Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, February 17, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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cerebrate
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| Article of the Day | |
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 Terror BirdsPhorusrhacids, commonly known as "terror birds" because of their role as apex predators, were large, carnivorous, flightless birds that roamed S America during the Cenozoic era, from about 62 million to 2 million years ago. They are believed to have migrated to N America when the Isthmus of Panama formed, bridging the formerly separated continents. The birds ranged in height from about 3 to 10 ft (1 to 3 m) and were likely fast runners. What are thought to be their closest modern-day relatives? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 H. L. Hunley Becomes First Submarine to Sink an Enemy Warship (1864)The US Civil War-era submarine Hunley required an eight-man crew—seven to power the propeller with a hand-crank and one to steer. Within months of its launch, the Confederate sub had sunk and been salvaged twice, taking the lives of five crewmen the first time and the entire crew the second. Manned with a new crew, Hunley became the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, yet the achievement was marred when the sub itself sank, killing all aboard yet again. When was it recovered? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Isabelle Eberhardt (1877)As a Swiss explorer traveling in North Africa, Eberhardt often dressed as a man to move more freely through Arab society. Intensely independent, she took the side of Algerians fighting against colonial French rule. She converted to Islam, was initiated into a Sufi brotherhood, and married an Algerian soldier. She wrote about her travels in books and newspapers. She survived a murder attempt—in which her arm was badly injured by a saber—only to die at the age of 27 in what unlikely fashion? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The almighty dollar, that great object of universal devotion throughout our land, seems to have no genuine devotees in these peculiar villages.Washington Irving (1783-1859) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Quirinalia (2021)Quirinus was an ancient Roman deity who closely resembled Mars, the god of war. His name is associated with that of the Quirinal, one of the seven hills on which Rome was built. Eventually, Quirinus was identified with Romulus, one of the legendary founders of Rome, and his festival on February 17 coincided with the date on which Romulus was believed to have been deified. This festival was also associated with the advent of spring warfare, when the shields and weapons of the army, which had been purified and retired for the winter, were brought out. More... | |