Month: March 2015

First Patient Successfully Treated with Penicillin (1942)

Penicillin was the first antibiotic agent successfully used to treat bacterial infections in humans. Penicillin’s effect on bacteria was first observed by biologist Alexander Fleming in 1928, but it was not until 1941 that scientists purified the substance and established that it was both effective in fighting infectious organisms and not toxic to humans. The first successful treatment occurred the next year. Where did scientists find the mold that allowed them to mass produce the drug? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Sweetwater Rattlesnake Round-Up

Billed “The World’s Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up,” this is one of several rattlesnake round-ups in Texas; some 30,000 spectators come to watch the goings-on. It is sponsored by the Sweetwater Jaycees, who stress the focus on safety and the benefits of the round-up. The weekend events include snake-handling demonstrations and the awarding of prizes for the biggest snake. There are also a parade, rattlesnake dances with country bands, a Miss Snake Charmer Queen contest, and a rattlesnake meat-eating contest. More than 4,000 pounds of rattlesnake meat are served each year. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Albert Einstein (1879)

Einstein was an intellectual giant of the 20th century whose name has become synonymous with genius. Recognized as one of the greatest physicists of all time, Einstein made countless important contributions to physics, including his theories of relativity, which profoundly revolutionized scientific and philosophical inquiry. In 1921, he received the Nobel Prize for his work on theoretical physics. Though he sought it for decades, Einstein never discovered a unified field theory, which is what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Seamus Heaney

Heaney is an Irish poet, writer, and lecturer who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995. His carefully crafted poetry has been praised for its powerful imagery, meaningful content, musical phrasing, and compelling rhythms. Focused on “the local,” he often writes about the disappearing world of unspoiled rural Ireland and hints at the sectarian violence of the north where he was born. In 1999, he published a highly regarded verse translation of what epic poem? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Operation Northwoods Proposed (1962)

Operation Northwoods was a plan proposed by the US Department of Defense to generate public support for military action against the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. To this end, it recommended staging acts of simulated or real terrorism and violence on US soil or against US interests and then placing the blame on Cuba. The plan, which was not implemented, was drafted by senior US defense leaders and signed by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Who made the secret document public? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Kasuga Matsuri

The Kasuga Shrine in Nara is one of the most beautiful and ancient in Japan. Every year on March 13, a festival is held there with elaborate ceremonies and performances that recall the shrine’s heyday. The hiki-uma horse ceremony, where a sacred horse is led in procession through the streets, and the elegant Yamato-mai dance performed by Shinto women are reminiscent of the culture and customs of the Nara and Heian Eras. Construction of the Kasuga Shrine was started during the Nara period (710-784) and was completed in the first years of the Heian period (794-1185). Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary