Mather was an American Puritan leader remembered for his role in the Salem witch trials. Although his Memorable Providences Relating to Witchcraft and Possessions fed the hysteria that led to the witch hunts, he disapproved of some of the trials and argued against the use of “spectral evidence,” a type of evidence based on dreams. Deeply interested in science, Mather was the first native-born American to be a fellow of the Royal Society and was an early supporter of what medical method? Discuss
Month: February 2024
leave (someone) holding the baby
To foist responsibility or guilt for something on someone else; to allow someone else to take the blame for something. Primarily heard in UK. Watch the video
The Peacock Angel of the Yezidi
The Yezidi, or Yazidi, are members of a syncretistic religion that developed during the 12th century and mingles folk traditions with the beliefs and practices of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. According to Yezidi tradition, the world is under the care of 7 Holy Beings, or Angels. Preeminent among these is Melek Taus, or the Peacock Angel, leader of the archangels and a demiurge whose tears of repentance quenched the fires of hell. Why do some people believe the Yezidi are devil worshippers? Discuss
arc-boutant
Definition: (noun) A buttress that stands apart from the main structure and connected to it by an arch.
Synonyms: flying buttress.
Usage: The architect favors the arc-boutant in his designs because it is practical and aesthetically pleasing.
Discuss
Anthracite Coal First Burned as Residential Heating Fuel (1808)
Anthracite is a compact variety of coal that was first burned as a residential heating fuel in the US by Judge Jesse Fell in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It differs from wood in that it needs a draft from below. By burning it on an open grate in a fireplace, Fell proved that it could be a viable heating fuel. Fell’s experiment took place 18 years after anthracite coal was said to have been discovered in Pennsylvania by hunter Necho Allen. According to legend, how did Allen “discover” anthracite? Discuss
Josiah Willard Gibbs (1839)
Gibbs was an American mathematical physicist whose contributions to physical chemistry and thermodynamics have had a profound effect on industry, notably in the production of ammonia. He formulated the concept of chemical potential, and, in mathematics, was influential in developing vector analysis. Gibbs also contributed to crystallography, the determination of planetary and cometary orbits, and electromagnetic theory. His doctorate was the first granted in the US for what field? Discuss
hold (one's) nerve
To remain calm, steady, and resolute, especially in the face of danger or adversity. Watch the video
Evidence of Alien Life?
A pulsar is a rapidly spinning neutron star that emits radiation in narrow beams focused by the star’s magnetic field. Because the pulsar’s magnetic poles do not align with the poles of its rotational axis, the beams sweep around like the beacon of a lighthouse and are thus observed on Earth as short, regular pulses. Some scientists initially suggested that extraterrestrial civilizations were the source of the strange signals and thus dubbed the first pulsar LGM-1, which is an acronym for what? Discuss
paling
Definition: (noun) A fence made of upright pickets.
Synonyms: picket fence.
Usage: Between it and Judge Driscoll’s house there was only a grassy yard, with a paling fence dividing the properties in the middle.
Discuss
HMS Dreadnought Is Launched (1906)
The HMS Dreadnought of the Royal Navy was a battleship that revolutionized naval power when it entered service in 1906. Dreadnought represented such a marked advance in naval technology that its name came to be associated with an entire generation of battleships, the “dreadnoughts,” as well as the class of ships named for it, while the generation of ships it made obsolete became known as “pre-dreadnoughts.” What features made the Dreadnought so advanced? Discuss