Cats are among the most beloved pet animals in the world. Second only to dogs as the most common pet of choice, cats are cherished by their human companions for their unique personalities, their helpfulness in keeping away pests, and their beauty and intelligence. As Chinese artist and activist Ai

Kim Basinger: …the controversial and explicitly sexual 9 12 Weeks (1986). She costarred with Richard Gere in the thriller No Mercy (1986), with Bruce Willis in Blake Edwards’s Blind Date (1987), with Jeff Bridges in the comedy Nadine (1987), and with Dan Aykroyd in My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988).

The word counterculture generally refers to any movement that strives to achieve ideals counter to those of mainstream society. During the 1960s and ’70s, people—particularly young people—in many Western countries sought to upend what they saw as outdated and restrictive values. In the United

Greed and lust—for power as well as for sex—are the essential elements of most political scandals. Other contributing factors often include mendacity, obfuscation, obsession, moral bankruptcy, naïveté, misplaced loyalty or trust, and lapse of good judgment. Frequently, a vigilant investigative

Mimicry, in which an organism resembles an unrelated species, is one of the great marvels of evolution. Leaf mimicry is an especially clever form of camouflage. For some animals, looking like a leaf serves as protection from hungry predators. For others, it is a useful way to wait in plain sight

Imagine a Modernist house causing a scandal in a Classical neighborhood, or a bank designed with flexibility in mind. Learn the stories behind these nine architectural landmarks in Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001

Pregnancy is a time of excitement and anticipation, and mothers-to-be are often brimming with questions, many of them, unfortunately, based on myth and superstition. If I drink coffee during my pregnancy, will my baby be born with brown spots? Can looking at a lunar eclipse really cause a deformity

The articles in this list don’t have all the answers. However, they serve as a useful primer on the basics—what we know about the universe and how our species evolved, how we perpetuate ourselves, and how we die, and the logical tools we use to understand our world. You’re just a click away from

The history of the Czech Republic reaches back more than a thousand years, and its capital, Prague, reflects that rich and varied existence. This list describes just nine of the Czech Republic’s innumerably significant buildings. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first

In the beginnings of science, astronomers studied the motion of the Sun, the Moon, the planets, and the stars. They discovered patterns in the motion of these objects. But since the heavens were the abode of the gods, when something unusual happened in the sky, it seemed to presage something

Though it makes us wince to say so, we are all mortal. We may not have William Shakespeare’s sense of humor about that (as, for example, when he has the fatally wounded Mercutio say “Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man”), but we know, intellectually anyhow, that eventually death

A recently translated 13th-century bestiary says: “As men learnt little by little about the kinds of fishes they were given names often from their similarity to creatures on land such as frogs, calves, lions, blackbirds, and peacocks.” Indeed, if you scroll through the common names of the known

On the outside, we look relaxed, peaceful, and unaware. But what really goes on while we sleep? We spend nearly one-third of our lives—approximately 25 years—in a state of sleep, yet we remember little to none of it. When you hit the pillow, your body doesn’t turn off. It begins an intricate cycle

Humanity has sent probes to every planet, so we now have a decent idea of what’s in our neighborhood. Even before that, astronomers tracked the movements of the solar system for millennia. Sometimes their eyes (or brains) played tricks. Or did they? What ever happened to the ghost planets, those

Florence was founded in the 1st century BCE as a Roman military colony. During its long history it has served many other roles, including a brief stint as the national capital of Italy in the 1860s. But the city remains best known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, and most of these nine

From the last of the Seven Wonders of the World left standing to a presidential gaffe that inspired a huge new project, these are only a few of the incredible historical places worth exploring in Egypt. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn about these pyramids, temples, and houses. Earlier versions

The murder of a president, prime minister, king, or other world leader can resonate throughout a country. Sometimes the assassination of a leader is so shocking and profound that it triggers what psychologists call flashbulb memory in a country’s citizens. Many will remember forever where they were

Many of the most compelling love stories are tragic ones. From Romeo and Juliet to Ennis and Jack, here’s a look at nine romances that have had the opposite of happy endings. How many have left you in tears? list, love, tragedy, tragic endings, stories, literature, love stories, romance, romantic,

The United States is filled with memorials and monuments to its past. These nine commemorate some of the most important episodes in American history. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these places first appeared in1001 Amazing Places You Must See Before You Die, edited by Richard Cavendish

In their quest for survival, plants have evolved to produce an amazing variety of chemical compounds known as secondary metabolites. These chemicals often serve to deter herbivores, protect against pathogens and neighbors, or mitigate the effects of radiation, among numerous other uses.

This list discusses some of the most infamous corporate criminals of the 20th and 21st centuries, in chronological order of the crimes for which they are notorious. list, corporations, crime, fraud, environmental crime, pollution, manslaughter, obstruction of justice, Enron, Big Tobacco, Philip

The artist-muse relationship is a well-known trope that has been around for centuries (think of the nine muses of Greek mythology). These relationships are often romantic and always dramatic. Sometimes the muses have more to offer than inspiration, however, as did the following nine women. These

The Detroit Institute of Arts houses one of Detroit’s most vibrant and extensive collections of art. Here are just nine of the paintings worth seeing there. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these paintings first appeared in 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die, edited by Stephen

It turns out that a number of people throughout history have mysteriously disappeared. Some were famous when they went missing and became even more legendary afterward, and some reached celebrity status simply because they disappeared. Here are nine strange tales of people (aside from Amelia

Dredged out of the past and hinting at violent mysteries, bog bodies intrigue and haunt us. The how of their existence is known: bogs (cold-weather swamps) are excellent preservers of human bodies. The oxygen-free environment prevents decay, and the excessive tannins—naturally occurring chemicals

Poetry is a precise art. A great poem is made up of components that fit together so well that the result seems impossible to imagine any other way. But how to describe those meticulously chosen components? With highly specialized terminology, of course. Thanks to centuries of effort by scholars,

Humans have used petroleum (or oil) for thousands of years in medicine and weapons of war. However, the use of this material did not truly surge until the Industrial Revolution—where oil became valuable as both a fuel for illumination and a lubricant—before it became a replacement for wood, coal,

Mammals are the soft, cuddly creatures of the animal kingdom. Often, mammals are the animals people are most familiar with. They are employed as working animals in the fields, as guards and companions in homes, and their visages inspire the stuffed animals on the beds and in the arms of young

Few animals strike as much fear into people as venomous snakes. Although the chances of running into a venomous snake, much less being bitten and dying from the toxin injected into one’s body, are miniscule compared to dying from cancer, heart disease, or an automobile accident, this seemingly

More than 51,500 different species of spiders are found in the world. Of these, only a small number are said to be dangerous, and less than 30 (less than one-tenth of one percent) have been responsible for human deaths. Why are so few spiders harmful to humans? Much of the reason may result from

Deep lakes hold a special place in the human imagination. The motif of a bottomless lake is widespread in world mythology; in such bodies of water, one generally imagines finding monsters, lost cities, treasures, mermaids, realms of the dead, and so on. Although today we can study bodies of water

Among the most opulent historical buildings in England are its palaces. Here are 9 of the most spectacular ones—most of them royal palaces but a few others too. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Amazing Places You Must See Before You Die, edited by

The American Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865 between the United States and 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. The questions and answers in this list are taken from the Top Questions sections of the articles on the American Civil War,

The Vietnam War was a protracted conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and its allies in South Vietnam, known as the Viet Cong, against the government of South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. It lasted from 1954 to 1975. The questions and answers in this

World War II was the world’s largest and most destructive war. It involved nearly every region of the world, and it resulted in the deaths of as many as 50,000,000 people. The questions and answers in this list are taken from the Top Questions sections of the articles on World War II, Adolf Hitler,

Suze Orman: Orman’s follow-up, The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom (1997), was on The New York Times best-seller list for more than one year. Soon after, she began presenting workshops on public television, and her Financial Freedom hour was one of the most successful programs in public television’s pledge-drive…

The etymology of words can be complicated. In English many words derive from ancient languages such as Latin (candle) and Greek (biology) or are borrowed from other languages (guru, cigar, karaoke). Some common words, however, actually derive their names from people, though that source is often

Adolf Hitler is one of the most well-known—and reviled—figures in history. As the leader of Nazi Germany, he orchestrated both World War II and the Holocaust, events that led to the deaths of at least 40,000,000 people. In the ensuing decades, he was the subject of countless books, documentaries,

The power of the veto held by the president of the United States has served as an important check on the legislative actions of Congress and has been utilized to varying degrees throughout history. Some presidents have chosen to use it in only a handful of instances, whereas others have completely

Alexander, Napoleon, Rommel. Military greatness can most easily be defined by comparison. These battlefield bumblers serve to provide that contrast. list, worst generals, Lee, Confederate, World War I, ancient Rome, Civil War, American Civil War, World War II, NapoleonThis entire list could be

anthraquinone, the most important quinone derivative of anthracene and the parent substance of a large class of dyes and pigments. It is prepared commercially by oxidation of anthracene or condensation of benzene and phthalic anhydride, followed by dehydration of the condensation product. Alizarin

Angela Bassett: …Los Angeles police officer in 9-1-1. She also served as an executive producer on that show and, beginning in 2020, on its spin-off, 9-1-1: Lone Star. Over her career Bassett lent her voice to many animated movies, including Meet the Robinsons (2007), Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle (2015),…

9-11 Commission, bipartisan study group created by U.S. Pres. George W. Bush and the United States Congress on November 27, 2002, to examine the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. The commission’s report served as the basis for a major reform of the U.S. intelligence

hormone: Pheromones: of the honeybee (Apis mellifera), 9-oxodecenoic acid, stimulates the olfactory receptors of the drones (males). Secreted by the queen bee in the hive, the pheromone inhibits the development of the ovaries of the worker bees (sterile females) but is entirely effective only when it acts in conjunction with another inhibitory…

Whoopi Goldberg: Later career: …this time included the drama 9/11 (2017), which centers on a group of people trapped in a World Trade Center elevator during the September 11, 2001, attacks, and the comedy Nobody’s Fool (2018), wherein she played the mother of a recently paroled ex-convict (played by Tiffany Haddish).

September 11 attacks, series of airline hijackings and suicide attacks committed in 2001 by 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda against targets in the United States, the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil in U.S. history. The attacks against New York City and

9/11 Memorial, a monument at the site of the former World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City, honoring the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Nearly 3,000 individuals were killed on September 11 at the World Trade Center

9/11 Memorial, a monument at the site of the former World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City, honoring the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Nearly 3,000 individuals were killed on September 11 at the World Trade Center

James Bridges: Bridges next wrote and directed 9/30/55 (1978; also known as September 30, 1955), a dramatization of a fan (Richard Thomas) struggling to come to grips with the death of idol James Dean in 1955. However, it was the suspenseful The China Syndrome (1979) that became Bridges’s first breakout hit. Jane…

Massimo Bontempelli: …expressed particularly in his review 900 (founded 1926). European in outlook (one foreign editor was James Joyce), 900 sought a middle ground between the extremes of traditionalism and the literary avant-garde.

Siege of Leningrad, prolonged siege (September 8, 1941–January 27, 1944) of the city of Leningrad (St. Petersburg) in the Soviet Union by German and Finnish armed forces during World War II. The siege actually lasted 872 days. After Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, German armies

Yes: …White, enjoyed commercial success with 90125 (1983), a collection that included the hit single “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” and Big Generator (1987); the creation of another group by other Yes veterans (including Bruford, Howe, and Wakeman) led to legal wrangling over ownership of the band’s name. The dispute, which…

Jessica Walter: Arrested Development and later credits: …role on the comedy series 90210, and she later starred opposite George Segal on the sitcom Retired at 35 (2011–12). In addition, Walter voiced (2009–2021) spymaster Malory Archer on the adult animated sitcom Archer. In 2011 she returned to the Broadway stage, appearing in a revival of the musical Anything…

asteroid: Asteroids in unusual orbits: Another asteroid, (944) Hidalgo, is also thought by some to be a defunct comet because of its unusual orbit. That object, discovered in 1920, travels sunward as near as 2.02 AU, which is at the inner edge of the main asteroid belt, and as far as 9.68 AU,…

Generation of 1898, in Spain, the novelists, poets, essayists, and thinkers active at the time of the Spanish-American War (1898), who reinvigorated Spanish letters and restored Spain to a position of intellectual and literary prominence that it had not held for centuries. The shock of Spain’s

Andreas Gursky: …homogenous palette, such as in 99 Cent II Diptychon (2001), a dizzying diptych shot in a 99 Cents Only store. He manipulated the colour to create an explosion of repeating reds, yellows, and oranges dotted with blue, pink, white, and black. He also digitally inserted a reflection of the merchandise…

99 names of God, in Islam, 99 nouns or noun phrases that are used to address God and highlight a particular attribute of God. The names are separate from Allāh, the Arabic word that means “God” and the name that Muslims believe God called himself explicitly in the Qurʾān, the literal word of God.

Dana Gioia: …2002; Pity the Beautiful (2012); 99 Poems (2016); and Meet Me at the Lighthouse (2023).

Phil Karlson: Film noirs: …also starred in the violent 99 River Street (1953), this time portraying a former prizefighter who becomes the prime suspect in his wife’s murder. Karlson briefly took a break from noirs to make the western They Rode West (1954) and Hell’s Island (1955), an adventure starring Payne as a down-on-his-luck…

Apophis, asteroid classified as a Near-Earth Object (NEO) and a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA). It is approximately 335 meters (1,100 feet) wide and has a peanutlike shape. Apophis will make a very close approach to Earth on April 13, 2029, when it will pass less than 32,000 km (20,000 miles)

Walter Abish: … (1970), a collection of poems; 99: The New Meaning (1990), a group of narratives; and the novel Eclipse Fever (1993). Double Vision, a memoir, was published in 2004.

Tuskegee Airmen: …War Department formed the all-black 99th Pursuit Squadron of the U.S. Army Air Corps (later the U.S. Army Air Forces), to be trained using single-engine planes at the segregated Tuskegee Army Air Field at Tuskegee, Alabama. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the black press, and…

Malaysia Airlines flight 17: The destruction of Malaysia Airlines flight 17: …from a Buk (also called SA-11) surface-to-air system that was more than capable of reaching the cruising altitude of flight 17. The missile never struck the aircraft directly. Instead, as intended, its warhead exploded a few feet away from the cockpit, propelling hundreds of shrapnel fragments through the fuselage. The…

9to5, National Association of Working Women: …group had its origins in 9to5 News, a newsletter that was first published in December 1972. About a year later, the newsletter’s publishers announced the formation of Boston 9to5, a grassroots collective for women office workers that addressed issues such as low pay and lack of opportunities for advancement. One…

9to5, National Association of Working Women, organization established in 1973 and dedicated to improving the working conditions and ensuring the rights of women office workers in the United States. The group had its origins in 9to5 News, a newsletter that was first published in December 1972. About