November 15, 2007
The Han dynasty ruled China from 202 BCE to 220 CE. During the period of civil strife that followed the fall of the Ch'in dynasty, Liu Pang, a farmer and guerilla fighter, defeated his rivals for the throne and established himself as the first Han emperor. Under Han rule, the harsh laws of the Ch'in were repealed, taxes were lightened, and the absolute autocracy of the emperor was lessened. Which emperor is credited with China's shift from the Taoist system to the Confucian ideal?
November 14, 2007
Light is any wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, though the word is commonly used to refer to the visible light spectrum. The human eye typically perceives electromagnetic wavelengths between 400 and 700 nanometers, interpreting them as a range of colors from red to violet. Light is understood to exhibit both particle and wave properties, and the fundamental particle, or quantum, of light is called the photon. Who received the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his work on this wave-particle duality?
November 13, 2007
The tar is a long-necked lute found in Iran and throughout the Caucasus region. Its music was believed to cure a number of physical maladies and induce philosophical moods that compel listeners to reflect upon life. The tar's double-bowl shape is carved from mulberry wood, and a thin membrane of stretched lambskin covers the top. It has a number of adjustable frets as well as three double courses of strings.
Tar, Persian for string, is the root for the names of what other instruments?
November 12, 2007
In the early 1600s, three manifestos were published describing an esoteric order founded by Christian Rosenkreuz. The Rosicrucian Order's secret teachings deal with the occult symbols of the rose and the cross and with mystical writings containing kabbalistic, Hermetic, and other doctrines. Practitioners claim occult powers and employ the terminology of alchemy to expound their mystical doctrines. According to the Rosicrucians, how does man attain divine wisdom?
November 1, 2007
In 2002, Gabon's president established a national park system that protects about 11% of the country's land and waters. Included is Mayumba National Park, located on the Atlantic coast of central Africa and dedicated to the protection of marine life. The park shelters a 60 km (37 mi.) strip of beach and coastal vegetation and extends another 15 km (9 mi.) out to sea. Dolphins and whales can often be found in the waters off the coast. What reptile uses the park's beach as its breeding ground?
October 31, 2007
Automotive airbag inflation occurs only milliseconds after crash sensors detect a collision. The airbag's cushioning effectively prevents direct human impact with dangerous vehicular surfaces and reduces the deceleration passengers experience as they come to a stop. While airbags were initially viewed as an alternative to seatbelts, they are now understood to offer greater protection when used in conjunction with other automotive safety methods. What injuries may result from airbag deployment?
October 30, 2007
Andre-Jaques Garnerin used his invention, the parachute, when he undertook the first jump from a hot air balloon in 1797. Since then, parachuting, or skydiving, has been utilized in military operations as well as for recreation and sport. Skydiving typically involves jumping from an aircraft at an altitude of about 4,000 m (13,000 ft), free-falling, and then deploying a parachute to slow the landing. Who holds the record for the highest parachute jump in history?
October 29, 2007
These frogs belong to the family Dendrobatidae, a group of small, diurnal, often brightly colored frogs native to Central and South America. These frogs secrete poisonous alkaloids through their skin, which ranges in color from bright orange to black and blue. Most poison frogs are not toxic to humans or animals, but a few secrete a potent neurotoxin that can kill within minutes. Why is it that poison frogs captured from the wild and fed a typical captive diet lose their toxicity?
October 14, 2007
Printmaking is the process of creating an image, called an impression, by inking a prepared plate or woodblock and pressing it against another material. Invented in China in the 5th century, the woodcut was both the earliest printmaking method and the first process that allowed printmakers to produce multiple copies of a text or artwork. Later, techniques involving engraved or etched metal plates were developed. What is the reductionist approach to applying multiple colors to an impression?
October 13, 2007
Kata, meaning ‘form,' describes the patterned body positioning and movement exercises practiced in a number of traditional Japanese art forms.
Kata are often an essential part of martial arts training and involve varying degrees of difficulty. While critics claim that such rote practice does not translate usefully into real-world situations, proponents believe these choreographed forms create a basis for future martial arts learning. What other Japanese arts make use of such forms?
