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Today's featured article
A star is a massive, compact body of plasma in outer space that is held together by its own gravity and is sufficiently massive to sustain nuclear fusion in a very dense, hot core region. This fusion of atomic nuclei generates the energy that is continuously radiated from the outer layers of the star during much of its life span. Astronomers can determine many of the properties of a star by observing its spectrum and luminosity. Individual stars differ in their total mass, chemical composition, and age. The total mass of a star is the principal determinant in its evolution and eventual fate. Other characteristics of a star that are determined by its evolutionary history include the diameter, rotation, movement and temperature. A plot of the star's temperature against luminosity, known as a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, allows the current age and evolutionary state of the star to be determined. Binary and multi-star systems consist of two or more stars that are gravitationally bound, and generally move around each other in stable orbits. When two such stars have a relatively close orbit, their gravitational interaction can have a significant impact on their evolution. (more...) Recently featured: W. S. Gilbert – San Francisco, California – Katyn massacre Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that since 1994, the mural arts program of the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network has created more than 2,500 murals (pictured) across Philadelphia? ...that at least 3,000 Vendel Age burial mounds in Grobiņa, Latvia indicate the existence of a prosperous Viking colony there? ...that the Malay Agenda is one half of the Malaysian social contract, pertaining to the special status of Malays in Malaysia? ...that the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 entry "Desire" was the first Maltese entry in 28 years to have Maltese lyrics? Archive – Start a new article...
Tomorrow's featured article
Football, also known as soccer, is a team sport played between two teams, of eleven players each, and is widely considered to be the most popular sport in the world. It is a ball game played on a rectangular grass field (or occasionally on an artificial pitch) with a goal at each end. The object of the game is to score by maneuvering the ball into the opposing goal. The predominant feature of the sport is that no players other than the goalkeepers may use their hands or arms to propel the ball in general play. The winner is the team who scores the most goals by the end of the match. The modern game was codified in England following the formation of the Football Association, whose 1863 Laws of the Game created the foundations for the way the sport is played today. Football is governed internationally by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The most prestigious international football competition is the World Cup, played every four years, which is also the most widely viewed and famous sporting event in the world, watched by twice as many people as the Summer Olympics. (more...) Recently featured: Star – W. S. Gilbert – San Francisco, California Archive – By email – More featured articles...

In the news
Ségolène Royal (pictured) wins the Socialist Party's nomination for President of France in next year's election; she becomes France's first-ever female presidential candidate representing a major party. Joseph Kabila is declared winner of the election for the presidency of the Democratic Republic of Congo. His opponent, Jean-Pierre Bemba, alleges fraud. The Parliament of South Africa votes to legalize same-sex marriage. Nadarajah Raviraj, a human rights lawyer and legislator from the Tamil National Alliance, is assassinated in Colombo, Sri Lanka. A new Constitution of Kyrgyzstan adopted by the Joghorku Keneš is signed into law by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
November 19: Liberation Day in Mali 1493 - Christopher Columbus became the first European to land on Puerto Rico, an island he named San Juan Bautista. 1816 - The Royal University of Warsaw, now known as Warsaw University, was established. 1863 - U.S. President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. 1942 - World War II: Soviet forces under General Georgy Zhukov launched the Operation Uranus envelopment at the Battle of Stalingrad, turning the tide of the battle in the Soviet Union's favor. 1999 - Shenzhou 1, China's first unmanned test flight of the Shenzhou spacecraft (scale model pictured), was launched. Recent days: November 18 – November 17 – November 16 Archive – By email – More anniversaries...
Tomorrow...
November 20: Zumbi Day in Brazil, Revolution Day in Mexico, Teacher's Day in Vietnam. 284 - Diocletian became Roman Emperor. 1700 - Great Northern War: Forces led by King Charles XII of Sweden defeated the Russian army of Tsar Peter the Great in the Battle of Narva. 1910 - Mexican Revolution: Francisco I. Madero (pictured) promulgated the San Luis Plan, starting a revolt against President Porfirio Díaz. 1945 - The Nuremberg Trials against 24 leading Nazis involved in the Holocaust and various war crimes during World War II began in Nuremberg, Germany. 1998 - Zarya, the first module of the International Space Station, was launched on a Proton rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. Recent days: November 19 – November 18 – November 17 Archive – By email – More anniversaries...

Today's featured picture

The Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family that hunts by speed rather than by stealth or pack tactics. It is the fastest of all land animals and can reach speeds of up to 70 mph (110 km/h) in short bursts up to 500 yards (460 m). The cheetah is well-known for its amazing acceleration (0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds), which is greater than that of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, the Lamborghini Murciélago and the F/A-18 Hornet.

Photo credit: Mark Probst
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Tomorrow's featured picture

View the animation

Animated cut-away view of a radial engine, a configuration of internal combustion engine, in which the cylinders are arranged pointing out from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel. This configuration was formerly very commonly used in aircraft engines before being superseded by turboshaft and turbojet engines.

Animation credit: Duk
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