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megatherium

(Encyclopedia)megatherium mĕgəthērˈēəm [key] [Gr.,=large beast], extinct ground sloth, of the genus Megatherium, that was widely distributed in North and South America in the Pleistocene epoch. Fossil evidenc...

Quaternary period

(Encyclopedia)Quaternary period kwətûrˈnərē [key], younger of the two geologic periods of the Cenozoic era of geologic time (see Geologic Timescale, tablegeologic timescale, table) from 2 millon years ago to t...

Bonneville Salt Flats

(Encyclopedia)Bonneville Salt Flats bŏnˈəvĭl, bŏˈnēvĭl, bŏnˈvĭl [key], desert area in Tooele co., NW Utah, c.14 mi (22.5 km) long and 7 mi (11.2 km) wide. The smooth salt surface of the Flats is ideal fo...

New Stone Age

(Encyclopedia)New Stone Age: see Neolithic period. ...

Old Stone Age

(Encyclopedia)Old Stone Age: see Paleolithic period. ...

old-age pension

(Encyclopedia)old-age pension: see pension; social security. ...

age of consent

(Encyclopedia)age of consent, the age at which, according to the law, persons are bound by their words and acts. There are different ages at which one acquires legal capacity to consent to marriage, to choose a gua...

Reason, Age of

(Encyclopedia)Reason, Age of: see Enlightenment. ...

Fleming, Peggy

(Encyclopedia)Fleming, Peggy, 1948–, American ice skater, b. San Jose, Calif. She began skating at age 9, and after distinguished accomplishments as a juvenile and novice skater, she was U.S. Ladies Champion from...

Anthropocene

(Encyclopedia)Anthropocene Epoch, an unofficial term used by scientists to describe a period of time—up to the present—in which humanity has impacted the planet on a global scale. The phrase was fir...