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Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov (1890)

A leading figure in the Soviet government from the 1920s until 1957, Molotov rose to power as a protégé of Joseph Stalin. He became prime minister in 1930 and later served as foreign minister. Though he first negotiated a treaty with Hitler's Germany—the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact—after the 1941 German invasion, he worked to strengthen Soviet ties with the West. Why is the Molotov cocktail, a makeshift bomb made of a breakable container filled with flammable liquid, named for him? Discuss

Posted on 9 March 2010 | 6:00 am

Cymothoa Exigua

Cymothoa exigua is a parasitic crustacean that attaches itself to the tongue of the spotted rose snapper and feeds on its blood. Eventually, the organ atrophies, and then something remarkable happens: C. exigua replaces the fish's tongue with its own body by attaching to the muscles of the tongue stub. The fish is able to use the parasite just like a normal tongue, apparently without any further damage. Are there any other cases of a parasite functionally replacing a host organ? Discuss

Posted on 9 March 2010 | 6:00 am

Adam Smith's Is Published (1776)

Published in 1776, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations is the magnum opus of Scottish economist Adam Smith. It is a clearly written account of political economy at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution and is considered the first modern work in the field of economics. In it, Smith postulates the theory of the division of labor and emphasizes that value arises from the labor expended in the process of production. What was Smith's concept of "the invisible hand"? Discuss

Posted on 9 March 2010 | 6:00 am

Cité Soleil

One of the largest slums in the Northern Hemisphere, Cité-Soleil is a very densely populated shantytown located in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, that is generally regarded as one of the nation's poorest and most dangerous areas. There are no police, no sewers, no stores, and little to no electricity. Its population, composed mostly of children and young adults, is beset by extreme poverty, violence, disease, and the presence of armed gangs. Approximately how many people live in Cité-Soleil?

Posted on 8 March 2010 | 6:00 am

Kenneth Grahame (1859)

Grahame was an English author best known for writing The Wind in the Willows, whose anthropomorphic animal characters—Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad—captivatingly combine human traits with authentic animal habits. Though a children's classic, it has been enjoyed by readers of all ages since its publication in 1908. In addition to writing, Grahame worked as a banker in London for some time. What happened to him when a man opened fire in his bank in 1903?

Posted on 8 March 2010 | 6:00 am

The Gnadenhütten Massacre (1782)

During the American Revolution, the Lenape, or Delaware, group of Native Americans found itself divided on the issue of which side, if any, to take in the conflict. Some members elected to fight against the Americans, while others—particularly Christian converts—remained neutral. In 1782, an American militia seeking revenge for Native American raids on frontier settlements killed 96 Christian Delawares in Gnadenhütten, Ohio. What was done to the two boys who survived prior to their escape?

Posted on 8 March 2010 | 6:00 am

Janet Guthrie (1938)

Before becoming the first woman to qualify for and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500, race car driver Janet Guthrie worked as an aerospace engineer. She took up racing in 1963, and by 1977, she had competed in two of racing's most prestigious events—the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. Guthrie has since been inducted into both the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. What was her best finish in an IndyCar event?

Posted on 7 March 2010 | 6:00 am

Morris Dancing

The morris dance is an English folk dance that emerged in the 15th century and is closely associated with festivals like those of May Day and Whitsunday. It is performed by sides, or teams, of dancers often dressed in white and adorned with bells. In addition to executing the dance's intricate footwork, which varies from region to region, performers hold and wave items like handkerchiefs, swords, and sticks. How did the morris dance get its name?

Posted on 7 March 2010 | 6:00 am

Antoninus Pius Is Succeeded by Co-Emperors (161)

When Emperor Antoninus Pius died in 161, Marcus Aurelius accepted the throne on the condition that he and Lucius Verus be made joint emperors—an unprecedented political arrangement in the Roman Empire. Aurelius likely sought the partnership so Verus could directly command Roman legions in the empire's nearly constant war efforts. Verus was authoritative enough to command the loyalty of the troops and powerful enough that he had little incentive to overthrow Marcus. Did Verus remain loyal?

Posted on 7 March 2010 | 6:00 am