Explore Britannica Scholars
On This Day
The Old Man
In 1899 American writer Ernest Hemingway—famous for his adventurous life and his lucid, masculine prose, for which he earned the 1954 Nobel Prize for Literature—was born.
Science in Pictures
Growth Rings
By studying trees' growth rings, scientists can determine the past climatic conditions under which the trees grew. climatology botany
See Also:
Bio of the Day
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman, whose emotional depth and versatility made him one of the most respected performers of his generation, was born this day in 1937. He won an Academy Award for his role in the film Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Spotlight
Spotlight
Julius Caesar Was Captured by Pirates
In 75 BCE pirates in the Aegean Sea captured Julius Caesar, who had been on his way to study oratory in Rhodes. According to Plutarch, the capture was a minor inconvenience for Caesar but very bad luck for the pirates. After a ransom was delivered, Caesar went free. Later, he had the pirates killed.
See also:
Julius Caesar,
piracy
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
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
Wireless Link Helps Paralyzed Monkeys Walk Again
Scientists show that a wireless link between the brain and the spinal cord can help paralyzed monkeys regain the use of their legs.
See also:
spinal cord injury,
neuroplasticity
Spotlight
The Deep Sea Is a Pollution Sink
Pollution occurs in the deepest of deep-sea trenches—where crustaceans were found to contain surprisingly high levels of toxic contamination.
See also:
Mariana Trench,
plastic pollution
Spotlight
Botanical Gardens
Most modern botanical gardens have become important scientific institutions and are key players in plant conservation and the education of the public.
See also:
botanical garden,
conservation
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
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
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
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
Where Is “Old Zealand”?
Located just northwest of the Belgian city of Antwerp, Zeeland is more than 11,000 miles (17,700 km) from New Zealand. In December 1642 Dutch navigator Abel Janszoon Tasman was the first European to sight New Zealand’s South Island, and Dutch cartographers named the territory after the province of Zeeland.
See also:
Abel Tasman,
Zeeland
Spotlight
Celebrating African Americans
Black History Month began as “Negro History Week.” Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History created it in 1926. They chose February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In 1976 it became a monthlong celebration.
See also:
Black History Month,
African Americans
Spotlight
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
July 20
Moon Shot
July 19
My Precious
July 18
Madiba
July 17
Republicans v. Fascists
July 16
The Atomic Age Begins
July 15
Artistic Storyteller
July 14
Storming the Bastille
July 13
Corday’s Victim
July 12
Modernismo
July 11
Burr and Hamilton duel
July 10
Telstar 1 Launched
July 9
Holocaust Heroine
July 8
Voyage to India
July 7
Anticipating Surrealism
July 6
Heretic Burning
July 5
Israel’s Law of Return
July 4
Declaring Independence
July 3
Battle of Gettysburg
July 2
The Amistad Revolt
New & Revised
Indo-Pacific
NEW