Month: July 2017

There May Be a Lot of Water Hiding under the Moon’s Dusty Surface, Researchers Say

For decades, scientists have thought the moon was a dry, dusty place, but it may be time to re-write the astronomy books. New findings are upending decades of understanding about our closest neighbor in space; an analysis of satellite data suggests the … Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Discovery of Dwarf Planet Eris Is Announced (2005)

Though Eris was first photographed in 2003, scientists working at the Palomar Observatory did not realize that they had captured pictures of a previously unknown planet until re-analyzing the images in 2005. That year, news of the newly discovered planet was announced. Slightly larger than Pluto, the icy dwarf planet has its own moon, Dysnomia, and is one of the most distant objects in the solar system. Before its official naming in 2006, it was popularly known by the name of what TV character? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Ghanafest

Ghanafest is a one-day, annual event held on the last Saturday of July and sponsored by the Ghana Club of Chicago and other associations representing Ghanians in the Chicago area. The festival celebrates the history and culture of the west African nation and recognizes the bond of unity between Ghana and the United States. The festival includes a Ghanian Durbar, or gathering of the royal court. Entertainers from Ghana perform in a variety of musical styles, and marketplace vendors offer wares ranging from textiles, fine art, and jewelry to foods, including fried fish, Jollof-rice, and okro-soup. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Ken Burns (1953)

Burns is an acclaimed American director and producer of lengthy historical documentaries. Known for his extensive use of archival footage and photographs, he is considered one of the most influential documentarians in the US. His films have been among public television’s most-watched programs, and include The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The War, and The National Parks. The Civil War is considered to be his masterpiece. What is the “Ken Burns Effect”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Autostereograms

Autostereograms are optical illusions of depth that are designed to trick the brain into perceiving a three-dimensional scene in a two-dimensional image. The simplest type, known as a wallpaper autostereogram, consists of horizontally repeating patterns that appear to float in the air above the background. In order to perceive the 3D shapes, the brain must overcome the normally automatic coordination between focusing and convergence. What are the two ways that an autostereogram can be viewed? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Thomas Cromwell Is Executed (1540)

Arguably the architect of the Reformation, Cromwell was an English statesman who gained nearly complete control of the government as the closest advisor of King Henry VIII of England. Cromwell abused his power but only fell from Henry’s favor after convincing him to marry Anne of Cleves, whom Henry found unattractive. After the marriage fizzled, Anne was sent away with a generous pension, but Cromwell was beheaded—on the same day that Henry did what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Malcolm Lowry (1909)

Lowry was an English writer known for his articulation of the spiritual desolation of the modern individual. His reputation rests on the semi-autobiographical 1947 novel Under the Volcano. Set in Mexico—from which Lowry was once deported—it recounts the last day of a dispirited, alcoholic, former British consul. Though critically praised, it received popular recognition only after Lowry’s death—probably from the effects of alcoholism—at 47. What rumors surround his cause of death? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary