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di Stéfano, Alfredo

(Encyclopedia)di Stéfano, Alfredo, 1926–2014, Argentinian-born soccer star, one of the game's greats. Nominally a center-forward, he became famous for his versatility on the field as well as for his strength and...

Cradle of Humankind

(Encyclopedia)Cradle of Humankind, extensive archaeological site, c.180 sq mi (470 sq km), encompassing dolomitic limestone caves containing numerous hominin fossils, Gauteng and North West prov., South Africa, c.3...

Cruz, Celia

(Encyclopedia)Cruz, Celia, 1929–2003, Cuban-American singer, b. Havana. The “Queen of Salsa” began singing as a teenager, and in 1950 joined Sonora Matancera, Cuba's most popular band. She left Cuba a year af...

Ferris wheel

(Encyclopedia)Ferris wheel, amusement park ride. It consists of a power-operated wheel that is about 50 ft (15 m) in diameter. It has two rims that are parallel to and equidistant from the shaft about which the whe...

Peebles, Phillip James Edwin

(Encyclopedia)Peebles, Phillip James Edwin, 1935–, Canadian-American astrophysicist and cosmologist, b. Winnipeg, Man., Ph.D. Princeton, 1962. He spent his entire career as a researcher at Princeton, becoming a f...

photosphere

(Encyclopedia)photosphere, luminous, apparently opaque layer of gases that forms the visible surface of the sun or any other star. The photosphere lies between the dense interior gases and the more attenuated gases...

Rosenzweig, Franz

(Encyclopedia)Rosenzweig, Franz fränts rōˈzəntsvīkhˌ [key], 1886–1929, German-Jewish philosopher, b. Kassel. As a youth he was thoroughly trained in German philosophy and, after a near conversion to Christi...

Ross, Barney David

(Encyclopedia)Ross, Barney David, 1909–67, American boxer, b. New York City as Dov-Ber Rasofsky; he was also known as Beryl David Rasofsky and Barnet David Rasofsky. After an amateur career, Ross turned professio...

Banks, Ernie

(Encyclopedia)Banks, Ernie (Ernest Banks), 1931–2015, American baseball player, b. Dallas, Tex. “Mr. Cub” began (1950) his baseball career with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro leagues, served in the arm...

Beckham, David

(Encyclopedia)Beckham, David (David Robert Joseph Beckham), 1975–, English soccer player known especially for the power and accuracy of his free kicks. After beginning to play on the Manchester United youth squad...