Month: October 2020

Styrian Autumn (Steirischer Herbst)

Dedicated to the avant-garde in music, drama, literature and the fine arts, this month-long festival in Austria celebrates spontaneity and experimentation. Founded in 1968, it presents world premieres of plays, operas and musical works by contemporary artists, exhibitions of contemporary art, and a variety of fringe events that include circus acts and multimedia shows. Ticket prices are purposely kept low, and many festival events are offered free of charge. The festival takes its name from the province of Styria, whose capital city, Graz, is where the work of Austria’s modernists is performed and displayed. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Bubble Chamber

A bubble chamber is a device for detecting charged subatomic particles. The sealed chamber is filled with a liquefied gas, such as liquid hydrogen, which is superheated. As particles move through the liquid, they leave trails of bubbles that can be illuminated and photographed. Such tracks can be used to identify particles, study their behavior, and analyze the complex events in which they participate. The inventor of the bubble chamber experimented with prototypes filled with what liquid? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Fiestas de Octubre (October Feasts)

The October Feasts have been held every year in the city of Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, since 1965. Throughout the month, residents and visitors enjoy a variety of cultural events that celebrate local and international culture, including opera, jazz and other musical performances, art exhibits, folk dances, ballet, theater, and food. Attendees can also find amusement park rides, bungee jumping, and a haunted house billed as “one of the largest in Latin America.” Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Speakers’ Corner

Often a scene of lively debate, a speakers’ corner is an area designated for public speech-making. The northeast corner of London’s Hyde Park may be the most famous speakers’ corner, having hosted such orators as Karl Marx and George Orwell. However, speakers’ corners exist—with varying degrees of freedom—around the world, including countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Trinidad and Tobago. One location in the Netherlands, the Spreeksteen of Amsterdam, was created after what notable murder? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Shiprock Navajo Nation Fair

Also known as the Northern Navajo Fair, this fair began in 1924 and is considered the oldest and most traditional of Navajo fairs. It is held in Shiprock, New Mexico, the largest community of the Navajo Nation. The fair coincides with the conclusion of an ancient healing ceremony known as the Yei Bei Chei (Night Chant), a complex ritual conducted after the first frost. Spectators then go on to other events of the fair such as an all-Indian rodeo, an inter-tribal powwow, a livestock show, a carnival, the Miss Northern Navajo Pageant, and a Saturday morning parade. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Oh-My-God Particle

Observed over Utah in 1991 by a cosmic ray detector, the Oh-My-God particle was a rare ultra-high-energy cosmic ray that traveled through the universe at very nearly the speed of light. Since then, scientists have detected a number of other cosmic rays with similarly high energies. Such subatomic particles carry millions of times the energy that can be generated in a particle accelerator. Their origin is still unclear, but they could be related to dark matter. What might be generating them? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Olney White Squirrel Count

The community of Olney, Illinois, boasts a population of rare white squirrels. It is believed that the animals first appeared in the area just after the American Civil War. For many years, Olney has been concerned with preserving the squirrels. Every year an official count is done to determine how the white squirrel population is surviving. Professors from nearby Central College, with the help of volunteers, try to gauge whether the number of animals is increasing or decreasing and whether any migration is taking place. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary