http://www.wisegeek.com/ Clear Answers for Common Questions Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://feeds.wisegeek.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~3/Nd7-GP3iNSM/what-is-the-history-of-teddy-bears.htm <p>The lovable teddy bear can be found in various forms all around the world. It shows up primarily in stuffed animal form, but is also found on t-shirts, dresses, posters, lunch boxes, and more. Most people do not know that teddy bears haven't been around that long. In fact, the teddy bear was invented in the U.S. and Germany almost at the same time during the...<br><br><a href='http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-history-of-teddy-bears.htm?r'>What Is the History of Teddy Bears?</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~4/Nd7-GP3iNSM" height="1" width="1"/> Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-history-of-teddy-bears.htm?r http://feeds.wisegeek.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~3/qlL2QnQgVjQ/what-is-planet-osiris.htm <p>Planet Osiris, officially known as HD 209458 b, is a gas giant planet orbiting a main sequence star HD 209458, located 150 light-years away in the constellation of Pegasus. The planet was discovered by spectroscopic studies on 5 November 1999, the first extrasolar planet discovered orbiting a Sun-like star, and its transit was observed shortly afterward, on 9 November 1999. This was also the first observation of...<br><br><a href='http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-planet-osiris.htm?r'>What Is Planet Osiris?</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~4/qlL2QnQgVjQ" height="1" width="1"/> Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-planet-osiris.htm?r http://feeds.wisegeek.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~3/IENgHWhKpgo/what-happened-to-the-tacoma-narrows-bridge.htm <p>On 7 November 1940, the big news of the day was of the total failure and collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington state. The bridge quite simply tore itself apart and fell into the waters of Puget Sound. How and why it happened are questions that have only recently been adequately answered.</p> <p>The Tacoma "narrows" mark the closest point on Puget Sound between the Washington...<br><br><a href='http://www.wisegeek.com/what-happened-to-the-tacoma-narrows-bridge.htm?r'>What Happened to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge?</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~4/IENgHWhKpgo" height="1" width="1"/> Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.wisegeek.com/what-happened-to-the-tacoma-narrows-bridge.htm?r http://feeds.wisegeek.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~3/oMn_I6M8wC4/what-is-the-ethmoid-bone.htm <p>In human anatomy, the ethmoid bone is one of the bones that make up the skull. It is situated between the nasal cavity and the brain cavity, and makes up the nasal cavity roof, part of the nasal cavity walls, part of the bony orbits around the eyes, and part of the floor of the cranium. Sometimes called the ethmoidal bone, this important structure is pneumatized, which is to...<br><br><a href='http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-ethmoid-bone.htm?r'>What Is the Ethmoid Bone?</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~4/oMn_I6M8wC4" height="1" width="1"/> Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-ethmoid-bone.htm?r http://feeds.wisegeek.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~3/vcEQUUJryI8/what-is-a-pie-bird.htm <p>A pie bird is a device which is inserted into a pie before baking for the purpose of ventilating the pie as it cooks. Using a pie bird prevents steam from building up and rupturing the pie, and it also helps the pie to release any juices which may build up during cooking, reducing the risk of an unsightly mess and a smoky oven. In addition to being functional...<br><br><a href='http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-pie-bird.htm?r'>What Is a Pie Bird?</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~4/vcEQUUJryI8" height="1" width="1"/> Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-pie-bird.htm?r http://feeds.wisegeek.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~3/rjiavOQtYJs/what-is-dentophobia.htm <p>Dentophobia is a fear of dental care, and, by extension, people who provide dental care, such as dentists. This condition is also known as dental fear, odontophobia, or dental anxiety. Surveys estimate that many people suffer from this condition to varying degrees, and fortunately there are an assortment of ways to treat and deal with dental phobia. For people with extreme dentophobia, it is important to seek treatment, as...<br><br><a href='http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-dentophobia.htm?r'>What Is Dentophobia?</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~4/rjiavOQtYJs" height="1" width="1"/> Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-dentophobia.htm?r http://feeds.wisegeek.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~3/MK8hbFAZdlE/who-was-the-first-astronaut.htm <p>The first astronaut was either the Soviet Yuri Gagarin or the Soviet dog Laika, depending on whether the definition of astronaut is restricted based on species. Both are remembered for their accomplishments and contributions to space travel.</p> <p>Laika, a name that literally means "barker" and was based on her breed, was launched into space on 3 November 1957 on board Sputnik 2, becoming the first animal to...<br><br><a href='http://www.wisegeek.com/who-was-the-first-astronaut.htm?r'>Who Was the First Astronaut?</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/learn-something-new-every-day-rss/~4/MK8hbFAZdlE" height="1" width="1"/> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.wisegeek.com/who-was-the-first-astronaut.htm?r