(Encyclopedia) Bean, Roy, c.1825–1903, legendary American frontier judge, b. Mason co., Ky. He left Kentucky in 1847 to seek his fortune in California. Soon, however, he was managing a trading post…
(Encyclopedia) Cascade Range, mountain chain, c.700 mi (1,130 km) long, extending S from British Columbia to N Calif., where it becomes the Sierra Nevada; it parallels the Coast Ranges, 100–150 mi (…
Eratosthenes 276–195 B.C. This Greek astronomer was the first to measure the size of Earth accurately. He determined that the earth's polar diameter was about 7,850 miles. (In fact, the distance is…
U.S. News | World News Here are the key events in business and science news for the month of November 2009. Government Expands Aid to Unemployed and Homebuyers (Nov. 5…
METEOR STRIKEISLAND ISOLATIONCAPTIVE BREEDINGFIND OUT MORESince life on Earth began, a huge number of animals have appeared, flourished and then disappeared again. These disappearances are…
(Encyclopedia) Taylor, George, 1716–81, political leader in the American Revolution, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. Ireland. He settled in Pennsylvania (1736), where he became a…
(Encyclopedia) ShamirShamirshāˈmĭr [key], in the Bible. 1 In 1 Chronicles, Levite serving in the Temple. 2 In Joshua, unidentified town, S Palestine. 3 In Judges, unidentified place, E Palestine,…
(Encyclopedia) Heyward, Thomas, 1746–1809, political leader and soldier in the American Revolution, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. near Charleston, S.C. He was a delegate to the…
(Encyclopedia) Mauna KeaMauna Keamouˈnə kāˈə [key], dormant volcano, 13,796 ft (4,205 m) high, in the south central part of the island of Hawaii. It is the loftiest peak in the Hawaiian Islands and…
(Encyclopedia) PozzuoliPozzuolipōt-tswôˈlē [key], Latin Puteoli, city (1991 pop. 75,142), Campania, S Italy, on the Gulf of Pozzuoli, an arm of the Bay of Naples. It is a port and an industrial and…
