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November 10, 2024
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
This was a breakout moment for companies taking bets on the election’s outcome. Betting markets got attention for their early predictions of a victory by for...
This was a breakout moment for companies taking bets on the election’s outcome. Betting markets got attention for their early predictions of a victory by for...
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FREEEngineering PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
What’s a little rain while you’re driving? Terrifying. At least, it was at the beginning of the 20th century. American inventor Mary Anderson filed the first-ever patent for a windshield wiper on this day in 1903. Before then, people just had to make do with wet or muddy windshields. However, Anderson never got to reap the rewards for her world-changing invention.
Born in Alabama in 1866, Anderson wasn’t a career inventor. Little is known about her early life, but as an adult, she was a winemaker, rancher, and real estate developer. By all available accounts, her invention of the first windshield wiper was her one and only foray into the world of engineering or design. But her varied job titles implies that she likely had a keen eye for spotting opportunities, and the inspiration for her invention was no exception. The story goes that Anderson was visiting New York City during the winter and boarded a streetcar on one particularly wet and blustery day. Because of the inclement weather, the windshield of the streetcar kept getting splattered with water and debris, forcing the driver to open a window to manually wipe the windshield clean. Every time he did so, cold wind would blast through the opening, and this didn’t sit well with Anderson, who was used to the balmy Southern weather of her home state. Streetcar drivers weren’t the only ones who had to contend with this problem, of course. As automobiles became more common, the drivers of those vehicles resorted to similar measures or simply drove with their heads sticking out car windows. Inspired by the streetcar driver’s struggle, and perhaps frustrated by the cold ride, Anderson set out to come up with a better solution. In 1903, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Anderson with U.S. Patent No. 743,801, or Window-Cleaning Device.
Anderson’s invention, though groundbreaking for its time, doesn’t resemble the modern iteration much. Her version was still operated by hand (albeit from the inside) and consisted of a single rubber blade to clear the windshield. The device also included a counterweight to keep the blade firmly in contact with the glass, and though it was relatively primitive, it was still pretty effective. Unfortunately for Anderson, automakers were hesitant to embrace her invention early on. Despite several attempts, Anderson was never able to attract investors or have them manufactured for sale due to lack of interest. She may have simply been too ahead of her time. Automakers didn’t start making windshield wipers standard equipment in their vehicles until 1916. By then, Anderson’s patent had expired, keeping her from making any profit from her inventions through licensing. Then again, maybe automakers didn’t adopt her windshield wipers on purpose so as not to pay her any fees, though the actual reason is unclear.
Though her invention may not have earned her any money, Anderson has since been recognized for her contribution. In 2011, over 60 years after her death, she was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. These days, many improvements have been made to her original windshield wiper. In 1917, Charlotte Bridgewood invented the Electric Storm Windshield Cleaner (U.S. Patent No. 1,274,983), the first to be powered by electricity. A few years later, in 1922, brothers William M. and Fred Folberth invented the simply-named Windshield Cleaner (U.S. Patent No. 1,420,538) which was powered by redirected engine exhaust. However, the version that most windshield wipers are based on today was invented by Robert Kearns in the 1960s. Called Windshield Wiper System With Intermittent Operation (U.S. Patent No. 3,351,836), it was motorized and capable of variable speeds. Who knew there were so many ways to clean a windshield?
[Image description: raindrops on a windshield which has been partially wiped clean.] Credit & copyright: Valeriia Miller, PexelsWhat’s a little rain while you’re driving? Terrifying. At least, it was at the beginning of the 20th century. American inventor Mary Anderson filed the first-ever patent for a windshield wiper on this day in 1903. Before then, people just had to make do with wet or muddy windshields. However, Anderson never got to reap the rewards for her world-changing invention.
Born in Alabama in 1866, Anderson wasn’t a career inventor. Little is known about her early life, but as an adult, she was a winemaker, rancher, and real estate developer. By all available accounts, her invention of the first windshield wiper was her one and only foray into the world of engineering or design. But her varied job titles implies that she likely had a keen eye for spotting opportunities, and the inspiration for her invention was no exception. The story goes that Anderson was visiting New York City during the winter and boarded a streetcar on one particularly wet and blustery day. Because of the inclement weather, the windshield of the streetcar kept getting splattered with water and debris, forcing the driver to open a window to manually wipe the windshield clean. Every time he did so, cold wind would blast through the opening, and this didn’t sit well with Anderson, who was used to the balmy Southern weather of her home state. Streetcar drivers weren’t the only ones who had to contend with this problem, of course. As automobiles became more common, the drivers of those vehicles resorted to similar measures or simply drove with their heads sticking out car windows. Inspired by the streetcar driver’s struggle, and perhaps frustrated by the cold ride, Anderson set out to come up with a better solution. In 1903, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Anderson with U.S. Patent No. 743,801, or Window-Cleaning Device.
Anderson’s invention, though groundbreaking for its time, doesn’t resemble the modern iteration much. Her version was still operated by hand (albeit from the inside) and consisted of a single rubber blade to clear the windshield. The device also included a counterweight to keep the blade firmly in contact with the glass, and though it was relatively primitive, it was still pretty effective. Unfortunately for Anderson, automakers were hesitant to embrace her invention early on. Despite several attempts, Anderson was never able to attract investors or have them manufactured for sale due to lack of interest. She may have simply been too ahead of her time. Automakers didn’t start making windshield wipers standard equipment in their vehicles until 1916. By then, Anderson’s patent had expired, keeping her from making any profit from her inventions through licensing. Then again, maybe automakers didn’t adopt her windshield wipers on purpose so as not to pay her any fees, though the actual reason is unclear.
Though her invention may not have earned her any money, Anderson has since been recognized for her contribution. In 2011, over 60 years after her death, she was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. These days, many improvements have been made to her original windshield wiper. In 1917, Charlotte Bridgewood invented the Electric Storm Windshield Cleaner (U.S. Patent No. 1,274,983), the first to be powered by electricity. A few years later, in 1922, brothers William M. and Fred Folberth invented the simply-named Windshield Cleaner (U.S. Patent No. 1,420,538) which was powered by redirected engine exhaust. However, the version that most windshield wipers are based on today was invented by Robert Kearns in the 1960s. Called Windshield Wiper System With Intermittent Operation (U.S. Patent No. 3,351,836), it was motorized and capable of variable speeds. Who knew there were so many ways to clean a windshield?
[Image description: raindrops on a windshield which has been partially wiped clean.] Credit & copyright: Valeriia Miller, Pexels
November 9, 2024
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: November 9, 2024\in-KOH-ut\ adjective
What It Means
Inchoate is a formal adjective and synonym of vague that describes some...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: November 9, 2024\in-KOH-ut\ adjective
What It Means
Inchoate is a formal adjective and synonym of vague that describes some...
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: China has unveiled measures worth $1.4 trillion to tackle a mountain of local government debt, as Beijing steps up plans to suppo...
From the BBC World Service: China has unveiled measures worth $1.4 trillion to tackle a mountain of local government debt, as Beijing steps up plans to suppo...
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FREEBoxing Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
Some people just can’t take it easy. American boxer Ray Charles Leonard, better known as Sugar Ray Leonard, retired for the first time on this day in 1982, but he couldn’t stay out of the ring for long. Born on May 17, 1956 in North Carolina, Leonard is widely considered the greatest professional boxer still alive today. As an amateur, he won gold in the light-welterweight class at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games. As a professional, he won 36 out of 40 matches (25 by knockout), thanks in large part to his superior finesse and footwork. Leonard retired for the first time in 1982, but returned to the ring briefly in 1984 before retiring again. He came out of retirement yet again in 1986 to fight Marvelous Marvin Hagler the following year and emerged victorious with the WBC middleweight title. He retired for the penultimate time in 1991, but came out of retirement for the third and final time in 1997 for one last bout, which he lost. After retiring from boxing for good that same year, he continued to work as a commentator. Today, he continues to make TV appearances and focuses on his philanthropic efforts through the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation, which raises awareness and funding for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Who says a boxer can’t help knock out societal problems?
[Image description: Boxing gloves against a gray background.] Credit & copyright: Mikhail Nilov, Pexels
Some people just can’t take it easy. American boxer Ray Charles Leonard, better known as Sugar Ray Leonard, retired for the first time on this day in 1982, but he couldn’t stay out of the ring for long. Born on May 17, 1956 in North Carolina, Leonard is widely considered the greatest professional boxer still alive today. As an amateur, he won gold in the light-welterweight class at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games. As a professional, he won 36 out of 40 matches (25 by knockout), thanks in large part to his superior finesse and footwork. Leonard retired for the first time in 1982, but returned to the ring briefly in 1984 before retiring again. He came out of retirement yet again in 1986 to fight Marvelous Marvin Hagler the following year and emerged victorious with the WBC middleweight title. He retired for the penultimate time in 1991, but came out of retirement for the third and final time in 1997 for one last bout, which he lost. After retiring from boxing for good that same year, he continued to work as a commentator. Today, he continues to make TV appearances and focuses on his philanthropic efforts through the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation, which raises awareness and funding for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Who says a boxer can’t help knock out societal problems?
[Image description: Boxing gloves against a gray background.] Credit & copyright: Mikhail Nilov, Pexels
November 8, 2024
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
The Federal Reserve cut its short-term interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point yesterday. At his briefing, Fed Chair Jerome Powell stayed away from ...
The Federal Reserve cut its short-term interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point yesterday. At his briefing, Fed Chair Jerome Powell stayed away from ...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: November 8, 2024\FAYN\ verb
What It Means
To feign something (such as surprise, ignorance, or sleep) is to pretend to feel ...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: November 8, 2024\FAYN\ verb
What It Means
To feign something (such as surprise, ignorance, or sleep) is to pretend to feel ...
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FREEMind + Body Daily CurioFree1 CQ
Tuesday might have passed, but who says there can't be a taco Friday? Tacos are a simple food with a surprisingly complicated (and contested) history. Were they created centuries ago by indigenous peoples before the Spanish even conquered the Aztec Empire? Or do they owe their invention to the more recent Mexican mining industry?
Tacos are folded tortillas stuffed with a variety of fillings, and all of their ingredients can vary greatly. Tortillas can be made from flour or corn, and can be either soft or fried into a crispy shell. Fillings usually include at least one kind of meat, which can be anything from ground beef, shredded pork, fish, or shrimp. Other common fillings include shredded lettuce, onions, refried beans, black beans, peppers, cilantro, and salsa.
Some food historians believe that tacos were invented by indigenous peoples living in the Valley of Mexico’s lake region sometime in the 16th century. Some evidence suggests that the people there once ate tortillas stuffed with fish caught in nearby lakes. Aztec and Maya peoples might have also consumed tacos, or similar dishes. The origin of the word “taco” probably has its roots in Mexico’s 18th-century silver mining industry. To bust through rock, miners would wrap gunpowder in paper, which they stuck into walls and lit. These charges were called “tacos.” The food was likely named after them since, in the 19th century, one of the first written recipes for tacos refers to them as "tacos de minero", or “miner’s tacos.”
As industrialization took off and more people in Mexico moved to urban areas, food stands and carts known as taquerías began popping up in big cities. They became especially popular in Mexico City, where taquerías serving all sorts of regional taco variations were available side by side. In the early 1900s, refugees fleeing the Mexican revolution began arriving in the U.S., bringing their recipes with them. By the mid-20th century, tacos were a popular food in American cities, and they only continued to spread thanks to their easy-to-find, relatively inexpensive list of ingredients. Today, you can tacos just about anywhere, at just about any time of day or night. Pass the hot sauce!
[Image description: A close-up photo of shrimp tacos in tortillas, with veggies and lime wedges.] Credit & copyright: Los Muertos Crew, PexelsTuesday might have passed, but who says there can't be a taco Friday? Tacos are a simple food with a surprisingly complicated (and contested) history. Were they created centuries ago by indigenous peoples before the Spanish even conquered the Aztec Empire? Or do they owe their invention to the more recent Mexican mining industry?
Tacos are folded tortillas stuffed with a variety of fillings, and all of their ingredients can vary greatly. Tortillas can be made from flour or corn, and can be either soft or fried into a crispy shell. Fillings usually include at least one kind of meat, which can be anything from ground beef, shredded pork, fish, or shrimp. Other common fillings include shredded lettuce, onions, refried beans, black beans, peppers, cilantro, and salsa.
Some food historians believe that tacos were invented by indigenous peoples living in the Valley of Mexico’s lake region sometime in the 16th century. Some evidence suggests that the people there once ate tortillas stuffed with fish caught in nearby lakes. Aztec and Maya peoples might have also consumed tacos, or similar dishes. The origin of the word “taco” probably has its roots in Mexico’s 18th-century silver mining industry. To bust through rock, miners would wrap gunpowder in paper, which they stuck into walls and lit. These charges were called “tacos.” The food was likely named after them since, in the 19th century, one of the first written recipes for tacos refers to them as "tacos de minero", or “miner’s tacos.”
As industrialization took off and more people in Mexico moved to urban areas, food stands and carts known as taquerías began popping up in big cities. They became especially popular in Mexico City, where taquerías serving all sorts of regional taco variations were available side by side. In the early 1900s, refugees fleeing the Mexican revolution began arriving in the U.S., bringing their recipes with them. By the mid-20th century, tacos were a popular food in American cities, and they only continued to spread thanks to their easy-to-find, relatively inexpensive list of ingredients. Today, you can tacos just about anywhere, at just about any time of day or night. Pass the hot sauce!
[Image description: A close-up photo of shrimp tacos in tortillas, with veggies and lime wedges.] Credit & copyright: Los Muertos Crew, Pexels
November 7, 2024
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9 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Germany’s coalition government is falling apart after the chancellor unexpectedly sacked his finance minister yesterday. Electio...
From the BBC World Service: Germany’s coalition government is falling apart after the chancellor unexpectedly sacked his finance minister yesterday. Electio...
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FREEAstronomy Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Who would have thought that carpenters might lead humanity to the stars? Developed by scientists at Kyoto University and logging company Sumitomo Forestry, the first ever wooden satellite has been launched into orbit 250 miles above the Earth. It’s meant to serve a surprisingly practical purpose. With thousands of satellites orbiting around the Earth at any given moment, space junk has never been more of a concern. Not only are satellites leaving behind potentially harmful materials as they fall to Earth, the ever-growing collection of abandoned hardware floating around poses a serious threat to humanity’s future in space. When even small pieces of metal collide at orbital velocity, the result can be catastrophic—more so when passengers are involved. That’s why the scientists in Japan developed the LignoSat, a 4-inch wide, sube-shaped satellite made mostly of wood rather than metal. Launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on an unmanned SpaceX rocket, the satellite is designed to disintegrate harmlessly on reentry at the end of its service life, reducing its footprint on the environment both on Earth and in space. Wood might not be as fancy as space-age aluminum or titanium alloys, but the scientists who designed LignoSat believe that the material is perfectly adequate for use in space, as the lack of water and oxygen in that environment means that it can’t rot or burn. Of course, not everything on the satellite can be made of wood—the internal components in LignoSat are conventional electronics designed to monitor the wood’s condition during its journey—but it does significantly reduce the metal needed with a renewable resource. For now, LignoSat is scheduled to orbit around the planet for six months before it’s decommissioned, but if it proves wood’s mettle as a metal substitute, more wooden satellites could follow. What’s next, log-cabin space stations?
[Image description: A starry night sky.] Credit & copyright: Felix Mittermeier, Pexels
Who would have thought that carpenters might lead humanity to the stars? Developed by scientists at Kyoto University and logging company Sumitomo Forestry, the first ever wooden satellite has been launched into orbit 250 miles above the Earth. It’s meant to serve a surprisingly practical purpose. With thousands of satellites orbiting around the Earth at any given moment, space junk has never been more of a concern. Not only are satellites leaving behind potentially harmful materials as they fall to Earth, the ever-growing collection of abandoned hardware floating around poses a serious threat to humanity’s future in space. When even small pieces of metal collide at orbital velocity, the result can be catastrophic—more so when passengers are involved. That’s why the scientists in Japan developed the LignoSat, a 4-inch wide, sube-shaped satellite made mostly of wood rather than metal. Launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on an unmanned SpaceX rocket, the satellite is designed to disintegrate harmlessly on reentry at the end of its service life, reducing its footprint on the environment both on Earth and in space. Wood might not be as fancy as space-age aluminum or titanium alloys, but the scientists who designed LignoSat believe that the material is perfectly adequate for use in space, as the lack of water and oxygen in that environment means that it can’t rot or burn. Of course, not everything on the satellite can be made of wood—the internal components in LignoSat are conventional electronics designed to monitor the wood’s condition during its journey—but it does significantly reduce the metal needed with a renewable resource. For now, LignoSat is scheduled to orbit around the planet for six months before it’s decommissioned, but if it proves wood’s mettle as a metal substitute, more wooden satellites could follow. What’s next, log-cabin space stations?
[Image description: A starry night sky.] Credit & copyright: Felix Mittermeier, Pexels
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FREEMusic Appreciation Daily Curio #2974Free1 CQ
If you want a rags to riches story with a great soundtrack, there’s none greater than that of Quincy Jones. The celebrated composer, producer, and businessman passed away recently at the age of 91, leaving a legacy that is unlikely to ever be matched. Born on March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. had a difficult childhood. After his mother was institutionalized due to mental health issues, Jones became involved with gangs, got into fights, and even had his hand nailed to a fence with a switchblade knife. However, he discovered a passion for music at an early age and began playing on a neighbor’s piano. As a teen, he befriended Ray Charles after a chance meeting, and by age 20, Jones was touring in a jazz band. By the 1960s, he was a music executive at Mercury Records and began working as a film composer.
As a producer, he branched out from his jazz roots and worked in a wide range of genres, finding himself just as much at ease with pop stars like Lesley Gore as he was with crooners like Frank Sinatra. Jones also collaborated with Michael Jackson frequently, producing several albums, including the iconic Thriller. Beyond music, Jones was also a prominent figure in TV and film. In 1985, he produced Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple, which was nominated for 11 Academy Awards. In 1990, he founded Quincy Jones Entertainment, which produced a number of hit TV shows, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Through his prolific collaborations with some of the biggest musical acts in the world and the 35 films he scored, Quincy Jones helped shape the musical landscape of the last century. By the time he passed, he held 28 Grammy Awards and a slew of other accolades and awards. But even if you’ve never heard his name until now, you have heard his work and will continue to hear it for a very long time.
[Image description: A close-up photo of a record playing.] Credit & copyright: Bob Clark, PexelsIf you want a rags to riches story with a great soundtrack, there’s none greater than that of Quincy Jones. The celebrated composer, producer, and businessman passed away recently at the age of 91, leaving a legacy that is unlikely to ever be matched. Born on March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. had a difficult childhood. After his mother was institutionalized due to mental health issues, Jones became involved with gangs, got into fights, and even had his hand nailed to a fence with a switchblade knife. However, he discovered a passion for music at an early age and began playing on a neighbor’s piano. As a teen, he befriended Ray Charles after a chance meeting, and by age 20, Jones was touring in a jazz band. By the 1960s, he was a music executive at Mercury Records and began working as a film composer.
As a producer, he branched out from his jazz roots and worked in a wide range of genres, finding himself just as much at ease with pop stars like Lesley Gore as he was with crooners like Frank Sinatra. Jones also collaborated with Michael Jackson frequently, producing several albums, including the iconic Thriller. Beyond music, Jones was also a prominent figure in TV and film. In 1985, he produced Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple, which was nominated for 11 Academy Awards. In 1990, he founded Quincy Jones Entertainment, which produced a number of hit TV shows, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Through his prolific collaborations with some of the biggest musical acts in the world and the 35 films he scored, Quincy Jones helped shape the musical landscape of the last century. By the time he passed, he held 28 Grammy Awards and a slew of other accolades and awards. But even if you’ve never heard his name until now, you have heard his work and will continue to hear it for a very long time.
[Image description: A close-up photo of a record playing.] Credit & copyright: Bob Clark, Pexels
November 6, 2024
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
Donald Trump has won the race for the White House. What does that mean for financial markets? With Ben Kumar, head of equity strategy at Seven Investment Man...
Donald Trump has won the race for the White House. What does that mean for financial markets? With Ben Kumar, head of equity strategy at Seven Investment Man...
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FREEBiology Daily Curio #2973Free1 CQ
It’s a tiny toad, but it’s making a big splash. Scientists at the Biology Institute of the University of Campinas in Brazil have discovered the second-smallest vertebrate ever. It’s a new species of toad that’s smaller than a fingernail. Also called toadlets, flea toads are possibly the smallest vertebrates in the world. The newly discovered species, Brachycephalus dacnis, is the second-smallest in stature, behind only Brachycephalus pulex, which was discovered in 2011. Flea toads get their name from their ability to jump astounding distances relative to their size. They have other differences that set them apart from larger frogs, too. For one, flea toads bypass the traditional tadpole stage and emerge from their eggs fully developed, a rare trait among frogs. Unlike other frogs that lay hundreds of eggs per reproductive cycle, flea toads only produce two at a time. Then there are some of the more extreme differences in anatomy, like fewer bones, fewer digits, and even missing organs. According to Luís Felipe Toledo, one of the researchers who published a paper on the new species, these adaptations are the result of miniaturization, a process in which a species evolves to be smaller.
Different species of flea toads are much more similar to one another than they are to larger frogs. In fact, they tend to look so much alike that their exact species can only be determined via DNA testing or in-depth analysis of their anatomy. That, combined with the fact that flea toads are very difficult to find in the wild, leads Toledo and other researchers to believe that there may be more species of flea toads than previously thought. Toledo also believes that flea toads may represent the very limit of how small vertebrates can get, and that it’s unlikely that any other undiscovered species in the genus Brachycephalus could be much smaller. That’s not too hard to believe; any smaller and they’d practically be microbes.
[Image description: A tropical rainforest with a palm tree and green vegetation.] Credit & copyright: Ayyuha Sideeq, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.It’s a tiny toad, but it’s making a big splash. Scientists at the Biology Institute of the University of Campinas in Brazil have discovered the second-smallest vertebrate ever. It’s a new species of toad that’s smaller than a fingernail. Also called toadlets, flea toads are possibly the smallest vertebrates in the world. The newly discovered species, Brachycephalus dacnis, is the second-smallest in stature, behind only Brachycephalus pulex, which was discovered in 2011. Flea toads get their name from their ability to jump astounding distances relative to their size. They have other differences that set them apart from larger frogs, too. For one, flea toads bypass the traditional tadpole stage and emerge from their eggs fully developed, a rare trait among frogs. Unlike other frogs that lay hundreds of eggs per reproductive cycle, flea toads only produce two at a time. Then there are some of the more extreme differences in anatomy, like fewer bones, fewer digits, and even missing organs. According to Luís Felipe Toledo, one of the researchers who published a paper on the new species, these adaptations are the result of miniaturization, a process in which a species evolves to be smaller.
Different species of flea toads are much more similar to one another than they are to larger frogs. In fact, they tend to look so much alike that their exact species can only be determined via DNA testing or in-depth analysis of their anatomy. That, combined with the fact that flea toads are very difficult to find in the wild, leads Toledo and other researchers to believe that there may be more species of flea toads than previously thought. Toledo also believes that flea toads may represent the very limit of how small vertebrates can get, and that it’s unlikely that any other undiscovered species in the genus Brachycephalus could be much smaller. That’s not too hard to believe; any smaller and they’d practically be microbes.
[Image description: A tropical rainforest with a palm tree and green vegetation.] Credit & copyright: Ayyuha Sideeq, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
November 5, 2024
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: The European Union has launched a formal investigation into the Chinese e-commerce site Temu over concerns it may be allowing the...
From the BBC World Service: The European Union has launched a formal investigation into the Chinese e-commerce site Temu over concerns it may be allowing the...
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1 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree1 CQ
Word of the Day
: November 5, 2024\see-FAH-luh-jee\ noun
What It Means
Psephology is the scientific study of elections.
// Brianna was excit...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: November 5, 2024\see-FAH-luh-jee\ noun
What It Means
Psephology is the scientific study of elections.
// Brianna was excit...
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FREESong CurioFree2 CQ
Happy Election Day! On this politically-charged day, it’s only appropriate to learn about one of the nation’s most politically-charged songs. 1966’s For What It’s Worth by Buffalo Springfield is one of the most famous protest songs of the Vietnam era, and its chorus of “I think it's time we stop/ Children, what's that sound?/ Everybody look, what's going down?” was played at plenty of anti-war marches. However, the song wasn’t actually written in response to the Vietnam War. Rather, it was written after Buffalo Springfield guitarist Stephen Stills attended an impromptu gathering of around 3,000 teens and young adults who were paying respects to the recently-closed West Hollywood nightclub called Pandora's Box. Despite the fact that the gathering was peaceful, police in riot gear showed up and began to aggressively clear the crowd. This clash, and others like it, came to be known as the Sunset Strip Curfew Riots. Still, it’s not hard to see why the folk song, with its somber-yet-resolute tone and slow, steady beat came to be known as an anti-war song. Who says a protest song can only be used to protest one thing?
Happy Election Day! On this politically-charged day, it’s only appropriate to learn about one of the nation’s most politically-charged songs. 1966’s For What It’s Worth by Buffalo Springfield is one of the most famous protest songs of the Vietnam era, and its chorus of “I think it's time we stop/ Children, what's that sound?/ Everybody look, what's going down?” was played at plenty of anti-war marches. However, the song wasn’t actually written in response to the Vietnam War. Rather, it was written after Buffalo Springfield guitarist Stephen Stills attended an impromptu gathering of around 3,000 teens and young adults who were paying respects to the recently-closed West Hollywood nightclub called Pandora's Box. Despite the fact that the gathering was peaceful, police in riot gear showed up and began to aggressively clear the crowd. This clash, and others like it, came to be known as the Sunset Strip Curfew Riots. Still, it’s not hard to see why the folk song, with its somber-yet-resolute tone and slow, steady beat came to be known as an anti-war song. Who says a protest song can only be used to protest one thing?
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FREEWorld History Daily Curio #2972Free1 CQ
We really take metal and plastic for granted. In Dorset, England, archeologists recently unearthed a remarkably intact tool from the Bronze Age—a spade made entirely from wood. The tool, crafted from a single piece of oak, is over 3,000 years old and was used for farming purposes. It would have taken a long time to carve by hand, but the Bronze Age worker’s effort was clearly worth it, as the spade was strong enough to survive for centuries. The landscape in which the spade was found helped in its preservation. The ground in Poole Harbour, along the south-east coast, is waterlogged. Water can preserve wooden objects by preventing oxygen from reaching them, which in turn prevents fungal decay and the eventual breakdown of the wood.
While it’s unusual to find any fully-intact object from so long ago, the setting for the spade’s discovery was particularly strange. Most people in the Bronze Age lived in rural, agricultural communities, but it doesn’t seem like such a community existed where the spade was found. No other objects like it have been found nearby, nor anything else to suggest that the site was a permanent settlement. Instead, archeologists believe that the area might have been visited on a seasonal basis. Poole Harbour often floods in winter and dries out over the summer. During warmer months, the area could have been used as a pasture for livestock or as a place to dry peat, and gather rushes. The ditch where the spade was found might have been built to protect drying peat, which was used for burning, or for temporarily storing rushes, which were used to weave baskets. Senior Archeologist Greg Chuter explained in a statement: “We’re working across a vast landscape that is dominated by nature with very little to suggest to the naked eye that much human activity has taken place here. However, just beneath the surface we’ve uncovered evidence of the ways humans have cleverly adapted to the challenges presented by this particular environment for over 3,000 years.” It goes to show that even archeologists never know what they’ll find unless they keep digging.
[Image description: A view of Poole Harbour with trees in the foreground and boats on the water.] Credit & copyright: Theonhighgod at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Theonhighgod at English Wikipedia. This applies worldwide.We really take metal and plastic for granted. In Dorset, England, archeologists recently unearthed a remarkably intact tool from the Bronze Age—a spade made entirely from wood. The tool, crafted from a single piece of oak, is over 3,000 years old and was used for farming purposes. It would have taken a long time to carve by hand, but the Bronze Age worker’s effort was clearly worth it, as the spade was strong enough to survive for centuries. The landscape in which the spade was found helped in its preservation. The ground in Poole Harbour, along the south-east coast, is waterlogged. Water can preserve wooden objects by preventing oxygen from reaching them, which in turn prevents fungal decay and the eventual breakdown of the wood.
While it’s unusual to find any fully-intact object from so long ago, the setting for the spade’s discovery was particularly strange. Most people in the Bronze Age lived in rural, agricultural communities, but it doesn’t seem like such a community existed where the spade was found. No other objects like it have been found nearby, nor anything else to suggest that the site was a permanent settlement. Instead, archeologists believe that the area might have been visited on a seasonal basis. Poole Harbour often floods in winter and dries out over the summer. During warmer months, the area could have been used as a pasture for livestock or as a place to dry peat, and gather rushes. The ditch where the spade was found might have been built to protect drying peat, which was used for burning, or for temporarily storing rushes, which were used to weave baskets. Senior Archeologist Greg Chuter explained in a statement: “We’re working across a vast landscape that is dominated by nature with very little to suggest to the naked eye that much human activity has taken place here. However, just beneath the surface we’ve uncovered evidence of the ways humans have cleverly adapted to the challenges presented by this particular environment for over 3,000 years.” It goes to show that even archeologists never know what they’ll find unless they keep digging.
[Image description: A view of Poole Harbour with trees in the foreground and boats on the water.] Credit & copyright: Theonhighgod at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Theonhighgod at English Wikipedia. This applies worldwide.
November 4, 2024
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
Wouldn't you love to impress this year’s holiday guests with a spectacular piece of serveware? Tureens are vessels for serving soup at the table, but this piece is a particularly elaborate example made for the English Duke of Kingston. The tureen is made entirely from silver and features a langoustine, also called a Norway lobster, lying on a pigeon as its lid. On the bottom and leaves of various vegetables that serve as the base of the stand. The rococo style, developed in the 1700s, is known for being ornate, and this tureen is no exception. Both the material and complex design by Pierre-François Bonnestrenne (King Louis XV’s official architect) were meant for the unremarkable purpose of serving soup…but their real purpose was to be an ostentatious display of wealth. The realistic details on the langoustine, pigeon, and vegetables were cast from actual specimens, and the asymmetrical, dynamic shape of the tureen is characteristic of the rococo movement, which valued naturalistic designs. Now if we only knew what the ladle looked like.
Covered Tureen on Stand (Pot-à-oille), Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier (1695–1750), Henry Adnet, Pierre-François Bonnestrenne, 1735–38, Silver, 14.5 x 15.125 x 12.5 in. (36.9 x 38.4 x 31.8 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier, Pierre-François Bonnestrenne, Henry Adnet, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 1977.182, Public Domain, Creative Commons Zero (CC0) designation.Wouldn't you love to impress this year’s holiday guests with a spectacular piece of serveware? Tureens are vessels for serving soup at the table, but this piece is a particularly elaborate example made for the English Duke of Kingston. The tureen is made entirely from silver and features a langoustine, also called a Norway lobster, lying on a pigeon as its lid. On the bottom and leaves of various vegetables that serve as the base of the stand. The rococo style, developed in the 1700s, is known for being ornate, and this tureen is no exception. Both the material and complex design by Pierre-François Bonnestrenne (King Louis XV’s official architect) were meant for the unremarkable purpose of serving soup…but their real purpose was to be an ostentatious display of wealth. The realistic details on the langoustine, pigeon, and vegetables were cast from actual specimens, and the asymmetrical, dynamic shape of the tureen is characteristic of the rococo movement, which valued naturalistic designs. Now if we only knew what the ladle looked like.
Covered Tureen on Stand (Pot-à-oille), Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier (1695–1750), Henry Adnet, Pierre-François Bonnestrenne, 1735–38, Silver, 14.5 x 15.125 x 12.5 in. (36.9 x 38.4 x 31.8 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier, Pierre-François Bonnestrenne, Henry Adnet, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 1977.182, Public Domain, Creative Commons Zero (CC0) designation. -
2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: November 4, 2024\uh-MAL-guh-mayt\ verb
What It Means
Amalgamate is a formal verb meaning "to unite (two or more things) int...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: November 4, 2024\uh-MAL-guh-mayt\ verb
What It Means
Amalgamate is a formal verb meaning "to unite (two or more things) int...
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FREEMusic Appreciation Daily Curio #2971Free1 CQ
First a new Mozart earlier this year, and now a new Chopin? After a museum curator discovered a previously unknown piece of composition by Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, the 200-year-old piece can now be heard for the first time. Written on a piece of paper the size of an index card, the waltz was discovered by Morgan Library and Museum curator Robinson McClellan. It’s safe to say that McClellan, who was cataloging new collections received by the institution at the time of the discovery, was not expecting to find a centuries-old lost composition by one of the greatest composers of all time. After McClellan found the lost piece, he consulted a handwriting expert to analyze the paper, and the expert determined that while Chopin’s name wasn’t written by the composer himself, the notation indeed matched his idiosyncratic style, including the stylized bass clef symbol. Since the discovery, the piece has been recorded and can be found on YouTube under the title Waltz in A Minor.
Chopin, born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, was only 39 years old when he died in 1849. The composer suffered from poor health and hallucinations for much of his life, and some scholars believe that he likely had epilepsy. Among his peers, Chopin was unusual in that he didn’t leave behind nearly as many pieces in his catalog, only writing around 250 pieces in his lifetime (not that that’s anything to sneeze at). Most of his pieces were for solo piano, making him a perennial favorite of many pianists. The newly-discovered piece is also a solo piano piece. About a minute long, the waltz has been described by the museum thusly: “Several moody, dissonant measures culminate in a loud outburst, before a melancholy melody begins.” They added, “None of his known waltzes start this way, making this one even more intriguing.” Experts believe that this discrepancy might be due to the fact that Chopin wrote it in his early 20s, when he experimented more with his music. It might have been a throwaway experiment for Chopin, but it’s a treasure to music lovers today.
[Image description: A black-and-white portrait of Frédéric Chopin, wearing a suit and tie with jacket.] Credit & copyright: Louis-Auguste Bisson (1814–1876), Amano1, Wikimedia Commons. The author died in 1876, so this work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer.First a new Mozart earlier this year, and now a new Chopin? After a museum curator discovered a previously unknown piece of composition by Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, the 200-year-old piece can now be heard for the first time. Written on a piece of paper the size of an index card, the waltz was discovered by Morgan Library and Museum curator Robinson McClellan. It’s safe to say that McClellan, who was cataloging new collections received by the institution at the time of the discovery, was not expecting to find a centuries-old lost composition by one of the greatest composers of all time. After McClellan found the lost piece, he consulted a handwriting expert to analyze the paper, and the expert determined that while Chopin’s name wasn’t written by the composer himself, the notation indeed matched his idiosyncratic style, including the stylized bass clef symbol. Since the discovery, the piece has been recorded and can be found on YouTube under the title Waltz in A Minor.
Chopin, born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, was only 39 years old when he died in 1849. The composer suffered from poor health and hallucinations for much of his life, and some scholars believe that he likely had epilepsy. Among his peers, Chopin was unusual in that he didn’t leave behind nearly as many pieces in his catalog, only writing around 250 pieces in his lifetime (not that that’s anything to sneeze at). Most of his pieces were for solo piano, making him a perennial favorite of many pianists. The newly-discovered piece is also a solo piano piece. About a minute long, the waltz has been described by the museum thusly: “Several moody, dissonant measures culminate in a loud outburst, before a melancholy melody begins.” They added, “None of his known waltzes start this way, making this one even more intriguing.” Experts believe that this discrepancy might be due to the fact that Chopin wrote it in his early 20s, when he experimented more with his music. It might have been a throwaway experiment for Chopin, but it’s a treasure to music lovers today.
[Image description: A black-and-white portrait of Frédéric Chopin, wearing a suit and tie with jacket.] Credit & copyright: Louis-Auguste Bisson (1814–1876), Amano1, Wikimedia Commons. The author died in 1876, so this work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer. -
10 minFREEWork Business CurioFree6 CQ
From the BBC World Service: In the United Kingdom, the government has unveiled its first budget since the Labour Party got back in power, its first in 14 yea...
From the BBC World Service: In the United Kingdom, the government has unveiled its first budget since the Labour Party got back in power, its first in 14 yea...