Knowledge
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Today's Word "desuetude"
desuetude \DES-wih-tood, -tyood\ (noun) - The cessation of use; discontinuance of practice or custom; disuse.
"Though access for such purposes had formerly been denied, the custom had fallen into desuetude; and in ...Read more
This Day in History, December 17
On December 17th, 1903, the Wright Brothers made their first powered Heavier-than-Air flight in the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk.
Ice Boat
On a hot summer day by a lake you are determined to build a boat made of ice, using a refrigeration unit and a large mold in which you can pour water. Nearby you notice an Egyptian mummy resting on a pile of wood pulp. What is the best strategy for building an ice boat that will not melt before you sail it across the lake?
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California's wild weather: Brush fires, heavy rains, flooding and even a tornado. More unstable conditions coming
LOS ANGELES — It's only mid-December and already California's weather is putting the state on high alert for winter — and it's likely far from over.
Just this past week, a major wildfire raced into Malibu, fueled by ...Read more
Lake Michigan experiences warmest November in 30 years as climate change heats up the Great Lakes
CHICAGO — The frigid wind and single-digit morning air did not deter Dan O’Conor as he prepared Thursday for his daily plunge into Lake Michigan. Before stripping off his many layers, he tossed a thermometer into the ...Read more
New rules for cutting emissions at Colorado natural gas facilities will be “tough for everybody”
DENVER — Colorado air-quality regulators this week will tackle one of the more complicated rules the state has drafted, ordering about 40 natural gas companies to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions or pay into a ...Read more
After wildfires, ranchers face 2-year delay to graze cattle on federal land – is it doing more harm than good?
Lightning struck deep in the central Idaho mountains on July 24, 2024, igniting the Wapiti Fire that burned across 129,063 acres around Stanley, Idaho – a place known for its scenic vistas and idyllic rural landscape....Read more
Fertilized soil may be a major source of smog near Salton Sea, researchers say
LOS ANGELES — For decades, Southern California’s war on smog has focused on strategies to reduce pollution from tailpipes and smokestacks. But one of the main drivers of lung-aggravating smog may be right underneath ...Read more
Today's Word "bailiwick"
bailiwick \BAY-luh-wik\ (noun) - 1 : A person's specific area of knowledge, authority, interest, skill, or work. 2 : The office or district of a bailiff.
"I'm all of that, Skye. I'm also King. This is my bailiwick. My ...Read more
This Day in History, December 16
On December 16th, 1773, the Boston Tea Party took place.
Tricky Tunnel
You are in a tunnel that branches in two directions, like a T. To your left is a door with the enigmatic words: "Wide ill you" and "Wild lie you." On the right are the words "Evil will you" and "Veil will you." Which door do you choose?
View full teaser and answerToday's Word "pervicacious"
pervicacious \puhr-vih-KAY-shuhs\ (adjective) - Refusing to change one's ideas, behavior, etc.; stubborn; obstinate.
"May they be efficacious upon the mind of one of the most pervicacious young creatures that ever was ...Read more
This Day in History, December 15
On December 15th, 1965, the Gemini 6A was launched from Florida.
Personal Pronouns
"She" is a word that contains two personal pronouns: she and he. What five-letter word beginning with "U" contains four personal pronouns?
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A first-ever tornado warning was issued for San Francisco County early Saturday as powerful winds swept through region
LOS ANGELES — A first-ever tornado warning was issued for San Francisco County early Saturday as thunderstorms and wind gusts of up to 80 mph swept through the region, officials said.
"Take shelter now in a basement or ...Read more
Space Florida to discuss secretive $1.8 billion Cape Canaveral launch site project
ORLANDO, Fla. — Could Elon Musk and SpaceX be set to drop $1.8 billion for new launch support facilities in Cape Canaveral?
Space Florida, the state’s aerospace economic development entity, isn’t saying just who ...Read more
How a thumb-sized climate migrant with a giant crab claw is disrupting the Northeast’s Great Marsh ecosystem
A decade ago, I stood on the muddy banks of the Great Marsh, a salt marsh an hour north of Boston, and pulled a thumb-sized crab with an absurdly large claw out of a burrow. I was looking at a fiddler crab – a species...Read more
Today's Word "inexorable"
inexorable \in-EK-sur-uh-bul; in-EKS-ruh-bul\ (adjective) - Not to be persuaded or moved by entreaty or prayer; firm; determined; unyielding; unchangeable; inflexible; relentless.
"As he watched -- with a sense of seeing ...Read more
This Day in History, December 14
On December 14th, 1896, the Glasgow Underground Railway was opened.
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