Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, December 21, 2018)Word of the Day | |||||||
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plenteous
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Article of the Day | |
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The NarwhalFound in the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans, the narwhal is small whale known for the single, tightly spiraled tusk—up to 9 ft (2.7 m) long—that protrudes from the upper jaw of males as well as some females of the species. The tusk is an overgrown, nerve-rich incisor tooth and may be used as a sense organ or to attract mates. Now hunted by native peoples for its meat, the narwhal was formerly killed for its tusk, which was believed to have magical properties and was sold for centuries as what? More... |
This Day in History | |
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Marie and Pierre Curie Discover Radium (1898)Scientists Marie and Pierre Curie were working with pitchblende, a heavy mineral known to contain the radioactive element uranium, when they noticed something unusual. Somehow, the pitchblende was more radioactive than the uranium it contained. The culprit was radium, a previously unknown element present in pitchblende only in trace amounts—yet more than a million times more radioactive than uranium. What common household products contained radium until it was discovered to be dangerous? More... |
Today's Birthday | |
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Benjamin Disraeli (1804)Disraeli, a Conservative politician and novelist, succeeded the earl of Derby as prime minister of Great Britain in 1868 but lost the office to political rival William Gladstone that same year. During his second term as prime minister, from 1874 to 1880, Disraeli's ministry enacted a number of domestic reforms. He was a staunch imperialist and, under his leadership, Britain gained a controlling interest in the Suez Canal. Why was Disraeli's first book, Vivian Grey, strongly criticized? More... |
Quotation of the Day | |
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It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) |
Idiom of the Day | |
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cool customer— Someone who remains even-tempered, especially in stressful situations. More... |
Today's Holiday | |
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Doleing Day (2022)It was customary at one time in England on St. Thomas's Day for the poorer inhabitants of the parish to call on their wealthier neighbors and receive a gift or "dole" of food or money. In return, they would give their benefactors a sprig of holly or mistletoe. The custom of "going a-gooding," as it was called, gave rise to the name Gooding Day in parts of Sussex; in other areas, it was referred to as Mumping (Begging) Day, since those who had to beg were said to be "on the mump." Children would often spend St. Thomas's Day begging for apples. More... |