The Black Sea Deluge Theory

Although the hypothesis is actively debated by scientists, the Black Sea deluge theory posits that a catastrophic flood in about 5,600 BCE rapidly filled the Black Sea basin, inundating 60,000 sq miles (155,000 km²) of land with 10 cu miles (42 km³) of water per day during the event—or 200 times the amount that flows over Niagara Falls each day. The supposed deluge has even been connected with various great flood myths, including Noah’s flood. Where did the floodwaters purportedly come from? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Blood clot risk — and other problems — might be tied to how tall you are

How tall you are might hold clues to your risk of various health problems, such as blood clots, according to a new study. Height can be an independent predictor of your risk for venous thromboembolism, or VTE, also known as blood clots, according … Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

9-Month-Old Mary Stuart Is Crowned “Queen of Scots” (1543)

When King James V of Scotland died in 1542, his two sons had already died in infancy and his only surviving child—a daughter—was just a week old. The infant Mary Queen of Scots was crowned nine months later in an elaborate coronation at Stirling Castle, where she would spend her early years. Laden with regal robes, the tiny sovereign cried throughout the entire ceremony. Soon thereafter, King Henry VIII of England attacked Scotland in an attempt to force what to happen to Mary? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Yellow Daisy Festival

The Yellow Daisy Festival is a tribute to a rare flower, the yellow daisy, that blooms on Stone Mountain near Atlanta, Georgia. They were discovered in 1846 by missionary Thomas Porter, who sent a specimen to noted botanist Asa Gray for identification. The only other place in the United States the yellow daisy has been identified is California, but there the plant is larger and woodier. The festival, held since 1969 at Georgia’s Stone Mountain Park, offers tours to view the daisy and much more: one of the South’s largest arts and crafts shows, live music, and children’s activities. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Count Leo Tolstoy (1828)

Tolstoy was a Russian novelist and philosopher. Considered one of the world’s greatest writers, he is perhaps most famous for his masterpieces, War and Peace, a vast prose epic of the Napoleonic invasion of 1812, and Anna Karenina, about the tragedy of a woman’s faith in romantic love. Tolstoy was an anarchist and disapproved of all organizations based on the premise of force, including the government and the church. How many characters are there in War and Peace? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Kaaba

Islam’s holiest place, the Kaaba—whose name is derived from the Arabic word for “cube”—is a cuboid stone building located in the Great Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. When performing their daily prayers, Muslims around the world turn to face the Kaaba, whose four corners correspond roughly to the points of the compass. Although the Kaaba is surrounded by a restricted area that can only be entered by Muslims, the structure itself predates Islam. What did the Kaaba represent to pre-Islamic Meccans? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Look at the mysterious ‘dragon booger’ found in Vancouver’s Lost Lagoon

“Dragon boogers” go by many names. “Moss animals,” for one, and “bryozoans,” for another. They’re also known as “ectoprocta,” meaning “anus outside.” If you’re unfamiliar with the phylogeny of aquatic invertebrates, it might seem unnecessary to … Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Star Trek Premieres (1966)

Though the original Star Trek series was cancelled in its third season, the groundbreaking show—in which William Shatner’s memorable Captain Kirk leads the crew of the starship Enterprise—developed a cult following of “Trekkies.” Over the next four decades, the influential science-fiction franchise spawned five more Star Trek series, more than 10 feature films, and myriad conventions. Its motto, “to boldly go where no man has gone before,” may have been partially copied from what source? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary