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Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.
Beginning in 1970 a number of states and cities made his birthday, January 15, a holiday. In 1983 the U.S. Congress passed legislation making the third Monday in January a federal holiday. The first observance nationwide was in 1986.
On This Day
Luck and Pluck
In 1832 Horatio Alger was born. He was one of the most popular American authors of the last 30 years of the 19th century and perhaps the most socially influential American writer of his generation.
Science in Pictures
Meteor Shower
Meteors streak across the sky over Joshua Tree National Park in California. They are part of the Perseid meteor shower, which occurs each summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Other major meteor showers include the Quadrantids (which peak in January), Lyrids (April), Eta Aquarids (May), Orionids (October), Leonids (November), and Geminids (December). Constellation Solar System
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Bio of the Day
George Fox
English preacher George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends (Quakers), died this day in 1691. His personal religious experience established his reliance on what he saw as inward light or God-given inspiration over scriptural authority or creeds.
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Spotlight
Fireworks on the Fourth of July
Fireworks have been part and parcel of U.S. Independence Day, the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, since its first celebration in July 1777.
See also:
Independence Day,
firework
Spotlight
When Are Volcanoes Safe?
Volcanoes can be harmful even when they’re not spouting lava. Volcanoes have four states: active (has erupted in the past 10,000 years), erupting (is experiencing an eruption), dormant (has the potential to erupt again), and extinct (has not erupted in over 10,000 years). While extinct volcanoes aren’t threatening, the others are unpredictable and may pose danger.
Spotlight
The Importance of the Rosetta Stone
The inscriptions on the Rosetta Stone were the key to unlocking the literature of ancient Egypt.
See also:
Rosetta Stone,
hieroglyphic writing
Spotlight
How Long Is the Amazon River?
The Amazon might be the world’s longest river. Most scientists believe it is at least 4,000 miles (6,400 km) long—still shorter than the Nile, which is about 4,132 miles (6,650 km). Others, however, have asserted that the Amazon is actually much longer. The Amazon’s start and end points have been difficult to determine.
See also:
Amazon River,
Nile River
Spotlight
Earliest Known Flowering Plant Discovered
Montsechia vidalii, an aquatic plant found in Spain, has been identified as the oldest known flowering plant (angiosperm), 130 million years old, with fossils from the Lower Cretaceous.
See also:
angiosperm,
Cretaceous Period
Spotlight
Ten Days That Vanished: The Switch to the Gregorian Calendar
When the Gregorian calendar was implemented in October 1582, 10 days were dropped to bring the vernal equinox from March 11 back to March 21.
See also:
calendar,
Gregorian calendar
Spotlight
Celebrating Women’s History
Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society. The United States has observed it annually throughout the month of March since 1987.
See also:
National Women's History Month,
women's suffrage
Spotlight
Scientists Discover Feathered Dinosaur Tail in Amber
A sample of amber discovered in Myanmar contained a pristine section of a feathered tail traced to a juvenile dinosaur from the Cretaceous Period.
See also:
amber,
Cretaceous Period
Spotlight
Ancient Roman Coins Found in Japan
Archaeologists found ancient Roman coins among the ruins of Katsuren Castle on Okinawa Island. Several of the coins feature a portrait of Roman Emperor Constantine I.
See also:
Constantine I,
coin
On This Day
January 12
Disaster in Haiti
January 11
“Lady Lindy”
January 10
Inspiring a Revolution
January 9
“I am not a crook”
January 8
One for the Money
January 7
Galileo’s Moons
January 6
“The Mozart of Madras”
January 5
Golden Gateway
January 4
Revolutionary Scientist
January 3
Excommunication
January 2
I, Isaac Asimov
January 1
Happy New Year
December 31
Hannibal the Cannibal
December 30
U.S.S.R. Established
December 29
Grand Old Man
December 28
Opening the Abbey
December 27
The Vaccinator
December 25
Merry Christmas