Articolele zilei - Articles of the day

The Ishtar Gate was a massive entryway built in the ancient city of Babylon around 575 BCE by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II. Named for the goddess Ishtar—an ancient fertility deity and the most widely worshiped goddess in Babylon—the gate was more than 38 feet (12 m) high and adorned with images of 575 dragons and bulls in 13 rows. Through the gate ran the stone- and brick-paved Processional Way, lined with 120 brick lions. Where is there a reproduction of the Ishtar Gate? Discuss

Also known as Pythagoras' constant, the square root of 2 is a positive real number that, when multiplied by itself, results in the number 2. Though perhaps less well known than pi, the square root of 2 was probably the first known irrational number—a real number that cannot be expressed as a ratio of two integers—and approximations of it have been found on an ancient Babylonian tablet and in ancient Indian texts. To how many decimal places has the value of the square root of 2 been calculated? Discuss

Camel racing has been a popular sport in the Arab world for thousands of years, however, this "Sport of Sheiks" has recently earned condemnation from human rights groups for its almost exclusive use of child jockeys, usually boys around the age of four, who are sold to race organizers or camel owners and starved to reduce their weight. In response, nations such as Qatar have banned the use of child jockeys and replaced them with robots developed by a Swiss robotics firm. How do they work?

In Greek mythology, Chaos—or Khaos—was the first thing to exist, the vacant space from which all earthly and divine things arose. According to the ancient Greeks, it was made up of the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Sometimes personified as the most ancient of gods, it appears in various legends attributing the creation of all things to either the goddess Eurynome or the goddess Gaea—each of whom has been said to have risen from Chaos. Who gave the word "chaos" its modern meaning? Discuss

First-person shooters are action video games in which players use handheld weapons to shoot targets in game worlds rendered from the visual perspective of the player characters. These types of games were the first to make extensive use of multiplayer gaming. Among the most popular video games on the market today, first-person shooters are also the subject of controversy due to their graphic depictions of violence and killing. What game has been linked to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre? Discuss

After completing high school or college, more and more students around the world are opting to take a year off to travel before continuing their education or entering the workplace. Known as a gap year, among many other names, the prolonged break—often but not always lasting a year—is usually spent working, learning a language, or combining activities into a so-called working holiday. Another popular option for "gappers" is a growing trend called "voluntourism," which is what? Discuss

Found in the American tropics from Mexico to northern South America and the Caribbean, the mamoncillo is a tree that bears a small, edible fruit with green, leathery skin and a sweet, juicy, translucent pulp. Also known as quenepas, Spanish limes, limoncillos, and ackees, among other names, the fruits are traditionally eaten by cracking the thin layer of skin with the teeth and putting the whole pulp in the mouth. According to Caribbean folk wisdom, what can be learned from eating the fruit? Discuss

A vital concept in rocket science, escape velocity is the minimum speed a body must achieve in order to escape from the gravitational field of a larger celestial body, such as Earth or the Sun. Escape velocity decreases with altitude and depends on the mass of the larger body and the distance of the smaller body from the larger one's center. The velocity needed to escape from the Earth at its surface is approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) per second. What is the escape velocity at the Sun's surface? Discuss

Lateral epicondylitis or lateral epicondylosis, commonly known as tennis elbow, is a painful inflammation of several structures in the elbow resulting from overuse of lower arm muscles—those often used while playing tennis and other sports. When wrist muscles in the forearm are repeatedly and forcefully contracted, the stress causes microscopic tears, leading to inflammation. Though associated with sports players, mechanics and carpenters are also at risk for the condition. How is it treated? Discuss

Haloalkanes are a group of organic chemical compounds in which halogen atoms have been substituted for hydrogen atoms. Known under many chemical and commercial names, they have wide applications including in flame-retardants, refrigerants, propellants, and solvents. The best-known examples are chlorofluorocarbons, which are known for their role in ozone depletion. Other examples include hydrofluorocarbons and polymer haloaklanes, such as polytetrafluoroethene, which is better known as what? Discuss

Situated approximately 1,312 ft (400 m) below sea level between Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea is the lowest lake in the world. It is also one of its saltiest water bodies and supports no life. However, it has become a major center for health research and treatment because of the water's mineral content, the low levels of allergens in the atmosphere there, the reduced ultraviolet radiation, and the higher atmospheric pressure. What skin disease may be helped by a soak in the Dead Sea? Discuss

Widely used in the production of rubber goods, natural latex can cause allergic reactions with symptoms ranging from minor skin irritation to asthma and life-threatening anaphylaxis. Generally, this allergy affects people sensitized by repeated exposure to latex. Healthcare workers who frequently use latex gloves and other latex-containing medical supplies are especially at risk. What prestigious hospital recently decided to replace all of its latex surgical gloves with synthetic alternatives? Discuss

Put simply, probiotics are harmless bacteria that help protect the human body from harmful bacteria. Probiotic bacterial cultures are intended to help the body reestablish its naturally occurring gut flora—microorganisms that normally live in the digestive tract. One of the most common types of microbes used is lactic acid bacteria, which actively convert lactose into lactic acid and may help individuals with what conditions? Discuss

One of the oldest mystical symbols in the world, the ouroboros, Greek for "tail-devourer," is an ancient representation of a serpent or dragon swallowing its own tail and forming a circle. It is important in the religious and mythological symbolism of many cultures and generally represents cyclicality, unity, or infinity. In Gnosticism, it symbolizes the soul of the world. What organic chemist claimed that a dream featuring an ouroboros inspired his discovery of the structure of benzene? Discuss

Towering above the surrounding plains, Sigiriya is an ancient Sri Lankan rock fortress noted for its unique frescoes and landscaped gardens. Likely built in the fifth century, the site includes the remains of an upper palace on the flat top of the rock, a middle terrace featuring a polished porcelain "mirror wall," a lower palace, and a surrounding moat system. An important example of urban planning in the first millennium, the fortress contains sophisticated engineering features, such as what? Discuss

One of the most shameful acts in the history of American medicine, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study allowed 400 African-American men with syphilis—mostly poor, uneducated tenant farmers—to go untreated for almost 40 years. Begun in 1932 and sponsored by the US government, the study deliberately withheld treatments—and later the cure—from participants in order to chart the course of untreated syphilis. The study was not shut down until press reports emerged in 1972. What happened in the aftermath? Discuss

Assassin is a real-life role-playing game that is particularly popular on college campuses. Though rules vary, the game usually begins when a host assigns targets to the players. The goal is for players to track down and eliminate their targets—acquiring the eliminated victim's target each time—until only one player remains. Targets are pursued around the clock, so to be successful, players must remain vigilant at all times. What are some of the "weapons" used to eliminate targets? Discuss

Spring Heeled Jack appears in Victorian-era English folklore as a devilish-looking creature with remarkable leaping ability. After the first alleged sighting in 1837, reports of his supposed exploits and attacks on young women began appearing in the press. Each account furnished him with additional diabolical features, such as cold, clawed hands and glowing eyes. "Sightings" persisted until 1904, and he remains an enduring part of popular culture. What may account for the widespread sightings? Discuss

After the removal of an eye, many patients experience one or more phantom phenomena, including phantom pain, non-painful phantom sensations, or visual hallucinations usually consisting of basic perceptions, such as shapes and colors. Less common than phantom limb pain, which is experienced by 50 to 78 percent of amputees, phantom eye pain develops in only about 30 percent of patients. What factor may cause phantom limb pain to be more common than phantom eye pain? Discuss

Since 1924, "Kleenex" has been the trademarked brand name of facial tissues manufactured by Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. The global popularity of the product, originally marketed to the public as a cold cream remover and later, in the 1930s, as a disposable handkerchief, has led consumers to use the Kleenex name when referring to any facial tissue, regardless of brand. The first tissues were produced using a material that was designed during WWI and was used in what way by the US military? Discuss

Found only in the lowland rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the bonobo is an endangered species of great ape whose name has been variously reported as being a Bantu word for "chimpanzee" or "ancestor" or a misspelling of the name of the town of Bolobo on the Congo River. Sometimes called pygmy chimpanzees, bonobos closely resemble common chimpanzees in appearance and way of life but usually live in larger groups and are said to be less aggressive. How do bonobos settle disputes? Discuss

Found only in the lowland rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the bonobo is an endangered species of great ape whose name has been variously reported as being a Bantu word for "chimpanzee" or "ancestor" or a misspelling of the name of the town of Bolobo on the Congo River. Sometimes called pygmy chimpanzees, bonobos closely resemble common chimpanzees in appearance and way of life but usually live in larger groups and are said to be less aggressive. How do bonobos settle disputes? Discuss

Tonsil stones, or tonsilloliths, are clusters of calcareous matter that form in the rear of the mouth in the crevasses of the tonsils, called tonsillar crypts. Though the mechanism by which they form is debated, they are known to be composed of calcium salts, sometimes in combination with mineral salts. Typically small in size, they can be difficult to diagnose. However, they are not harmful and can usually be removed by the patient. How big can tonsilloliths get? Discuss

The most common forms of identity theft occur when someone obtains another person's personal information, such as a date of birth, and uses it to open a fraudulent bank, credit card, or other account, or to obtain false loans. In other cases, criminals provide another's name and information to police when arrested, so that the charges appear on that person's record. According to at least one survey, the emotional impact felt by victims of identity theft is similar to that felt by whom? Discuss

Born in the seventh century, Songtsän Gampo was the founder of the Tibetan empire. Though much of the information about his life is derived from legend and tradition, Gampo is believed to have ascended to the throne while still a minor. He is widely credited with bringing many cultural and technological advances to Tibet. Most notably, he is considered to be the first of the three rulers, known as the "Dharma Kings," who established Buddhism in Tibet. Who were the other two? Discuss

Standing 28,251 ft (8,611 m) high on the border of China and Pakistan, K2 is the second highest mountain in the world. Although the summit of Mt. Everest is at a higher altitude, K2 is considered a more difficult climb, due in part to its severe weather. Part of the Karakorum segment of the Himalayas, the peak was first scaled in 1954, but only a few hundred climbers have ever reached the summit—compared to the thousands who have ascended Everest. Why is the mountain called "K2"? Discuss

Featured in many popular films and TV shows, offender profiling is a method of identifying the perpetrator of a crime by analyzing the circumstances of an offense and then forming a description of the offender based on personality traits linked with the commission of such a crime. Though many criminals have been captured with the help of profiling, critics argue that it can distract from potential suspects who do not "fit the profile." What murderers have been caught with the aid of profiling? Discuss

Also known as bronze diabetes, hemochromatosis is a blood disorder that causes the body to retain excessive amounts of iron, leading to serious health consequences, including diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver. It was first described in 1865 by French physician Armand Trousseau in a report on diabetes in patients with bronze skin pigmentation. The disease most commonly appears in older patients, since it takes many years for the body to accumulate excessive iron. How is hemochromatosis treated? Discuss

Riverboarding is a sport in which thrill-seekers—and sometimes even emergency rescuers—lie prone on a specialized board and ride down rivers, through rapids, and over waterfalls using swim fins for propulsion and steering, at times performing tricks. The sport is known as hydrospeed in France, where it is thought to have originated in the late 1970s with river guides riding burlap mailsacks stuffed with life vests. What is the current record for tallest waterfall descended using a riverboard? Discuss

In winter, when temperatures dip below freezing and food supplies dwindle, some animals enter hibernation—an inactive state in which metabolism nearly stops, body temperature drops, and heart rate may slow to one or two beats a minute. Though the exact stimulus that triggers hibernation is unknown, infusing an extract from the blood of a hibernating animal into an active potential hibernator has been shown to induce hibernation, indicating that the cause may be blood-borne. What is estivation? Discuss