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Sciences > Astronomy Could there be life on other planets?: 1 of 42
In 1953 quite a bit of excitement was generated when Science magazine published a brief research paper entitled "A Production of Amino Acids Under Possible Earth Conditions" by Stanley L. Miller. In the paper, Miller described how he zapped a flask filled with methane, ammonia, hydrogen and water vapor with an electrical char... More..
Arts & Humanities > Colonial & Early American History Was America founded as a Christian nation?: 3 of 78
The term, "Christian Nation", implies an exclusivity towards religion that is in direct opposition to the founding principles upon which the United States was founded."Freedom" is the overriding principle. This word, and its synonym, "liberty", occur prominently in the documents that form the country's foundation. Liberty is ... More..
Sciences > Anthropology (Other) The debate on Darwin's theory of evolution: 3 of 30
It's natural that Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, first published in 1859, should provoke spirited debate today. His theory describes a process that cannot be observed, though the results of the process can be. The process itself is veiled by the immense stretches of time over which it works.Darwin named the process "na... More..
Sciences > Geology & Geophysics A guide to backyard geology: 2 of 20
Geologists love field trips. They'll travel thousands of miles to explore rich geological sites such as the Grand Canyon of the United States or the Great Rift Valley of Africa. In these locales, earth and rocks from many different eras lie exposed, laid down in strata, like pages in a book.It's unlikely that you'll find anyt... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Political & Economic Theory Supply-side economics: Do lower taxes increase a country's economic health?: 3 of 21
Supply-side economics dictates that too high a tax rate quashes incentives for individuals to earn more. Businesses also lose incentive to invest capital to expand their operations. The economy ceases to grow, gross domestic product is suppressed, and as a result tax revenues decline. Governments are tempted to either further... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Time: 133 of 759
Time is an abstractionthat's also very real.It affects how we thinkand also how we feel.It's what makes us angrywhen we have to waitand it also makes us anxiouswhen we think we're late.It's not something solid.You can't hold it in your hand,but it flows through an hourglasswith each grain of sand.Time may have always been,or ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Arts & Humanities (Other) 10 things you can do in the library that will really annoy the other patrons: 27 of 90
Ten Library No-nosSome library patrons consider their environment a hallowed place, so it is very easy to transgress their expectations of proper behavior.Here are ten of my favorites.10. Bringing in food, especially loud, crunchy food like potato chips or peanut brittle, is not welcomed by your fellow library patrons. Be sur... More..
Sports & Recreation > Baseball (Other) Why baseball is the 'national pastime': 6 of 18
Baseball has long been called the national pastime of the United States-since the late 1800s, in fact. Its popularity grew rapidly after it took root in immigrant communities of the northeastern United States, adapted from a British and Irish game called "Rounders." It spread nationwide during the American Civil War. Eleven y... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Politics, News & Issues (Other) Creationism vs. evolution: Will the controversy ever end?: 22 of 58
In 1850 everyone in Europe and the Americas, except some scattered souls, was a creationist. Controversy simmered occasionally over whether evolution may have played a role in forming Earth's species, but evolutionary theory, as espoused anonymously in the popular book, "Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation", published... More..
Arts & Humanities > American Authors Courage in The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane: 1 of 1
"The Red Badge of Courage" opens on the eve of a rumored battle during the American Civil War. It is a union army regiment's first battle, and a young soldier's latent doubts about his courage begin to surface.His doubts take him by surprise. He had thought of himself as courageous. Author Stephen Crane writes: "In visions he... More..