New close-up images of a region near Pluto’s equator reveal a giant surprise: a range of youthful mountains rising as high as 11,000 feet (3,500 meters) above the surface of the icy body. The mountains likely formed no more than 100 million years ago — mere youngsters relative to the 4.56-billion-year age of the solar … Continue reading The Icy Mountains of Pluto
“The woman who lived next door decided that bird-watching might keep me from pestering her daughter and my sister. How could she have known that the act of peering through her binoculars at the orioles nesting in her elms would help fan a spark of interest into a lifelong passion?”
By Michael Runtz Continue reading The Howls of August
Matthew Perry opened Japan to trade, introduced the world to gunboat diplomacy, and was one of the first Americans to experience the sport of sumo wrestling. All without ever cracking a smile.
by Commodore Matthew Perry Continue reading Lost in translation
“Listen,” says Nance. “It sounds like rain on a roof.” And it really does. That, it turns out, is the sound of moonshine.
by Glen Herbert Continue reading Making moonshine with Roger Lee “Buck” Nance
“Now I saw plainly the goodness of his observations about the middle station of life, how easy, how comfortably he had lived all his days, and never had been exposed to tempests at sea or troubles on shore; and I resolved that I would, like a true repenting prodigal, go home to my father.”
By Daniel Defoe Continue reading “I would be satisfied with nothing but going to sea …”
Wilkesboro, North Carolina’s answer to the Oberammergau, Merlefest is the product of a community and a gift to the world.
By Glen Herbert Continue reading The best show in town
Take a ride in Tito’s car, lounge on the beaches where two Elizabeths — Taylor and the Queen — did crossword puzzles with Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro. In Brijuni, all the memories are, perhaps understandably, very long ones.
by Pat Brennan Continue reading Brijuni, Croatia
