(Encyclopedia) Three Mile Island, site of a nuclear power plant 10 mi (16 km) south of Harrisburg, Pa. On Mar. 28, 1979, failure of the cooling system of the No. 2 nuclear reactor led to overheating…
(Encyclopedia) resistor, two-terminal electric circuit component that offers opposition to an electric current. Resistors are normally designed and operated so that, with varying levels of current,…
(Encyclopedia) Niyazov, SaparmuratNiyazov, Saparmuratsäpärˈm&oomacr;rätˌ nēyäˈzôf [key], 1940–2006, Soviet and Turkmen political leader, president of Turkmenistan (1991–2006). An engineer and…
(Encyclopedia) Yang Kuei-feiYang Kuei-feiyäng gwā-fā [key], 719–56, concubine of the T'ang emperor Hsüan-tsung. The most famous beauty in Chinese history, in legend she is said to have captivated the…
(Encyclopedia) Aetolian League, confederation centering in the cities of Aetolia. It was formed in the 4th cent. b.c. and began to gain power in the 3d cent. in opposing the Achaean League and the…
(Encyclopedia) Sorel, GeorgesSorel, Georgeszhôrzh [key]Sorel, Georges sôrĕlˈ [key], 1847–1922, French social philosopher. An engineer before he devoted himself to writing, Sorel found in the…
(Encyclopedia) Agrippina the Younger, d. a.d. 59, Roman matron; daughter of Germanicus Caesar and Agrippina the Elder. By her first husband, Cneius Domitius Ahenobarbus, she was the mother of Nero.…
(Encyclopedia) Adolf of NassauAdolf of Nassaunäˈsou [key], d. 1298, duke of Luxembourg, German king (1292–98). He owed his election to the ecclesiastical electors, who, fearing the growing power and…
(Encyclopedia) chain, flexible series of connected links used in various ways, especially for the transmission of motive power, for hoisting (see pulley), and for securing or fastening. Commonly,…
(Encyclopedia) Pufendorf, Samuel, Baron vonPufendorf, Samuel, Baron vonzäˈm&oomacr;ĕl bärônˈ fən p&oomacr;ˈfəndôrf [key], 1632–94, German jurist and historian. He is especially noted as an…
