Meet Some Of The Oldest Books Ever Found
Today is National Read A Book Day, which reminds us of an article from HowStuffWorks that tries to answer a complicated question: “What is the oldest book in the world?”
A Sprained Ankle Helped Bring Pippi Longstocking To The World
Today in 1944, Astrid Lindgren of Stockholm, Sweden fell on ice and sprained her ankle. While stuck in bed, she decided to write down some stories she'd been telling her daughter, stories that would lead to one of the most popular children's book series of all time.
Winnie the Pooh Is Named For A Zoo Bear And A Swan
Today in 1882 author A.A. Milne was born. His most famous character, Winnie the Pooh, was named partly for a real bear who lived at the London Zoo. And yes, the real Winnie had a sweet tooth as well.
The Chicago Cubs Once Had A “College of Coaches” Instead of a Manager
Today in 1961, the Chicago Cubs announced they wouldn't hire a manager for the new season, and would instead use a rotating "College" of coaches. You can probably guess how well that worked out.
A Robot Seacraft Is Exploring The Ocean For A Few Years
It's called the Intrepid Benthic Rover II, and its five year (or more) mission is to explore the deep ocean, most of the time by itself.
Donald J. Sobol’s Encyclopedia Brown Books Taught Young Readers To Solve Mysteries
Today's the birthday of a mystery author known to millions of kids, Donald J Sobol. He wrote the Encyclopedia Brown series, about a 10 year old detective who solved cases because he knew, as his nickname suggested, all sorts of unusual and obscure facts in the era way before the internet.
There’s A New Way To Recycle The Materials We Need For High-Tech Batteries
As automakers move toward all-electric vehicles, we're going to need a lot more batteries, only there are difficulties in getting some of the key elements. A startup called Nth cycle may have a way to help. Plus: meet a young reader who really knows how to multitask.
Fuel Cells Are Strong To The Finish, When They’re Powered By Spinach
Fuel cells need a catalyst for an important reaction, and a team at American University has found that spinach may be the best raw material for a catalyst we've found yet.
Never Skip The Dedication Page Of A Book, They Can Get Wild
If you're taking part in National Novel Writing Month, then here's a tip: don't forget the dedication page. They can be full of surprises, as we discovered in quite a few books.
Ruth Faison Shaw Is The Founding Mother Of Fingerpaint
Today is the birthday of Ruth Faison Shaw, an art teacher who spotted a kid smearing iodine on the school walls and saw a way kids could express themselves.