Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, December 10, 2021)Word of the Day | |||||||
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quiescence
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Article of the Day | |
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Flying FishThough they appear to take flight, most "flying fish"—found worldwide in warm waters—actually only jump out of the water and then glide above its surface with their enlarged fins. This unusual behavior is primarily a way to escape predators, and the strongest fliers can travel as much as 600 feet (180 m) in a single glide. The characin of the Amazon basin, however, is the rare flying fish that achieves true flight by buzzing its winglike fins. What country is nicknamed "the land of flying fish"? More... |
This Day in History | |
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First Nobel Prizes Awarded (1901)The Nobel Prizes, named after Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, are awarded annually to those who have made outstanding contributions to the fields of physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, peace, and—since 1969—economic sciences. Nobel is said to have been inspired to create the prizes after reading his own prematurely published obituary, which condemned his invention of dynamite and referred to him as "the merchant of death." What family has amassed the most Nobel Prizes? More... |
Today's Birthday | |
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Ada Lovelace (1815)Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, widely referred to today simply as Ada Lovelace, has been called the world's first computer programmer for her description of Charles Babbage's early mechanically operated general-purpose digital computer, the analytical engine. Historians debate the extent of her contributions, but she remains a celebrated figure in the field, and the computer programming language Ada is named for her. Who was her famous father? More... |
Quotation of the Day | |
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Public opinion is a weak tyrant compared with our own private opinion. What a man thinks of himself, that it is which determines, or rather indicates, his fate. Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) |
Idiom of the Day | |
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a man/woman of the people— A person who represents, understands, is in touch with, and is well liked by ordinary, everyday people. Often said of politicians or those who occupy positions of power, authority, or fame beyond that of the average person. More... |
Today's Holiday | |
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Thailand Constitution Day (2022)In 1932, Thailand's absolute monarchy was replaced with a constitutional monarchy. King Rama VII oversaw the transfer of power. Under the newly instituted constitution of that time, the monarchy remained in place and the king was designated the head of state. Thailand has had a series of 18 constitutions or charters since 1932, the latest one being adopted in 2007. Each has allowed for a constitutional monarchy with greater or lesser power. Celebrations on Constitution Day involve the people thanking the monarchy for granting them a chance to take part in running the country. More... |