Welcome to Wikipedia

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit

6,886,480 articles in the English Wikipedia

Today's featured article

Arthur Oswin Austin (1879–1964) was an American electrical engineer and inventor. He is best known as the inventor of the Austin transformer, used to supply power for lighting circuits on radio towers. Austin's work included improvements to radio transmission equipment and the effects of lightning on high-voltage transmission lines and aircraft. He was a fellow of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and of the Institute of Radio Engineers, and was known as an expert in high-voltage insulators and fittings. His work on transmitting antennas included both military and civilian projects. Born in California, Austin graduated from Stanford University with a degree in electrical engineering. He spent most of his adult life in Ohio where he worked for the Ohio Brass Company and founded the Austin Insulator Company. He bought a large estate in Barberton, Ohio, lived in the mansion, and built an extensive outdoor electrical laboratory on the grounds. (Full article...)

Recently featured:

Did you know...

La Nube

... that the children's museum La Nube (pictured) includes a bus-washing exhibit?
... that German national Rico Krieger was likely forced by the Belarusian KGB to lie in a state-televised plea titled "Confession of a German Terrorist"?
... that although the electrification of the Midland Main Line was designated as a high priority in 1981, work to electrify the northern part of the line did not begin until more than 30 years later?
... that Huang Shaoqiang produced numerous paintings condemning the Japanese invasion of China?
... that the 2019 single "Trust Issues" by Drake was originally released in 2011 as a free download?
... that the 2003 graphic novel The Life Eaters, presenting an occult-driven, hypothetical Axis victory in World War II, has been discussed in the context of its portrayal of The Holocaust?
... that Mali and Niger broke off diplomatic relations with Ukraine over the country's alleged support for rebel groups in the Battle of Tinzaouaten?
... that Olympic gold-medal-winning rugby player Jordan Sepho vomited from stress the first time he played?
... that a viral dance in which performers mimic driving a car was performed by #Amishtiktok content creators, who substituted operating a horse and buggy?

In the news

Flooding in Kłodzko, Poland

Explosions of electronic devices used by Hezbollah members kill at least 42 people and injure thousands of others in Lebanon and Syria.
Severe flooding (pictured) in central Europe leaves at least 25 people dead and 11 others missing, with several towns submerged.
Amid widespread protests, Mexico ratifies constitutional changes that will see the federal judiciary chosen by popular vote.
Former president of Peru Alberto Fujimori dies at the age of 86.

On this day...

September 23: Celebrate Bisexuality Day

Concordat of Worms

1122 – Pope Callixtus II and Holy Roman emperor Henry V agreed the Concordat of Worms (pictured), ending the Investiture Controversy.
1642 – First English Civil War: The Battle of Powick Bridge, the first engagement between the primary field armies of the Royalists and the Parliamentarians, ended in a Royalist victory.
1884 – The French steamship Arctique ran aground on the northern coast of Cape Virgenes in Argentina; gold was discovered during the rescue effort, triggering the Tierra del Fuego gold rush.
1920 – The Louisiana hurricane dissipated over Kansas after forcing around 4,500 people to evacuate and causing $1.45 million in damages.
2010 – Teresa Lewis became the first woman to be executed by the U.S. state of Virginia since 1912, and the first woman in the state to be executed by lethal injection.

Augustus (b. 63 BC)
Sir Richard Hughes, 1st Baronet (d. 1779)
Émilie Gamelin (d. 1851)
Zdenko Blažeković (b. 1915)

More anniversaries:

Today's featured picture

Anemone hepatica is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Traditional herbal medicine claimed that it was useful in the treatment of liver disorders, hence its name (from Greek hepatikos, 'of the liver'). This photograph shows the flowers of two A. hepatica varieties, blue (common) and pink (rare), growing in a forest in Keila, Estonia. The picture was focus-stacked from 29 separate images.