Lists and Stories
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Are Chimpanzees Cannibals? For years, no one knew why female chimpanzees prefer to give birth alone. Chimpanzee births in the wild are rarely spotted by researchers, largely because expectant mothers often take a âmaternity leaveâ from their family unit, hiding away by themselves until their child is born. On December 2,... -
Are Cows Really Unable to Walk Down Stairs? Itâs a common belief that cows are unable to walk down stairs. Many people think that you can get a cow up stairs but getting it back down isnât going to happen without getting pretty creative. But is there actually any truth to this? To put it simply: it is very difficult for cows to walk down... -
Are Dogs Really Color-Blind? In film and television, whenever the perspective of a dog is shown, the scene is usually edited to be in black, white, and greyâbright red roses look dull and dark, and fresh-cut grass seems more artificial than natural. But is this common portrayal of a dogâs-eye view true to reality? Is manâs... -
Are Dogs Smarter than Cats? The ongoing quarrel about whether dogs or cats are smarter has divided pet lovers throughout historyâand scientific research has provided fuel for the debate. Some studies suggest biological differences in intelligence between cats and dogs. Research reveals that the cerebral cortex, the layer of... -
Are Green Potatoes Dangerous to Eat? Green potatoes can be toxic and should not be eaten without removing all green parts. The green color itself comes from harmless chlorophyll, but its presence in potatoes indicates that the tubers have increased their production of a poisonous glycoalkaloid known as solanine. A neurotoxin, solanine... -
Are the Middle East and the Near East the Same Thing? What do you call the region that encompasses southwestern Asia and northeastern Africa: the Middle East or the Near East? Middle East essentially supplanted Near East in the early 20th century, although the two are now used interchangeably among English speakers. So, for all intents and purposes,... -
Are There Laws on the High Seas? All governments manage their territories with laws. This is easy enough to understand with respect to solid ground: when you look at a map, borders usually mark where the authority of one country ends and anotherâs begins. But what about maritime countries, which either border or are completely... -
Are There Really Right-Brained and Left-Brained People? Are you a logical, precise thinker, or would you say that youâre more free-spirited and artistic? If youâre the former, somebodyâs probably told you at some point that youâre a left-brained person, and if youâre the latter, right-brained. The notion that the right half of the brain is the creative... -
Are Volcanoes Dangerous When Theyâre Not Erupting? Itâs no surprise that an erupting volcano is one that should be avoided at all costs, given the extreme heat of the lava, the rocks pelting through the air, and the suffocating ash. But what about volcanoes that arenât erupting? Can they also be dangerous? Volcanoes can be dangerous even when... -
Are You Ready for Some Fantasy Football? As reliably as the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano in March, the end of summer sparks a migration of a different sort, as aficionados of American football cluster in basement man caves, pubs, and Internet hangouts to draft their fantasy football teams. According to the Fantasy Sports... -
Are Zebras White with Black Stripes or Black with White Stripes? The question of whether zebras are white with black stripes or black with white stripes might seem like the set-up for a classic joke like this one: Q: Whatâs black and white and red all over? A: A zebra with a sunburn! But this question is no joke, because it actually does have an answer: zebras... -
Argentina Celebrates More Than 200 Years of Independence On July 9th, 1816, Argentina declared its independence from Spain. The Argentine independence movement began in 1806, when British attacks on Buenos Aires were repelled by local militia with little help from Spain. Also important were the ramifications of Napoleon Iâs intervention in Spain,... -
Aristotle at 2,400 The year 2016 marked the 2,400th anniversary of the birth of Aristotle, arguably the greatest philosopher who ever lived. His intellectual achievements are remarkable for their astonishing breadth and, in philosophy, for their profound and abiding influence, which continues to the present day.... -
Art Abuse: 11 Vandalized Works of Art There are times when something makes us so angry that we cannot prevent a visceral reaction, sometimes a physical one. It seems only human. But it seems a little peculiar when that something is a work of art. Following are some instances of art taking it on the chin, who did it, how, when, and what... -
Art History: The Origins of 7 of Your Favorite Art Supplies Art is one of humanityâs oldest pastimes (aside from...you know, that other one). But how different is art today from art a thousand years ago? Two thousand? Five thousand? When exactly did the supplies youâre using for your lecture hall or boardroom doodles come into play? Read on to find out... -
Art Restoration: Beyond Canvas In 2007 a painting called Snorting Copper, which adorned the sidewall of a public toilet in Londonâs East End, was spray-painted, whitewashed, and covered with wooden boards by local government officials. The controversial and provocative work, which was created by enigmatic guerrilla graffiti... -
Arthur Miller Centenary Arthur Miller was known for several thoughtful, exceptional plays, notably All My Sons, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Death of a Salesman, and The Crucible. He closely examined his charactersâ inner lives, and the hard truths he revealed bore the stamp of his own disillusionment, forged during the... -
Asa Gray: The Father of American Botany Asa Gray may not be a household name for most people, but the âFather of American Botanyâ was a remarkable man. Gray was born in 1810. He began his career as a medical doctor but found that his true passion was for plants. He studied botany under John Torrey and became the first permanent professor... -
Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima: Infographic This infographic describes the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, one of the two attacks by the United States on Japan at the end of World War II that resulted in Japanâs surrender. These attacks were the first use of atomic weapons in war. A description of this infographic appears below. Hiroshima is a... -
Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki: Infographic This infographic describes the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, one of the two attacks by the United States on Japan at the end of World War II that resulted in Japanâs surrender. These attacks were the first use of atomic weapons in war. A description of this infographic appears below. The atomic...