Navy Ship Renamed to Honor American Hero Robert Smalls
Have you ever heard of Robert Smalls? The U.S. Navy just renamed a ship, the USS Robert Smalls, in his honor. Robert Smalls was an African American man who captured a Confederate steamer loaded with guns during the Civil War. Smalls surrendered the vessel to the Union Navy. By reaching Union lines, this act also […]
Roman Coins Discovered on Swedish Island
Archaeological excavations on an island in the Baltic Sea found 2 denarii, or ancient Roman silver coins. Gotska Sandön is a small, uninhabited island that is part of Sweden. The island is located between Sweden and Estonia. Archaeologists at Södertörn University in cooperation with Uppsala University’s Campus Gotland and the Gotland Museum began excavations in […]
Earth Day 2023: “Invest in Our Planet”
Saturday, April 22, 2023, is Earth Day—a day to focus on the ongoing worldwide environmental movement. Earth Day began in 1970, when thousands of colleges and communities across the United States came together to protest industrial practices that created pollution and threatened the health and safety of people and the environment. Fifty-three years later, more […]
Former President Trump Charged with Felonies
On March 30, 2023, former president Donald Trump was charged with falsifying business records at his private company. Falsifying business records includes entering inaccurate information on a business document for one’s own benefit. It is illegal under New York state law. The records in question are related to money Trump sent to his personal lawyer, […]
2023 Holocaust Remembrance Day
Holocaust Remembrance Day is April 18, 2023. The purpose of this day is for citizens to honor Jews and other victims murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust genocide during World War II. Below, btw looks more closely at why it is important to remember the Holocaust and the day’s historical origins, its traditions, and […]
Eli Lilly Lowers Cost of Insulin to $35 Monthly
In January 1922, 14-year-old Leonard Thompson lay dying in a Canadian hospital. Thompson had diabetes and his body did not produce insulin. For thousands of years, there was no medicine for diabetes. Adults or children in Thompson’s condition would live for only weeks, months, or maybe a few years. Then, a Canadian surgeon named Frederick […]
New Discoveries at Pompeii and Preservation Efforts
The ancient Italian city of Pompeii was buried under volcanic ash when nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted in the year 79 C.E. Since then, the city has sparked the imagination of people worldwide. Generations of archaeologists continue to make discoveries that reveal new clues about what life was like in the city. Today, while the digging, or […]
Real-life “Rosie the Riveters” Honored for Wartime Contributions
After more than 80 years, Rosie the Riveter and her “We Can Do It!” slogan remains an inspirational symbol for many. A riveter is someone whose job is to fasten things using rivets, or metal pins. This type of job is common in shipbuilding–a critical industry during the United States’ World War II mobilization. The […]
Women’s History Month: Celebrating American Quilters
Quilting is an art form that involves sewing together different pieces of fabric to create patterns. Throughout American history, women have used quilting to support political and social causes while helping to heal the nation during times of crises. Women quilters have communicated their views in their quilted pieces, even when they did not have […]
ICARDA Helps Farmers Worldwide Keep Crops Growing
Wheat farmers in the United States can have their entire crop wiped out by a pest. In Morocco, drought conditions have made growing food difficult. Extreme weather in Ethiopia has resulted in challenges meeting the food demands of the country’s population. The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, or ICARDA for short, […]