How many hours of training had the train's operator received? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Alfred Wegener (1880)Though known during his lifetime for his achievements in meteorology and as a pioneer of polar research, Wegener is today primarily remembered for positing the first detailed theory of continental drift. According to Wegener, the present continents were originally one large landmass that gradually separated and drifted apart. His evidence included the jigsaw lineup of certain continents and paleontological similarities on either side of the Atlantic Ocean. What did he call this supercontinent? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 My toast would be, may our country always be successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right.John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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bon viveur— A connoisseur of food and wine. Primarily heard in UK. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 National Author's Day (2022)The idea of setting aside a day to celebrate American authors came from Nellie Verne Burt McPherson, president of the Bement (Illinois) Women's Club in 1928. In 1949, the day was recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Sue Cole, McPherson's granddaughter, was largely responsible for promoting the observation of National Author's Day after her grandmother's death in 1968. She urged people to write a note to their favorite author on this day to "brighten up the sometimes lonely business of being a writer." More... | |