Fossils are the remains or imprints of prehistoric plants or animals. They are found in sedimentary rock (rock formed from sand and mud), coal, tar, volcanic ash, fossilized tree sap or frozen in…
(Encyclopedia) Pontormo, Jacopo daPontormo, Jacopo dayäˈkōpō dä pōntôrˈmō [key], 1494–1556, Florentine painter, one of the creators of mannerism. His real name was Jacopo Carrucci. He studied with…
(Encyclopedia) Botticelli, SandroBotticelli, Sandrosänˈdrō bôtˌtĭchĕlˈlē [key], c.1444–1510, Florentine painter of the Renaissance, whose real name was Alessandro di Mariano FilipepiBotticelli,…
(Encyclopedia) Dante AlighieriDante Alighieridănˈtē, Ital. dänˈtā älēgyĕˈrē [key], 1265–1321, Italian poet, b. Florence. Dante was the author of the Divine Comedy, one of the greatest of literary…
The Question: What is the life expectancy of smokers vs. non-smokers? The Answer: It's hard to give a firm answer to that question, in part because it's hard to…
(Encyclopedia) Cuza, Alexander JohnCuza, Alexander Johnk&oomacr;ˈzä [key], or Alexander John I, 1820–73, first prince of Romania (1859–66), b. Moldavia. An officer who participated in the 1848…
(Encyclopedia) Jarves, James JacksonJarves, James Jacksonjärˈvĭs [key], 1818–88, American art critic and art collector, b. Boston. He spent some years in Honolulu, where he founded and edited a…
(Encyclopedia) Mino da FiesoleMino da Fiesolemēˈnō dä fyāˈzōlā [key] or Mino di GiovanniMino di Giovannidē jōvänˈnē [key], 1429–84, Florentine sculptor of the early Renaissance. He produced many…
(Encyclopedia) Muscle Shoals, town (1990 pop. 9,611), Colbert co., NW Ala., on the Tennessee River opposite Florence; inc. 1923. Chemicals, truck trailers, and nuts, screws, and bolts are…
