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  Planet X Hypothesis The: The...

  Editors Charles River

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  Naturally, as technological advances and the creation of flying aircraft became realities, the sighting of UFOs increased, as did the interest in potential contact with aliens. While incidents like the one at Roswell led to conspiracies and a craze among those who insisted the government was hiding proof of extraterrestrials’ existence, governments across the world were actually secretly studying UFO sightings by the mid-20th century. 
  Given all of that, it was hardly groundbreaking for scientists in the 19th century to have plenty of heated debates about their imperfect knowledge of astronomy. One particular argument was over whether there was a hidden planet beyond Neptune, dubbed by the theory’s original proponent, Percival Lowell, as Planet X. When Pluto was discovered in 1930, at the start of the Great Depression, scientists originally thought this new world, in the extreme cold at the outer edge of the Solar System, would solve a decades-old mystery regarding the orbit of Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun. But soon, scientists realized that Pluto, at one point considered the 9th planet, was too small to explain the discrepancies found. Thus, some researchers began looking for the next planet, or Planet X. 
  Throughout our modern culture, “X” has remained the proverbial symbol of mystery. On the maps of buried pirate treasure, “X” is supposed to mark the spot where treasure seekers are to dig. In public schools, teenagers learn the utility of “X” as a variable in algebraic equations or as an axis in the Cartesian coordinate system. And “X” is also a Roman numeral symbolizing the quantity of 10, the highest value which can be counted on the fingers, and the next value beyond “9,” the largest single digit. The search for “Planet X,” then, is a quest rich with symbolism and mystery, rooted in history, astronomy, and astrology.

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  Lost in Automatic Translation -...

  Vered Shwartz

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  The last decade has seen an exponential increase in the development and adoption of language technologies, from personal assistants such as Siri and Alexa, through automatic translation, to chatbots like ChatGPT. Yet questions remain about what we stand to lose or gain when we rely on them in our everyday lives. As a non-native English speaker living in an English-speaking country, Vered Shwartz has experienced both amusing and frustrating moments using language technologies: from relying on inaccurate automatic translation, to failing to activate personal assistants with her foreign accent. English is the world's foremost go-to language for communication, and mastering it past the point of literal translation requires acquiring not only vocabulary and grammar rules, but also figurative language, cultural references, and nonverbal communication. Will language technologies aid us in the quest to master foreign languages and better understand one another, or will they make language learning obsolete?

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  American Monsters: The History...

  Editors Charles River

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  People have always been fascinated with the hidden, the mysterious, and the unexplained. Every society has its tall tales and ghost stories, its odd legends, and heroes. Also, every society has its stories of strange beasts, dangerous or benign, that live in the twilight world between the everyday and the legendary. Through most of history, people have been closely tied to nature, hunting in forests and having an intimate knowledge of the animals in their regions. So-called “primitive” peoples were walking encyclopedias of the natural world, and yet most believed there were more creatures lurking in those woods than the ones they usually encountered. Even as the world becomes more connected, the belief in strange creatures continues as strong as ever. 
  	As a result, in one sense it shouldn’t be surprising that people across the United States have reported seeing weird cryptids, including giant birds, sea serpents, wolfmen, and a creature so bizarre it defies any rational classification. The only thing these monsters have in common is that all have been seen regularly and reported by seemingly sober, rational witnesses in the United States, even as conventional science suggests these monsters cannot exist and that all the sightings are mistakes, misidentifications, or hoaxes.  
  	In some cases, this may be true, but in others, it’s harder to accept. For example, one story about a 10-year-old boy being carried off by a giant bird was witnessed by several other people. Likewise, the Gloucester sea serpent seen by hundreds of people and carefully and scientifically investigated, and during one week in 1909, hundreds if not thousands of people reported seeing the Jersey Devil. Sightings of wolf-like creatures walking on two legs have been reported for more than 100 years. 

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  Birth of Modern Astronomy The:...

  Editors Charles River

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  As interesting as the stories about Tycho Brahe are, chances are he wouldn’t be remembered if not for the important work he did, especially in the realm of astronomy. He lived in an era when the intellectual worldview of most in northern Europe was medieval in nature, influenced mostly by spirituality, mysticism, religion, and metaphysics. Brahe, however, was far-thinking in his outlook, taking advantages of the latest technological ideas and practicing empiricism to revolutionize the field of science. This work eventually led Brahe to cross paths with Johannes Kepler, whose laws on planetary motion would change everything.  
  Trying to define a man who had the qualities of a mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, inventor, and astrologer can prove difficult. But all of that can be ascribed to Johannes Kepler, one of the giants of his era who ushered in the Scientific Revolution and is often considered the first modern scientist. Kepler stood at a moment in time when the intellectual worldview of most in northern Europe was medieval in nature. Kepler, however, was far-thinking in his outlook. 
  	In his lifetime, Galileo straddled the epochs of the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution, and it was his work and technological advances that helped usher in a brand new understanding of the solar system and the scientific method. Stephen Hawking himself has asserted, “Galileo, perhaps more than any other single person, was responsible for the birth of modern science." Of course, part of what made Galileo such a monumental figure was the fact that he was ahead of his time, and that he mostly refused to conform to the accepted dogmas of contemporary society.  
  In 1676, Sir Isaac Newton wrote in a letter, “If I have seen further it is by standing on ye sholders of Giants.” By the time he died, Newton had become science’s greatest giant, and every scientist who has followed him has stood on his shoulders. 

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  Social Bookmarking Intelligence...

  Margarette Selby, Larry Arnett

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  Social Bookmarking Intelligence Bundle, 2 in 1 Bundle: Social Bookmarking Success and Tips For Social BookmarkingSocial bookmarking is probably one of the most convenient and popular aspects of the Internet. While some people spend their time online for work or business purposes, many others spend their time browsing for popular games, shopping sites or even the most current news events. Social bookmarking makes each of these things easy and fun. Social bookmarking is not only one of the easiest ways of saving your favorite websites and bookmarks, but it is also very easy. There are many different social bookmarking sites on the web today. In this bundle, you will learn what social bookmarking is all about and how to use this well so you can get the most out of your online experience. Learn tips on how it can help browsing the internet either for personal or business more fun and efficiently.This 2 in 1 Bundle includes the following audiobooks:1. Social Bookmarking Success: The Essential Guide to Social Bookmarking and How It Can Make Your Time Online Easier and More Fun!2. Tips For Social Bookmarking: Discover How Social Bookmarking Works and How It Can Help You Get the Most Out of Your Online ExperienceIf you want to learn more, download your copy of Social Bookmarking Intelligence 2 in 1 Bundle today!

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  Herding Immunity - The Startling...

  Stacy Mintzer Herlihy

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  A look at the long history of vaccines, yesterday, today, and still to come. 
   
   
   
  In Herding Immunity, Stacy Mintzer Herlihy explores the compelling history of vaccines and the equally long history of vaccination opposition. By connecting the contemporary anti-vax movement with its historical roots, Herlihy integrates modern conversations and reveals the profound impact vaccines have had on our society, highlighting the urgent need for societal change to ensure equitable vaccination for all.

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