The Le Mans Disaster (1955)

The legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race was created in 1923, when cars’ top speeds hovered around 60 mph (97 km/h). Thirty years later, top speeds had more than tripled, with little change to the course. In the 1955 race, a narrow pass near the pit stop caused racer Pierre Levegh to hit another car from behind while traveling at about 150 mph (240 km/h). Levegh’s Mercedes went airborne, and parts flew into the stands, killing Levegh and more than 80 spectators. Why did the race continue? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Queen’s Birthday (Australia, except for the Western state)

Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, but her birthday is officially observed in June by proclamation each year. But in Australia, Queen’s Birthday is a national holiday celebrated on the second Monday in June (except Western Australia). It was first observed there in 1788, not long after the country was settled. June 4, the birthday of King George III, was set aside at that time as a holiday for convicts and settlers. After George V died in 1936, a date close to his birthday (June 3) was set aside to honor the reigning king or queen. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Gene Wilder (1933)

Wilder was just 8 years old when his ailing mother’s doctor urged him to try making her laugh. The boy took those words to heart and developed a passion for performing that eventually led him to Hollywood. He is best known for his roles in comedy classics like Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and Young Frankenstein. He cowrote the latter film with producer and director Mel Brooks, and their screenplay was nominated for an Academy Award. Which film sequel’s script beat them out? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Lighter than Air

Because they have densities lower than that of air, some gases are buoyant in air and are used to fill lighter-than-air crafts like balloons, airships, and other aerostats. Heated air is also an effective lifting gas because the density of a gas decreases as its temperature increases as long as pressure remains constant. What are some gases that are lighter than air? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

London’s Millennium Bridge Opens, Promptly Closes (2000)

When tens of thousands of pedestrians crossed the Thames River via London’s Millennium Bridge on its opening day in 2000, many felt the steel suspension bridge sway, and the vibrations worsened as people adjusted their gaits to the motion. Nicknamed the “wobbly bridge” by Londoners, it closed just two days later for modifications to eliminate the sway and did not reopen until 2002. What prompted the bridge to close again in 2007 over concerns that pedestrians were in danger of being blown off? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Children’s Day (United States)

Many countries have set aside a day on which children are allowed to participate in church services, in government, and in various cultural and recreational activities. In the United States, Children’s Day was first celebrated in June 1856 at the Universalist Church in Chelsea, Massachusetts. By 1868 its date had been set on a nationwide basis as the second Sunday in June. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary