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Cuba Certified as a “Not Fully Cooperating Country” by United States ProCon Debate: Should the United States Maintain Its Embargo Against Cuba? ProCon Issue in the News: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio certified Cuba as a “not fully cooperating country” on May 13, 2025. The designation means that the U.S. Department of State has determined that Cuba “did not...
convolution Convolution, a mathematical operation performed on two functions that yields a function that is a combination of the two original functions. Convolutions have been used in mathematics since the 18th century, but the term convolution was first used to describe the concept in 1934 by mathematician...
American craft beer revolution American craft beer revolution, term commonly used to describe the foundation, growth, and proliferation of independent and artisanal breweries (producers of so-called craft beer) in the United States, a process that began in the 1960s and continued into the 21st century. Before the passage of the...
Nikole Hannah-Jones Nikole Hannah-Jones is a long-form narrative journalist for The New York Times Magazine and a professor at Howard University. Hannah-Jones created The 1619 Project for The New York Times Magazine as an immersive exploration of American slavery and its lasting impact on U.S. society. Published to...
Cooper Flagg Cooper Flagg is an American basketball power forward who is expected to be the first selection in the 2025 NBA draft. Standing 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters) tall with a 7-foot (2.13-meter) wingspan, Flagg is known for his well-rounded game, especially his shot-blocking and playmaking abilities. In...
Examination of Country Magistrates Examination of Country Magistrates, watercolor painting that was created by an unknown artist during the Qing dynasty in China and that dates from about 1700–20. It is held by the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris. The Qing dynasty, which was established in 1644, retained all the protocols...
Liane Moriarty Liane Moriarty is an Australian author known for her contemporary fiction that often explores the complexities of relationships, buried secrets, and the emotional intricacies of everyday life. Her work typically features compelling characters, witty dialogue, and suspenseful storytelling grounded...
Fruit and Insects Fruit and Insects, oil painting by Dutch artist Rachel Ruysch, that, together with Basket of Flowers, was commissioned by her patron, Johann Wilhelm von der Pfalz, and was created in 1711. The paintings were a gift for Cosimo III, grand duke of Tuscany, and hang in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence,...
The Flower Thrower The Flower Thrower, one of the most iconic and best-known pieces of stencil art by enigmatic British graffiti artist Banksy. Reportedly first created in 1999 in London, The Flower Thrower, which is also known as Rage and as Love is in the Air, most famously appeared as a large mural on a wall in...
Jana Gana Mana Jana Gana Mana, national anthem of India, written in Sanskritized form of Bengali (called Sadhubhasa) by polymath and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It is the first stanza of Tagore’s poem “Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata,” (in Bengali; translated by Tagore with the title “The Morning Song of India”)....
Fortune Fortune is an American business magazine, known for its in-depth reporting and for its annual ranking of America’s biggest companies, the Fortune 500. Fortune published its first issue in 1930, several months after the onset of the Great Depression. It was the brainchild of publisher Henry Luce....
List of 10 Old Wives’ Tales Old wives’ tales are traditional beliefs that are not based on fact. They are a form of superstition or cultural folklore, often incorporating handed-down beliefs about health and medicine. Such stories and pieces of advice were likely exchanged in all periods of human history. The phrase old...
geographical indication Geographical indication, sign designating a product derived from a specific geographic area and often denoting an item’s reputed quality and regionally specific characteristics. A geographical indication, or GI, typically takes the form of the place name associated with the product’s site of...
How the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protects your job Needing time away from work can cause real anxiety, especially when it’s because you or someone close to you is facing a serious health issue. Whether it’s surgery, childbirth, or a chronic condition, stepping away can leave you wondering if you’re putting your job in jeopardy. The Family and...
Madagascar hissing cockroach Madagascar hissing cockroach, (Gromphadorhina portentosa), large species of cockroach known for its ability to make hissing sounds. The insect is one of the largest of all cockroach species (the largest being the South American Megaloblatta longipennis) and is endemic to Madagascar. Like most other...
Mia Goth Mia Goth is an English actress best known for her roles in dark and disturbing auteur-directed films such as Lars von Trier’s Nymphomaniac: Volume II (2013), Stephen Fingleton’s The Survivalist (2015), and Ti West’s X horror trilogy (X [2022], Pearl [2022], and MaXXXine [2024]). Goth was born in...
history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo History of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a survey of notable events and people in the history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, focusing on the events from the 15th century up to the present day. Located in Central Africa, the country has a 25-mile (40-km) coastline on the Atlantic...
Drug Enforcement Administration Ends Body Camera Use ProCon Debate: Should Law Enforcement Agents Wear Body Cameras? ProCon Issue in the News: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ended body camera use as of April 2, 2025, according to an internal email obtained by ProPublica. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which oversees the DEA,...
Guru Purnima Guru Purnima, a festival observed in India, Nepal, and Bhutan to honor spiritual and academic teachers and mentors. It is celebrated on a full-moon day (purnima) during the Hindu lunar calendar month of Ashadha (June–July). The term guru means a spiritual teacher or guide. Hindus, Buddhists, and...
aphantasia Aphantasia, inability to create mental imagery during cognition. The word aphantasia is derived from the combination of the Greek word phantasia, meaning “imagination,” and the prefix a-, meaning “without.” The term was coined in 2015 by British neurologist Adam Zeman. Aphantasia affects between...
Ruskin Bond Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent, known for his extensive body of work in English, which includes The Room on the Roof (1956) and A Flight of Pigeons (1978). Over a career spanning more than six decades, he has written about 500 short stories, articles, essays, and novels. His...
Timeline of the India-Pakistan Conflict After a century-long struggle for freedom, India and Pakistan won independence from British colonial rule at midnight on August 14–15, 1947. This freedom, however, was bittersweet: while it paved the way for two newly independent countries to forge their own paths, it also brought with it the pain...
AIDS Memorial Quilt The AIDS Memorial Quilt is an artistic endeavor meant to honor, remember, and celebrate those who died of HIV and AIDS-related diseases in the United States, and it is considered to be the largest community arts project in history. The quilt is made up of nearly 50,000 hand-sewn panels, each...
Paul Goldschmidt Paul Goldschmidt is an American slugging first baseman who rose from being a relatively unknown professional baseball prospect to being named, at age 35, the 2022 Most Valuable Player of Major League Baseball’s (MLB’s) National League (NL). At 6 feet 2 inches (1.9 meters) tall and 225 pounds (102...
Rashida Jones Rashida Jones is an American actress, writer, and producer known for her roles in such TV shows as Parks and Recreation, Boston Public, and The Office. She is the daughter of legendary songwriter and Grammy Award-winning producer Quincy Jones and actress Peggy Lipton. Rashida Jones grew up in the...
Children’s Day Children’s Day, any of the various holidays in honor of children that are celebrated on different dates in countries throughout the world. In general, Children’s Day festivities promote children’s human rights and welfare, recognize children’s contributions to society, and celebrate the joys of...
Duolingo Duolingo, application known for its gamified approach to language learning, its wide accessibility, and its cast of quirky characters, which include Duo the owl. Duolingo is the most popular language-learning app worldwide, with more than 100 million monthly users. Its popularity can be attributed...
Shirley Caesar Shirley Caesar is an American gospel singer and Pentecostal pastor who is often called the “First Lady of Gospel.” She is known for her powerful vocals and for weaving short sermons into her songs. Her recordings have garnered many Grammy Awards and Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association....
Ebenezer Baptist Church Ebenezer Baptist Church, Baptist church located in Atlanta, noteworthy as the church where Martin Luther King, Jr., and members of his family worshipped and led. Known as “America’s freedom church,” Ebenezer Baptist served as a gathering and organizing place during the American civil rights...
Wagah-Attari border Wagah-Attari border, only legal land transit point between India and Pakistan. On the Indian side the border is located in Attari, a village about 19 miles (30 km) from Amritsar, Punjab. On the Pakistani side it lies in Wagah, a village located 15 miles (24 km) from Lahore. The border falls on the...
Robert Eggers Robert Eggers is an American filmmaker known for writing and directing The Witch (2015), The Lighthouse (2019), The Northman (2022), and Nosferatu (2024). Eggers has been praised for his stylistic take on period horror and drama and for drawing on themes from folklore in his films. At a young age,...
Asim Munir Asim Munir is a Pakistani military officer who has served as the chief of Army Staff of Pakistan since November 2022. An intelligence veteran, he has also served as the director general of Military Intelligence (MI) and the director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the country’s...
shea butter Shea butter, edible fat made from the seeds of shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa; family Sapotaceae) fruit. Shea butter is used in cosmetics, as a skin moisturizer, and as a cooking oil. It is also thought to have medicinal properties. The shea tree is indigenous to the dry savannah region of West and...
Blake Lively Blake Lively is an American actress who first garnered attention for her role in the coming-of-age comedy-drama The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005). She then became a star with her portrayal of “It” girl Serena van der Woodsen in the TV series Gossip Girl (2007–12), about the scandalous...
The Terminator The Terminator, an American science-fiction, action-adventure film, released in 1984. It was directed and cowritten by James Cameron and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular Terminator, a nearly indestructible humanoid cyborg assassin sent back in time from the year 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah...
2006 Mumbai train bombings 2006 Mumbai train bombings, terror attack in the form of serial blasts carried out on the Suburban Railway network (often referred to as “local trains”) in Mumbai on July 11, 2006. Seven coordinated explosions occurred on local trains over roughly 11 minutes during the evening rush hour, killing...
India-Pakistan conflict In August 1947 the Indian Independence Movement culminated in the end of British rule over the Indian subcontinent. However, the ecstasy of freedom was attended by the agony of partition, in which India and Pakistan were created as separate countries. The partition was engineered by Lord...
Station Eleven Station Eleven, novel by Emily St. John Mandel, published in 2014. Mandel’s fourth novel, Station Eleven tells the story of a devastating flu pandemic and the postapocalyptic world order forged by the pandemic’s survivors. As befits a novel concerned with mortality, grief, and resilience, Station...
Disability Rights Movement Timeline Most people know someone with a disability. The statistics bear that out. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about a quarter of Americans have some sort of disability. Worldwide, the World Health Organization estimates that 1.3 billion people, or 16 percent,...
The Condottiere The Condottiere, one of the most striking portraits by Italian painter Antonello da Messina, created in 1475 and now hanging in the Louvre, Paris. Originally one of several paintings by Messina titled Portrait of a Man, this portrait later came to be called The Condottiere. The identity of the...
Michael Connelly Michael Connelly is doing what he has long wanted to do: writing crime novels. It was his aspiration as a college student, and, more than 40 books (not to mention movie and television adaptations) later, he has created some of the 21st century’s most iconic crime fighters, including Hieronymus...
Why Hasn’t There Been an American Pope? The election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the first American pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church surprised many Vatican watchers, who had wondered if a U.S. passport would forever be disqualifying for the papacy. The answer as to why there hadn’t been an American pontiff...
The Descent from the Cross The Descent from the Cross, an early oil painting by Northern Renaissance artist Rogier van der Weyden that is not only a supreme example of the Early Netherlandish tradition but also an extremely influential work that is regarded as the artist’s most accomplished piece. It was created about...
Boy with a Basket of Fruit Boy with a Basket of Fruit, early oil painting by Italian artist Caravaggio, created about 1593. At the time of the painting, Caravaggio was an apprentice in the workshop of Mannerist artist Cavaliere D’Arpino in Rome. The model for the boy in the painting was Caravaggio’s friend, Sicilian painter...
turret spider Turret spider, (Atypoides riversi), species of small burrowing spider endemic to California, one of the best-known folding-door spiders. The turret spider inhabits shady slopes and banks in forests of northern and central California west of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is reclusive, rarely...
Leonard Leo Leonard Leo is an influential American advocate and fundraiser for conservative legal causes and is cochair of the Federalist Society. He played key roles in helping Republican presidents select conservative judges to nominate to the U.S. Supreme Court, including Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A....
Jayne Mansfield In the 1950s no American actress epitomized the archetype of the “blonde bombshell” better than Jayne Mansfield, with the exception of Marilyn Monroe. Sometimes promoted as Monroe’s rival by their film studio, Twentieth Century–Fox, Mansfield rocketed to fame as a gifted comedic actress in movies...
princely state Princely state, nominally autonomous territory in colonial India, subject to indirect rule by the East India Company and, after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, by the British crown. British-controlled India was divided into provinces, which were directly administered by colonial authorities, and...
Leo XIV Leo XIV is the pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. He was elected to the papacy on May 8, 2025, succeeding Pope Francis and becoming the first American pope in history. An Augustinian priest who performed extensive missionary work in Peru and served as head of the Augustinian order from...
Why the Name a Pope Chooses Matters William Shakespeare may have poo-pooed the importance of names by asking “What’s in a name?” But when it comes to the Roman Catholic Church the answer is: “A lot.” The name chosen by a pope has, throughout the history of the church, offered insight into the way he would lead the Church’s now 1.3...
Lindsay Lohan Lindsay Lohan is an American actress, singer, and producer who started out as a child actress and went on to become an A-list star with such films as Mean Girls (2004). Her career faltered during her 20s when she had a series of criminal run-ins and incidents of drug and alcohol misuse, but, after...
The role of repurchase agreements (repos) and reverse repos in finance Repurchase agreements (“repos”)—and their counterparts, reverse repos—are somewhat complex transactions that are based on a simple premise. To temporarily obtain money, one party sells an asset with the promise to buy it back at a specified time and price. The other side buys it with the promise...
Encyclopedia Brown Encyclopedia Brown, series of children’s mystery novels written by American author Donald J. Sobol, featuring the 10-year-old detective Leroy (“Encyclopedia”) Brown, who has tremendous knowledge of trivia and powers of deduction. The series features 29 books published from 1963 to 2012, each...
Why Is It Called the Persian Gulf? The term Persian Gulf refers to Persia—a historic region associated with modern Iran—whose coastal lands lie along the gulf’s northern shoreline. From early in recorded history the gulf was identified consistently with its northern shore because of the prominence of the Persian Achaemenian Empire...
Yashasvi Jaiswal Yashasvi Jaiswal is an Indian professional cricket player. He plays franchise cricket for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and represented Mumbai in Indian domestic cricket from 2018 to 2025. He transferred from Mumbai to Goa for the start of the 2025–26 season. Jaiswal is a...
Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam was an influential and prolific Bengali poet and anti-imperial activist. He was known as Bidrohi Kobi (“Rebel Poet”) because of his revolutionary activities and participation in the Indian Independence Movement. His literary output includes poems, songs, short stories, novels,...
Independence Day Independence Day, in the Philippines, national holiday observed every June 12. It commemorates the country’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1898. On June 12, 1898, rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines’ independence from the window of his ancestral home in Cavite el...
Diljit Dosanjh Diljit Dosanjh is an Indian singer, actor, and producer who has made a significant impact on the Punjabi and Bollywood entertainment industries, with multiple blockbuster films and chart-topping music. He became the first Indian artist to perform in Punjabi at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts...
Federal Open Market Committee Eight months out of the year, the financial market tends to get eerily quiet for two days. Then boom, a big move hits—sometimes a rally, and sometimes a drop. That’s the market’s reaction to the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) interest rate decision (more specifically, where to set the target...
Byron Donalds Byron Donalds is an American congressman, representing southwest Florida, and is widely considered a rising star in the Republican Party. One of the country’s top Black Republicans, Donalds was on the short list to be Donald Trump’s running mate in 2024 and is running to be governor of Florida in...
Fiona Apple Fiona Apple is an American singer-songwriter whose profoundly personal lyrics helped her ride the wave of alternative rock music in the 1990s to achieve popular success and critical acclaim. Her albums include her debut, Tidal (1996), which went multiplatinum in the United States and spawned the...
The Treachery of Images The Treachery of Images, oil on canvas painting by Belgian artist René Magritte, completed in 1929. It is considered a notable work of Surrealist art, as well as one of Magritte’s most famous paintings. Since 1978 it has been displayed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). The Treachery...
Did Anyone Escape from Alcatraz? There are no known successful escapes from Alcatraz. While inmates were able to break out of the prison in both 1937 and 1962, there is no credible evidence that they reached the mainland. Instead, the escapees are believed to have drowned. Before closing in 1963, Alcatraz was considered escape...
Today Today, more commonly known as the Today show, is an American morning talk show that has aired on NBC since 1952. Showcasing news, weather, interviews, pop-culture reports, human-interest stories, and musical performances, Today invented the morning television genre and remains one of the longest...
ethnicity Ethnicity, a complex concept that refers to a person’s identification with a specific group of people, based on one or more shared traits, which may include ancestry, culture, language, religion, customs, and nationality. The term derives from the Greek word ethnos, which usually refers to a...
Jasmine Crockett Jasmine Crockett is a Democratic congresswoman from Texas. She is an outspoken civil rights advocate, known for her forceful criticism of Pres. Donald Trump and her highly publicized verbal tussles with Republican lawmakers. Crockett was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents are...
What Do Cardinals and Popes Wear? 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...
chitlins Chitlins, dish made from intestines, primarily of a hog, though cow, sheep, and even goat intestines are used in some cultures. Although a staple of cuisines in countries worldwide, chitlins are especially tied to the American South, where they formed part of the cuisine of slave culture....
Schindler’s List Schindler’s List, American historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, released in 1993, starring Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley. The screenplay was written by Steven Zaillian and based on Australian writer Thomas Keneally’s 1982 novel Schindler’s Ark. Schindler’s List has won...
Yankee Doodle Yankee Doodle, patriotic American song that was popularized during the American Revolution. Ironically, the song was a favorite of British soldiers in the mid-18th century because it originally featured comical lyrics that insulted American colonists. Over time the song’s lyrics became more...
Vande Mataram Vande Mataram, poem by Bengali writer Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, which became a rallying cry in the Indian Independence Movement. It became popular after being published in his novel Anandamath (1882; “The Abbey of Bliss”), although it may have been composed much before the novel was written. Part...
Jaya Bachchan Jaya Bachchan is an Indian actress and politician known for her significant contributions to Bollywood and her active role in Indian politics. Despite a relatively brief acting career as a leading lady, Jaya Bachchan (née Bhaduri) starred in numerous critically and commercially successful films....
Former Research Chimpanzees Retire ProCon Debate: Should Animal Testing Be Allowed? ProCon Issue in the News: Former National Institutes of Health (NIH) research chimpanzees Al and Kamaka have retired from the Alamogordo Primate Facility, which is located on a U.S. Air Force base in New Mexico, and were moved to their new home at...
Saadat Hasan Manto Saadat Hasan Manto was an Indo-Pakistani writer of Urdu fiction and nonfiction whose works presented untempered depictions of the grim realities of society, including sexual violence, prostitution, murder, the inhumanity and trauma brought on by the partition of India, and more. His oeuvre of more...
Types of Yoga Yoga is the ancient Indian philosophy of uniting the mind and body for the goal of spiritual release. What exactly does that have to do with the endless classes, not to mention the clothes, that have dominated the West’s obsession with yoga for the past half century? Perhaps we should start with an...
Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung, pocket-sized book of selected quotations from Mao Zedong (formerly romanized as Mao Tse-tung), first published by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in 1964. It was produced in the wake of the catastrophic failures of the Great Leap Forward (1958–60) at a...
15-minute city 15-minute city, an urban planning concept in which all amenities—health care, grocery stores, schools, parks, and the like—can be reached within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. The conversion of existing neighborhoods and cities into 15-minute cities would transform areas that currently depend on...
The expiration profile: How to read an options risk graph Want to see the future of an options trade? That’s essentially what a risk profile (or “payoff diagram”) offers. This simple-looking graph helps you visualize all the possible outcomes of an options position: how much you might gain, how much you could lose, and what price the underlying needs to...
The Giantess The Giantess, tempera painting by English-born Mexican Surrealist artist Leonora Carrington that was created about 1947. Also known as The Guardian of the Egg, it is one of her best-known works and is in a private collection in Mexico. The giantess in the painting, likely denoting the divine...
Grace Jones Grace Jones is a Jamaican singer, model, and actress whose striking androgynous appearance and avant-garde fashion sense propelled her to fame in the 1970s. Beginning as a disco club artist who regularly appeared at Studio 54 in New York City, Jones successfully shifted to rock, reggae, and new...
Michael Che Michael Che is a comedian, writer, and actor who is known for his deadpan wit and acerbic style. His jokes often address social issues, such as racism and inequality. Che joined Saturday Night Live (SNL) as a writer in 2013, and the following year he became the first African American cohost of the...
Jason Kelce Jason Kelce is a former American football player who is considered to have been among the game’s best centers. In 2018 he helped the Philadelphia Eagles win Super Bowl LII. In addition to his outstanding play, Kelce was known for his scrappy work ethic and outgoing personality, which made him a fan...
The Apotheosis of Homer The Apotheosis of Homer, monumental oil painting by French Neoclassical artist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres that was completed in 1827 and exhibited in the Salon of 1827. This painting is a clear example of Ingres’s academic approach, and in fact he intended it as a hymn of praise to classicism....
Adam and Eve Adam and Eve, oil painting created by the masterful Venetian painter Tintoretto, considered the last of the major Italian Renaissance artists, in about 1550. It is one of several paintings depicting stories from the biblical book of Genesis that he painted for the Scuola della Trinità. In Adam and...
term limits Term limits, legal restrictions placed, typically in a country or region’s constitution, on the length of time an official may serve in their elected position. Term limits are applied to ensure political leaders do not continue in office indefinitely, a practice that could lead to a dictatorship....
Why Do Owls Hoot? The eerie hooting of an owl, sometimes linked to the supernatural by humans, serves a number of purposes in the nocturnal bird’s natural environment, including marking territory and attracting mates. Owl vocalizations can be quite diverse, with different pitches and rhythms that are unique to each...
King’s College London King’s College London, one of the two founding colleges of the University of London, founded in 1829 by King George IV and then prime minister the duke of Wellington. It is a public university and a member of the Russell Group of leading research universities in the United Kingdom. King’s College...
MrBeast MrBeast is the byname of Jimmy Donaldson, an American YouTube star and businessman known for his large-scale challenges, massive giveaways, and high-budget philanthropic stunts. He began his YouTube career posting gaming content, videos estimating other creators’ YouTube earnings, and endurance...
From Tortoises to Tricksters: 5 Famous Aesop’s Fables The bonfire is crackling, and we are gathered here as our ancestors once were, sharing stories, passing down wisdom, and delighting in the age-old dance of words and wonder. Before books, before ink, before written history itself, there were fables—tales of cunning foxes, proud hares, and wise...
Cynthia Erivo Cynthia Erivo is an English actress and singer known for her powerhouse performances in theater, in film, on television, and in music. She gained fame and accolades for her role as Celie in the stage adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel The Color Purple in London (2013) and on Broadway (2015–17), and...
1971 India-Pakistan War 1971 India-Pakistan War, conflict between India and Pakistan in the first half of December 1971 that led to the creation of Bangladesh. The war was rooted in the Bangladesh liberation movement, which opposed Pakistani rule in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) with the goal of creating an independent...
Notable Female Spies As the women highlighted here show, female spies have played significant roles throughout history. They worked under challenging and dangerous conditions, and their efforts—though sometimes overlooked—often had a meaningful and lasting impact. Curious to learn more? Check out our list of spies...
Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation (1978) is a legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld (5–4) the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate broadcast content that it considers indecent. The case was triggered by the airing of a humorous...
Zac Efron Zac Efron is an American actor who came to fame as a teen in High School Musical (2006), a TV movie made for the Disney Channel. He later starred in such films as Neighbors (2014), The Greatest Showman (2017), Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019), and The Iron Claw (2023). Efron’s...
Canelo Álvarez Canelo Álvarez is a Mexican professional boxer who has won world championships in four weight classes. Considered among the best pound-for-pound boxers of his generation, Álvarez in 2021 became the first boxer to achieve undisputed world champion status at super middleweight. Álvarez is the...
Rooney Rule The Rooney Rule is a requirement implemented by the National Football League (NFL) in 2003 that teams must interview at least one diverse candidate for every head coaching job. Named for Pittsburgh Steelers owner and head of the group that recommended the policy, the late Dan Rooney, the Rooney...
Sanjeev Kumar Sanjeev Kumar was an Indian actor who worked chiefly in Bollywood films. He is regarded as one of the most versatile actors in Hindi cinema and is especially known for his compelling portrayals of characters much older than himself. His most memorable performances include his portrayal of Thakur...
All the Light We Cannot See All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr, is a sprawling, nonlinear narrative set in World War II and told from the perspectives of two children—Marie-Laure LeBlanc and Werner Pfennig—as they grow up in the midst of a world torn apart. Told in short, alternating chapters, Doerr juxtaposes the...
Exonerated Japanese Man Awarded $1.4 Million for Decades on Death Row ProCon Debate: Should the Death Penalty Be Legal? ProCon Issue in the News: In 1966 former Japanese featherweight boxer and miso factory worker Iwao Hakamada was convicted in Japan of murdering his employer, his employer’s wife, and two of their children, as well as robbing them and setting their...
Madhur Jaffrey Madhur Jaffrey is an Indian-born actress, chef, and writer who parlayed movie stardom into culinary fame, both in her native country and abroad. As an author, Jaffrey is best known for expanding Americans’ knowledge of Indian cuisine with her first cookbook, An Invitation to Indian Cooking (1973)....
Substack Substack, online platform that allows content creators to make newsletters and to send them by email through free or paid subscriptions. The platform provides creators with distribution tools and with various post formats, including written pieces and videos. Since its launch, several high-profile...
1965 India-Pakistan War 1965 India-Pakistan War, conflict between India and Pakistan from August to September 1965. It was the second war the two countries fought over the disputed region of Kashmir, which became part of India after the partition of British India in 1947. The territory, portions of which have a...
haptic technology Haptic technology, systems that simulate touch through vibration, motion, or other forces. The term haptic is derived from the Greek word haptikós, meaning “to touch” or “to grasp.” Devices that commonly incorporate haptic technology in order to improve user experience include cell phones, game...
spaghetti western Spaghetti western, subgenre of movies set in the 19th-century American West that were made by Italian filmmakers and filmed throughout Europe during the 1960s and early ’70s. Spanish journalist Alfonso Sánchez is generally credited with coining the term spaghetti western. Italian filmmakers began...
Don McLean Don McLean is an American singer-songwriter who achieved international fame with his 1971 song “American Pie,” an epic and often inscrutable chronicle of a slice of American life in the middle of the 20th century. McLean has released more than 20 albums since his debut in 1970. McLean was born in...
chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR T-cell therapy), type of immunotherapy in which a patient’s T cells are modified to recognize and attack cancer cells. A T cell is a type of white blood cell that determines the specificity of immune response to antigens (foreign substances) in the...
How basis trading works (and why borrowing big makes it risky) Basis trading is a common strategy used by professional investors to profit from the small price difference between the cash (or “spot”) price of an asset such as a Treasury security or commodity and what it may be worth several months from now, as reflected in the price of a futures contract based...
What Causes a Drought? Droughts occur when evaporation and transpiration rates consistently exceed precipitation over an extended period of time. This prolonged imbalance results in water shortages, crop damage, and reduced streamflow. The primary causes of drought are insufficient rainfall or inadequate snowpack. There...
Thelma & Louise Thelma & Louise, American drama adventure film, released in 1991, that was directed by Ridley Scott and is credited with rewriting the rules of the classic road movie. It follows best friends Thelma (played by Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) as they set off on a weekend trip that quickly...
Why Do Llamas Spit? Llamas spit for a number of reasons. When a llama feels threatened, it might spit to protect itself or to maintain its position within the group. During mating season, males spit at each other when fighting over females, who might spit at a male to stop his advances. Sometimes llamas spit when they...
Afrobeats Afrobeats, style of West African music that emerged in Nigeria and Ghana in the early 2000s and that is known for its fusion of African and Caribbean influences, including highlife, dancehall, Naija beats, and soca. Afrobeats music is upbeat, with danceable rhythms that typically feature...
Adam and Eve Adam and Eve, unfinished oil painting created by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt in 1917–18, shortly before he died. Though in some ways, this work seems to be a relic from the perfumed decadence of Vienna’s fin-de-siècle, it also departs from most of Klimt’s work in noticeable ways. Adam and Eve is...
Guadalajara cartel Guadalajara cartel, criminal drug-trafficking organization that dominated the Mexican drug trade throughout the 1980s. Often regarded as a precursor to more recent powerful drug cartels, the Guadalajara cartel is marked as a turning point in the history of the Mexican drug trade. The loosely...
Simla Agreement Simla Agreement, peace treaty between India and Pakistan, signed on July 2, 1972, in Shimla, India, after the 1971 India-Pakistan War, which ended with Pakistan’s defeat and the creation of Bangladesh. Signed by Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistani Pres. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the...
jelly bean Jelly bean, small, brightly colored bean-shaped candy with a chewy interior covered with a candy shell. Jelly beans are generally made with sugar, corn syrup, and pectin. The origin of the confection is unknown, but there are popular theories. The chewy center possibly derives from Turkish delight,...
Naseem Hamed Naseem Hamed is an English former professional boxer who was a featherweight champion in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Nicknamed “The Prince,” he was a major celebrity during his pro career, known for his cocky persona, flashy leopard-print shorts, and grand entrances into the boxing ring....
Northern Crusades Northern Crusades, series of military campaigns carried out from the 12th to the 15th century in the eastern Baltic Sea region. The stated goal of these campaigns was to convert the local tribes from paganism to Christianity, although as the campaigns unfolded, other factors also played a part. The...
Hulk Hogan Hulk Hogan is one of the most famous performers in the history of professional wrestling. His huge popularity in the 1980s sparked “Hulkamania” and contributed to the rise of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF; now World Wrestling Entertainment [WWE]). Hogan is known for his charisma, immense...
Colin Jost Colin Jost is an American comedian, actor, and writer who uses his self-deprecating style to great effect as the longtime cohost (2014– ) of Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update.” Jost, who joined the sketch-comedy show in 2005, has also served as a co-head writer (2012–15 and 2017–22). Jost is...
Miroslav Klose Miroslav Klose German football (soccer) player who played in the center forward position as a striker. Klose is the all-time leading goal scorer for the German men’s national team. He is the record holder for the most goals scored in the history of the men’s FIFA World Cup tournament. Klose was...
Sengoku period Sengoku period, time of civil war, political upheaval, and social transformation in Japan that lasted from roughly 1467 to 1600. The weakening of the Ashikaga shogunate led to the rise of independent daimyo (feudal lords) who fought for supremacy across the country. At the height of the Sengoku...
ravine trapdoor spider Ravine trapdoor spider, (Cyclocosmia truncata), species of rare and distinctively shaped North American spider. It is a burrowing spider, inhabiting sloping riverbanks and ravines in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. The spider’s bite is not dangerous to humans, and, because of its reclusive nature,...
great bustard Great bustard, (Otis tarda), largest member of the 26 species in the bustard bird family (Otididae). It is the only living member of the genus Otis and since 2023 has been listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. The word bustard is derived from the Latin phrase avis tarda (“slow bird”). The...
Steve Witkoff Steve Witkoff is an American businessman who has worked in real estate, first as an attorney and then as an investor and developer. He amassed a fortune, much of it from the Witkoff Group (founded 1997), which buys, finances, and constructs buildings. In 2025 he became U.S. special envoy to the...
Jekyll Island Jekyll Island, barrier island off the coast of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is one of the Sea Islands of the southeastern United States. Jekyll Island was inhabited by Native peoples for centuries before the first European settlement in 1733. The island was used as a private plantation, operated...
Luigi Mangione Luigi Mangione is the accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was gunned down in New York City on December 4, 2024. A note found on Mangione at the time of his arrest said, “It had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.” The juxtaposition of Mangione’s youth,...
spotted owl Spotted owl, (Strix occidentalis), nonmigratory species of earless North American owls best known for its strong habitat association with old-growth conifer or pine-oak forests and its use as a symbol in ongoing conflicts between logging interests and environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest of...
Iran nuclear deal negotiations In his second term in office U.S. Pres. Donald Trump has made finalizing a deal with Iran, limiting its nuclear program and the reach of its military, one of his early foreign policy priorities. The push—amid the far-reaching Israel-Hamas War that has destabilized the entire region and resulted in...
Sourav Ganguly Sourav Ganguly is a former Indian international cricketer considered as one of the greatest one-day international (ODI) batters of all time. He was also a medium-paced bowler. He was a member of the “Fab Four” of Indian cricket, a list of incredibly successful Indian batters that included Sachin...
retinopathy Retinopathy, damage affecting the small blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, that may lead to partial or complete vision loss. Depending on the underlying cause, symptoms of retinopathy may vary, and the condition may develop gradually or abruptly. Though...
Andy Samberg Andy Samberg is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician known for his work as a cast member and writer for Saturday Night Live (SNL; 2005–12), his role as Detective Jake Peralta on the TV show Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–21), and short videos he has made with childhood friends...
Who Were the Most Influential Popes? St. Peter, the rock upon which the Christian Church was built, was the first pope, and in many ways, he stands in a class by himself. Jesus dubbed Peter—originally named Simon—Cephas (“Rock” from Aramaic Kepa), which would become Petros (Peter) in Greek. In the Gospel of Matthew (16:18), Jesus...
How Do You Get an Invite to the Met Gala? The Met Gala, held on the first Monday in May, is notoriously exclusive. The guest list is limited to about 450 to 600 attendees each year, and all guests need to be approved by Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour, who has cochaired the event most years since 1995. That’s right, the devil in Prada...
What Are Squatters? In 19th-century Australia, squatters were people who occupied grazing land that was owned by the crown and beyond the official limits of settlement. Initially, this occupation was illegal, but it contributed significantly to the growth of the wool industry and the development of a powerful social...
Tehri Dam Tehri Dam, multipurpose dam built on the Bhagirathi River in the Garhwal district of Uttarakhand state, India. At 855 feet (260.5 meters) high, it is the tallest dam in the country. Moreover, it is one of the largest hydroelectric power projects in the world. As such, it has raised environmental...
The alphabet soup of unemployment data: U-3, U-6, and beyond For most of us, the concept of unemployment seems rather simple: Either you’re working or you’re not. If you’re not working, you’re unemployed. In reality, however, the labor market isn’t that black and white. If you’re focused on the longer-term economic horizon, the headline unemployment...
Got an IRS notice or letter? Here are the steps you need to follow You filed your tax return on time and did your best to ensure everything was accurate. But then a letter arrives from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). What should you do? First, try not to stress about it. Although most returns are accepted as filed, the IRS does review others to verify...
What Causes Sinkholes? Sinkholes are depressions that form when the underlying limestone bedrock is eroded or dissolved by groundwater. Water, especially when it is slightly acidic, can dissolve soluble rocks like limestone over time (see also acid rain). The wearing away of limestone in contact with the water creates...
What Does SOS Mean? 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,...
Why Do Whales Sing? Whale songs serve as a means of communication among individuals and groups. These vocalizations help whales share information about their location, identity, and even emotional states. For instance, baleen whales, such as humpbacks, produce songs that are not only beautiful but also serve to...
World Monuments Fund Lists the Moon as “At Risk” ProCon Debate: Should Humans Colonize Space? ProCon Issue in the News: The World Monuments Fund (WMF) added the Moon to the World Monuments Watch list along with 24 other sites the organization deems endangered, including historic water systems in Bhuj, India, and the chapel of the Sorbonne in...
Beau Biden Beau Biden was an American lawyer and state attorney general of Delaware (2007–15) and the eldest son of Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States (2021–25). Beau Biden was an accomplished and popular politician in Delaware, where he was preparing to run for the nomination as the...
Natural gas in the Gaza Strip Natural gas reserves were discovered about 20 miles (35 km) offshore the Gaza Strip in 2000. The reserves, located within the maritime boundaries allocated to the Palestinian Authority (PA) under the bilateral Oslo Accords between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, were a key discovery for the still...
Sossusvlei Sossusvlei, the large pan (flat-bottom depression) of salt and clay, typically white in color, that is surrounded by massive orange-red sand dunes in the southern region of the Namib, a coastal desert in Namibia. Sossusvlei is located in the Namib Sand Sea, a region of dune fields that covers about...
Barry Keoghan Barry Keoghan is an Irish actor known for his idiosyncratic, sometimes unsettling performances in such films as The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), The Banshees of Inisherin (2022), and Saltburn (2023). Keoghan was raised in the hardscrabble Dublin neighborhood of Summerhill. He never knew his...
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, commonly known by the acronym AIPAC, is an influential pro-Israel political lobbying group in the United States. It advocates for U.S. assistance to Israel—in the form of economic and military aid, diplomatic support, and other measures—and for other...
“Daisy” Political Ad The “daisy” campaign ad was produced for television by U.S. Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson’s campaign during the 1964 presidential election cycle. The ad was groundbreaking and is widely credited with creating the now-ubiquitous political attack ad. The 1964 presidential election took place on November 3,...
American Graffiti American Graffiti, a coming-of-age film directed and cowritten by George Lucas and released in 1973. It was shot on a budget of about $750,000 and wound up grossing more than $140 million worldwide and snagging five Academy Award nominations. American Graffiti focuses on a group of teenagers...
segmented spider Segmented spider, (suborder Mesothelae), any of more than 100 species of ancient burrowing spiders that form the smallest of the three main groups of spiders. Known as living fossils, segmented spiders are notable for having distinctive primitive features that have changed little over millennia....