A look at what is being sent to the front lines — After a weeklong public diplomatic logjam, it appears that the west has finally decided to ship third-generation main battle tanks to Ukraine. This has been something long requested by the beleaguered Ukrainian officials. Early reports indicate that Germany is readying to send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. The news…

One of the many natural wonders nestled in China — Nestled in the mountainous regions of southwestern China rests a UNESCO World Heritage Site that receives far less attention than it deserves. The Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area anchors the southern end of the Minshan Mountains. The park is home to travertine pools that look like something out of…

Mozart, lightning, and Kermit the Frog — How much did you accomplish in life by the age of eight? Think about that question before proceeding further. Did you get an A in art class? Did you memorize the 50 state capitals? Had you risen to prominence in the eyes of an entire continent? Let's get to it. 1. Mozart Wrote His First Symphony At Just 8 Years Old …

How one of America’s most popular presidents gave us long form commercials — If you have ever flipped on the television at 2 AM, you likely have had the pleasure of flipping through dozens of infomercials. These long form commercials dominate late night television. They run for 30 to 60 minutes and far outlast regular 30 second spots. These commercials are annoying and…

Geography, history, and energy — As Russia continues to double down on its aggressive war in Ukraine, it has become increasingly isolated on the world stage. Western Europe has turned its back on the energy giant, NATO is committed to supplying weapons to Ukraine, and the rest of the world is keeping a wary eye…

The unknown start of history’s bloodiest war — In August of 1939, in the sticky summer days before the outbreak of World War II, the aging battleship SMS Schleswig-Holstein steamed into Danzig harbor. The ship had been converted to a training vessel in 1935 after a storied military history and was not seen as a legitimate military threat…

How light gets in the way of exploring the current universe — There is an ongoing debate about whether or not people think that the universe is filled with life or completely devoid of life. Roughly 65% of American adults believe that there is likely intelligent life on other planets just waiting to be discovered. The problem is, we have never found…

Don’t pretend like we have it all figured out — Science is the study of the observable universe. At one point, it was called natural philosophy. The goal has always been to understand the world around us and how it works. Today, this is primarily done via empirical evidence, well-vetted theories, and peer reviewed research. But despite thousands of years…

Do you recognize any of these original names? — Names are a part of our everyday life. They hold a lot of meaning and make places instantly recognizable. Places like New York City and Tokyo are massive metropolises with rich histories and are known by people all over the world. However, these places were not always named what they…