NASA Holds Panel on UFOs
Do you believe in UFOs? For decades, the U.S. government claimed that flying saucers were the stuff of science fiction. But on June 2, 2023, for the first time ever, NASA held a public meeting on the subject of UFOs, which it calls UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomena). According to NASA, there have been about eight […]
Russian Spy Whale in Danger?
Did you know that several countries, including the United States, train animals in espionage and other military activities? A beluga whale named Hvaldimir is thought to be a Russian spy whale. Hvaldimir faces dangerous conditions in Sweden. Here, btw takes a closer look at Hvaldimir’s story, as well as the role that animals play in […]
Rare Jewelry Find Reveals Early Egyptian Trade Routes
Ancient Egypt’s pyramids, mummies, and artifacts have long fascinated the world. Recently, new scientific technology has allowed experts to take a closer look at the tomb of Queen Hetepheres I, one of Egypt’s most important queens. The research has revealed some exciting new information about how metal jewelry was made in ancient Egypt. The research […]
YOU DECIDE: Should Congress Raise the Debt Ceiling?
In 1917, Congress created the “debt ceiling,” which is the maximum amount of money that the U.S. Treasury can borrow to pay for government programs and activities. Since 1959, lawmakers of both political parties have raised the debt ceiling 89 times. Most recently, in 2021, President Biden signed legislation increasing the debt ceiling to $31.4 […]
Montana Bans TikTok
If you’re like many Americans, you probably spend time on the popular social media app TikTok. In fact, about 150 million Americans say they use it regularly. But the governor of Montana has now signed a law banning the app, and other states are likely to follow suit. Is this legal? And how will these […]
The Euro Goes Digital
The euro is the official currency of the European Union, or EU, and it has been around for almost 25 years. But now, the European Central Bank (ECB) is considering creating a digital form of the euro. What does that mean, and how might it change the future of how people buy and sell things […]
China’s Solar Energy Dominance
Solar power, wind power, and hydropower are examples of renewable energy sources. Did you know that China controls most of the solar energy production worldwide? Here, btw takes a closer look at the situation. Consequences of China’s Control Recently, the demand for renewable energy in Europe has skyrocketed. When Russia invaded Ukraine, many European nations […]
Turkey’s Runoff Election
On May 14, 2023, Turkey held a presidential election that ended with no candidate receiving more than fifty percent of the vote. On May 28, the country will hold a runoff election between the top two candidates. Here, btw takes a closer look at this election, the candidates, and the potential impact of this election. […]
AAPI Heritage Month: The Ireicho
During World War II, thousands of Japanese American citizens and Japanese immigrants were removed from their homes and imprisoned in camps around the United States. Some remained in these camps for as long as three years. Until recently, no complete record of their names existed. Here, btw takes a closer look at the effort to […]
YOU DECIDE: Nomans Land
Have you ever heard of a location being called a “No Man’s Land”? This phrase describes an uninhabited area that is under dispute. There is an island off the coast of Massachusetts that fits this description. It’s called Nomans Land and it is located just 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) south of Martha’s Vineyard. Few people […]