Heinrich Wieland (1877)

Wieland was a German chemist who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1927 for determining the molecular structure of bile acids, which are produced by the liver. His work provided insight into the mechanism by which bile acids aid in the resorption of food in the intestines and led to the establishment of the close relationship between cholesterol and the bile acids. How did Wieland help students who were persecuted under the Nuremberg Laws of Nazi Germany? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Clogs

Clogs are shoes or sandals that are made entirely of wood or have wooden soles and leather uppers. They are associated with the Netherlands and Sweden, where they are considered part of the national dress. In England, clogs were traditionally made of alder and were commonly worn by all classes throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The Lancashire cotton mill workers habitually wore clogs to avoid slipping on the wet floors in the cotton mills. How are clogs used in some styles of dance? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Edward White Becomes First American to Conduct a Spacewalk (1965)

The first spacewalk by an American astronaut was conducted by Edward White during NASA’s Gemini IV mission, which was itself the first multi-day space flight undertaken by the US. Assisted and photographed by fellow astronaut James McDivitt and tethered to the spacecraft for safety, White floated in space for 22 minutes. His spacewalk occurred just months after Russian cosmonaut Alexey Leonov executed the first ever extravehicular activity. How did White describe his reentry of the craft? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Uganda Martyrs Day

On June 3, 1886, the country of Uganda’s first Christian converts were executed in the town of Namugongo. Then known as Buganda, the country had begun attracting the attention of Catholic and Anglican missionaries. Sons of many of the region’s leading families had converted to Christianity. The king of Buganda, Mwanga II, saw this conversion as treachery against his authority. When the converts refused to renounce their faith, they were burned alive. To commemorate the event, Christian pilgrims from all over Uganda journey to Namugongo and the town’s Anglican church. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Ransom E. Olds (1864)

Olds was a pioneer of the American automobile industry and the namesake of the Oldsmobile and Reo car brands. After developing an internal combustion engine and incorporating it into a car, he opened the Olds Gasoline Engine Works. In 1899, he moved to Detroit, formed the Olds Motor Works, and designed and produced the popular Oldsmobile. With its low price and stylish curved dashboard, it was the first car to be produced in quantity. When was the Oldsmobile brand discontinued? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Basiliscus

Shortly after seizing control of the Eastern Roman Empire, Flavius Basiliscus alienated his supporters by promoting Miaphysitism—a doctrine which holds that in the person of Jesus there was but a single nature that merged both the human and the divine rather than a dual nature. Consequently, his rule lasted just 20 months. Earlier in his career, Basiliscus led the disastrous invasion of Vandal Africa, one of the greatest military operations in history. How many ships and soldiers were involved? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Bare-Knuckle Fighter Dies After 99-Round Fight (1833)

In 1830, bare-knuckle prizefighter Simon Byrne, Ireland’s heavyweight boxing champion, fought Alexander McKay, the “Champion of Scotland,” for the right to challenge England’s heavyweight champ. McKay died of a head injury shortly after losing the lengthy fight, and Byrne was charged but later cleared of manslaughter. Three years later, Byrne fought England’s champion, James Burke. After 3 hours and 99 rounds, Byrne was knocked out. He died days later. What became of Burke after the fatal fight? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

St. Elmo’s Day

The day known as St. Elmo’s Day is actually St. Erasmus‘s Day, in honor of a third-century Italian bishop who is thought to have suffered martyrdom around the year 304. Erasmus was a patron saint of sailors and was especially popular in the 13th century. Sometimes at sea on stormy nights, sailors will see a pale, brushlike spray of electricity at the top of the mast. In the Middle Ages, they believed that these fires were the souls of the departed, rising to glory through the intercession of St. Elmo. Such an electrical display is still referred to as “St. Elmo’s Fire.” Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary