Nature has been an integral part of human society throughout history—from religion to poetry to our very livelihood. Today the relevance of nature lives on, redressed in the language of science. One scientific concept linking humanity with nature is the Anthropocene, a proposed geological epoch that describes the current period where human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and ecosystems.
The 1920s marked a period of great social and technological change within American culture. Following the end of World War I and decades of industrialization, the country experienced an economic boom and rapid industrialization. Innovations such as the radio and automobiles flooded the market, as factories shifted towards mass production. Due to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, women were now allowed to vote and take a greater role in the political scene. America was quickly becoming a center of opportunity as immigration rates increased substantially, leading to urbanization in big cities. On the other hand, tensions were rising in rural areas, often populated by religious fundamentalists. They saw the changes occurring in large cities as a sign of America’s moral decline (Greenburg, 1983). What was most alarming to them, however, was the topic of evolution which directly contradicted the idea that human beings were created by God. Evangelical leaders pushed for legislation that would outlaw the teaching of evolution in schools. This moral and societal divide would come to a head in the small town of Dayton, Tennessee in 1925. The Scopes Trial, often referred to as the Scopes Monkey Trial, was a symbol of the clash between urban secularism and rural traditionalism within American society in the early 20th century.
American presidents have personal rivalries; sometimes these feuds are hidden from the public while others spill out for all to see. Most presidents don’t attack the nation’s finance department because of the enormous political and monetary blowback. However, Andrew Jackson was one American president who did challenge the nation’s finance department and won—at a high price. There are three things one needs to understand about this Bank War: Jackson, the bank he fought against, and the feud’s effects on the nation. Let’s begin with Jackson.
In the ever-evolving landscape of finance, one entity stands as revolutionary: Artificial Intelligence (AI). Its transformative influence extends across industries, firmly establishing its roots in financial markets, where it reshapes conventions, automates operations, and disrupts established norms. As the impact of AI commands center stage, it draws both fascination and scrutiny. From sophisticated trading strategies to elevated customer experiences, AI's imprint is unmistakable. Yet, within this innovative realm of AI-driven financial era lies the critical responsibility of navigating challenges and capitalizing on opportunities.
Human space travel stands as a testament to our innate curiosity and relentless pursuit of exploration. From Yuri Gagarin's orbit around the Earth in 1961 to the ongoing achievements of the International Space Station, each milestone has shaped our understanding of the universe and advanced human capabilities. As we examine human space travel's history and current state, it is important to anticipate the future. Space exploration is poised for remarkable breakthroughs with plans to return to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence, and the potential for manned missions to Mars.
When we think of threats to air quality, our minds often turn to images of raging wildfires engulfing landscapes and billowing smoke into the atmosphere. While wildfires undoubtedly contribute to poor air quality, there’s another player in this complex game that deserves our attention: the annual Saharan dust clouds originating from the African coast between mid-June and mid-August. These massive dust clouds, though often overlooked, have a significant impact on air quality worldwide. “Dust storms and atmospheric dust processes have attracted societal attention for millennia. In ancient Korea, for example, dust events caused concern because they were considered as God’s punishment or a warning to the ruler.” (Knippertz & Stuut, 2014) In this article, we’ll delve into the intriguing phenomenon of Saharan dust clouds and their surprising influence on the air we breathe.
What comes to mind when you think of brands like Chanel, Prada, and Dior? It’s probably images of extortionate price tags. Boasting price ranges that an average middle-class person probably can’t afford, it’s well known that these luxury brands are highly sought after in society. Luxury goods have been the topic of controversy for decades, as some people value the craftsmanship and rich history behind these brands, while others criticize the inaccessibility of luxury companies and their unethical practices. Despite the controversies and high price tags, what allows luxury brands to thrive, and how do economic concepts tie into this?
While humans desire to control the perception of their legacies, history offers examples where external factors change their legacies unpredictably. One example is Herbert Hoover – the 31st President of the United States (1929 - 1933). Before the Great Depression, he was an American hero for his efforts of feeding war-torn Europe during the late 1910s and as the Commerce Secretary during the 1920s. However, President Hoover’s failed response to the Depression overshadows his legacy. To understand Hoover’s success and failure, we must thoroughly examine his life.
Imagine you are an American soldier arriving in a bustling port city in Southeastern Asia. Your jaw goes slack as hundreds of people pass by you and your unit. The army has ordered you and your unit to hunt the guerrillas that populate the nearby jungle. You’re not sure why your government is fighting these people; they claim they’re fighting for self-government. You hear a story from a soldier you are relieving about a guerilla ambush on their unit, but you do not think much of it. As you head out, they give you a map and you see that the country you’re in is not a single landmass but an archipelago with hundreds of tropical islands. You quickly realize this supposed rebellion may be too big for America to handle. Welcome to the Philippine Insurrection: America’s first war in Asia.
The ‘Golden Age’ is a label applied to the period in Russia’s literary history which saw the rise of and prevalence of the movements of Romanticism, Realism, and Classicism. Beginning in the 19th century and centered in Moscow (Buckler, et al.), the authors of this Golden Age are familiar to Western tongues: Leo Tolstoy, Alexander Pushkin, Nikolai Gogol. In his groundbreaking work on Fyodor Dostoevsky, Dostoevsky: A Writer in His Time, scholar Joseph Frank conducts an exhaustive study of, among other books, The Brothers Karamazov and traces the author’s common themes within his work; themes such as “man lifted up” as well as the “inherent stupidity of man” are common throughout (903). Thematically, the Golden Age addressed moral, ethical, and religious dilemmas, all of which are present in The Brothers Karamazov and Dostoevsky’s other major work, Crime and Punishment.
