Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, August 31, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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compunction
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| Article of the Day | |
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 ParahumansOnce solely a concept of science-fiction, the parahuman, or human-animal hybrid, has recently entered the realm of reality. Efforts to combine genes from different species for medical and industrial purposes are now fairly common. Though such research could prove useful for the production of drugs and transplant-ready organs, it has raised numerous ethical, moral, and legal issues. Have scientists created human-animal hybrid embryos? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Death of Diana, Princess of Wales (1997)Diana's beauty and unprecedented popularity as a member of the royal family attracted intense press attention, and she became one of the most photographed women in the world. After her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996, she remained highly visible and continued her activities on behalf of numerous charities. In 1997, she was killed in a car crash in Paris, along with her companion, Dodi al-Fayed, and their driver. Who was blamed for the accident in subsequent investigations? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Commodus (161 CE)The son of Marcus Aurelius, Commodus was a Roman emperor who ruled from 180 to 192 CE—a period some historians consider the beginning of the empire's decline. Though his reign was fairly peaceful, Commodus was a tyrant who spent lavishly on gladiatorial combats, persecuted the Senate, and tried to rename Rome after himself. He fancied himself a gladiator, frequently killing exotic animals. His mistress and advisors had him strangled. He considered himself the reincarnation of what mythical hero? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Onam (2020)Onam is a harvest festival and a celebration of ancient King Mahabali in the state of Kerala in India. It is Kerala's biggest festival, lasting 10 days and featuring dancing, feasting, and displays of elaborately designed carpets of flowers. It's famous for the races of the so-called snake boats held at Champakulam, Aranmulai, and Kottayam. King Mahabali, who was sent into exile in the nether world when gods grew jealous of him, is allowed to return to his people once a year; the boat races, cleaned homes, carpets of flowers, clapping dances by girls, and other events are the welcome for him. More... | |