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DEFINITION: (noun) One who is being instructed in a subject at an elementary level. SYNONYMS: neophyte. USAGE: Though he was a catechumen, he was able to defeat the more seasoned debaters.

Betty Ford, born Elizabeth Ann Bloomer, was a dancer and fashion model. In 1948, she married Gerald Ford, Jr., who would become the 38th President of the US. Shortly after becoming First Lady, she underwent a mastectomy for breast cancer and became a spokeswoman for early detection. In 1978, she sought treatment for alcoholism and addiction to analgesic drugs. After her recovery, she established the Betty Ford Center for the treatment of chemical dependency. Where is the center located?

The Black Hawk War was fought in the Midwestern region of the United States. The war was named after Black Hawk, the leader of a band of Sauk and Fox Indians, who fought against the US Army and Illinois militia for possession of lands in the region. How did the war start, and what happened at the war's last battle?

Cumin is a low annual herb of the parsley family. Its fruits resemble the related caraway and are similarly used in cooking. Drought tolerant and requiring long hot summers for healthy growth, cumin was originally cultivated in Iran and the Mediterranean region. It is mentioned in the Bible and was known to the ancient Greeks, who kept cumin at the dining table and used it much like black pepper is frequently used today. What is Curcumin?

Mania in bipolar disorder may be tied to a mutation in a "body clock" gene, a new study shows. Researchers used mice to study the CLOCK gene, which is involved in circadian rhythms, which affect sleep, activity, hormones, and appetite. In a series of lab tests, mice with a CLOCK gene mutation displayed manic behavior. When the researchers gave them lithium, a drug used to treat bipolar disorder, the mice with the CLOCK gene mutation resumed normal behavior.