We call them Arabic Numerals, but our numbers actually find their origins in the history of the Hindus of India. They have changed greatly over the centuries, passing first to the Arabs of the Middle East and finally to Europe in the Middle Ages, and are now the most commonly used numbers throughout the world.
Man has always struggled to keep accurate track of the time. In ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, the first time measurement systems were sundials, which were completely dependent upon the Sun. Today we no longer define time by the Sun, and have atomic clocks which are able to accurately measure time to the billionth of a
The space shuttle was supposed to answer all of America’s space launch needs, commercial, military, and NASA. Despite many accomplishments, the shuttle failed to lower the cost of space travel and, with two shuttle accidents, increase its safety and reliablity. Real solutions to the problem of cheap and reliable space travel, after a long time
Vioxx: A Killer? On Sept. 30, 2004, Merck and Co. pulled their arthritis painkiller, Vioxx of the market. They were a little too late, though. The damage was done, and many have reported tragic side effects, and others have lost their lives due to “sudden” heart attacks. Did Vioxx kill Robert Ernst? Case in point,
The debate is hotter than ever, with video game fans on one side and politicians and parents on the other. This is a history of the debate, including when it started, what has been done, and what games have lit the fire. Video game violence has become a hot topic in recent years. Video games
Although we call it the Latin alphabet, and it has a Greek name, the alphabet actually has far older origins. We all learn our ABC’s as children, but do we know from where the alphabet comes? We call it the Latin alphabet, but then why does it have a Greek name? The alphabet wasn’t invented
The 7 day week seems natural to people today, but it did not always exist. Its origins lie in the days of ancient Babylon, and it is not the only system that has been tried. The names of the days of the week, although ancient, have been changed over time. Origins of the 7 Day
Although many Americans claim to be independent of either major political party, many more offer allegiance to one of two major parties in the United States – Republican and Democrat. Under a Republican administration, many citizens no longer understand what Democrats support. Thomas Jefferson founded what he called the Democratic-Republican Party in 1793. Decades later,
The Metric system is one of the most lasting and least thought of impacts of the French Revolution. In their attempts to revolutionize all parts of society, the French revolutionists created a system of measurement that would stand the test of time and come to be the predominant system of measurement in the world. A
The Wieliczka Salt Mine, near Krakow in Poland, is one of the most fascinating places to visit in the world. Not only has it been a working mine for centuries, but the miners have created chambers, chapels, and halls within the mine filled with art literally carved with salt. The Wieliczka Salt Mine, near the