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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 Thomas Edison Patents Kinetoscope in the US (1897)Developed by Edison's assistant, W.K.L. Dickson, the kinetoscope was a precursor to the modern motion-picture projector. It works through a phenomenon known as "persistence of vision," in which a sequence of images creates the illusion of motion. Initially, Edison hoped to synchronize the images with sound, but he was unable to achieve this. The kinetoscope was designed to be viewed by one person at a time. Why did Edison supposedly balk at the idea of projecting films before larger audiences? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Hermann von Helmholtz (1821)Helmholtz was one of the greatest scientists of the 19th century. He made fundamental contributions to physiology, optics, electrodynamics, mathematics, acoustics, and meteorology, but he is best known for formulating the mathematical law of conservation of energy. His approach was strongly empirical at a time when many scientists embraced deductions from mental concepts. He described body heat and energy, nerve conduction, and the physiology of the eye. What medical instruments did he invent? 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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 Hari Merdeka (Merdeka Day) (2018)Merdeka Day is a national holiday in Malaysia to commemorate its merdeka, or independence, from the British in 1957. Parts of Malaysia were under the rule of various foreign powers for centuries, but by the 1920s all the states eventually comprising Malaysia were ruled by Britain. The Federation of Malaya was founded in 1957 and Malaysia was formed in 1963. The streets of towns and cities are decorated on this day, and there are numerous parades, exhibitions, and stage shows. More... | |