Wikipedia:Today's featured list/June 2015
|
Featured list tools: |
June 1
.jpg)
Two hundred two episodes of the American science fiction-supernatural television series The X-Files aired over nine seasons. The series originally ran on the Fox network from September 10, 1993 to May 19, 2002. The X-Files centers on FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who work on cases linked to the paranormal, called X-Files. Mulder is a believer in the paranormal, and the skeptical Scully is assigned to make scientific analyses of Mulder's discoveries which could ultimately be used to discredit his work. Throughout the series the two develop a close friendship. The show's premise originated with Chris Carter (pictured), who served as an executive producer along with many others. Filming for seasons one to five took place primarily in Vancouver, British Columbia, and for the remaining seasons in Los Angeles, California. Episodes were broadcast on Fridays at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) for the series's first three seasons; the remaining six seasons aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET. (Full list...)
June 5
The Narcissus horticultural divisions are a system of classifying the cultivated varieties of the genus Narcissus (/nɑːrˈsɪsəs/), which are predominantly spring perennial plants in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family. Various common names including daffodil, narcissus, and jonquil are used to describe all or some members of the genus. The list of Narcissus horticultural divisions provided by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is the standard method used to classify and describe cultivated varieties (cultivars) of Narcissus. It is widely used since the RHS is the international authority for the registration of such cultivars. For horticultural purposes, all Narcissus cultivars are split into 13 divisions, based partly upon flower form (shape and length of corona – the "trumpet" or "cup"), particularly the ratio of corona to length of perianth segments (tepals or "petals"), the number of flowers per stem, flowering period and partly upon the genetic background. Division 11 (Split-corona) with its two subdivisions was the most recent group to be described (1969). (Full list...)
June 8
The timeline of the Manhattan Project covers the research and development project that produced the first atomic bombs during World War II. The Manhattan Project was led by the United States with the support of the United Kingdom and Canada. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Army component of the project was designated the Manhattan District; "Manhattan" gradually became the codename for the entire project. Along the way, the project absorbed its earlier British counterpart, Tube Alloys. Two types of atomic bomb were developed during the war. A relatively simple gun-type fission weapon was made using uranium-235, an isotope that makes up only 0.7 percent of natural uranium. Since it is chemically identical to the most common isotope, uranium-238, and has almost the same mass, it proved difficult to separate. In parallel with the work on uranium was an effort to produce plutonium. The gun-type design proved impractical to use with plutonium so a more complex implosion-type nuclear weapon was developed in a concerted design and construction effort at the project's principal research and design laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. (Full list...)
June 12
The Grammy Award for Best Music Video is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to performers, directors, and producers of quality short form music videos. Originally called the Grammy Award for Best Video, Short Form, the award was first presented in 1984, as was a similar award for Best Long Form Music Video. From 1986 to 1997, the category name was changed to Best Music Video, Short Form. However, in 1988 and 1989, the award criteria were changed and the video awards were presented under the categories Best Concept Music Video and Best Performance Music Video. The awards were returned to the original format in 1990. The category was called Best Short Form Music Video until 2014, when it was shortened to Best Music Video. Award recipients include the performers, directors, and producers associated with the winning videos. Johnny Cash, Peter Gabriel, Janet Jackson, and Michael Jackson (pictured) hold the record for the most wins as a performer in this category, with two each. Michael Jackson was also a member of the supergroup USA for Africa and was highly involved in the "We Are the World" project, the 1986 winner. (Full list...)
June 15
One hundred fifty two tornadoes touched down during a large tornado outbreak that took place across much of the Central and parts of the Eastern United States, as well as southern Canada, from May 2 to 8, 1999. The most dramatic events unfolded during the afternoon of May 3 through the early morning hours of May 4 when more than half of these storms occurred. Oklahoma experienced its largest tornado outbreak on record, with 70 confirmed. The most notable of these was the F5 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado which devastated suburban communities to the southwest of Oklahoma City. The tornado killed 36 people and injured 583 others; losses amounted to $1 billion, making it the first billion-dollar tornado in history. Overall, 50 people lost their lives during the outbreak and damage amounted to $1.4 billion. On May 2, a strong area of low pressure moved out of the Rocky Mountains and into the High Plains, producing scattered severe weather and ten tornadoes in Nebraska. Over the following 48 hours, May 3–4, 116 tornadoes (map from May 3 pictured) touched down across the Central United States. Following the extensive outbreak, activity became increasingly scattered from May 5 to 8. (Full list...)
June 19
U.S. Open champions are crowned annually in a golf competition conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA). The tournament was established in 1895, when Horace Rawlins won the inaugural championship. The U.S. Open is the second of the four major championships to be played each year. The champion receives a gold champion's medal, and the U.S. Open Championship Cup, which the winner is allowed to keep for a year. Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones (pictured), Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus hold the record for the most U.S. Open victories, with four victories each. Anderson holds the record for most consecutive wins with three (1903–05). Hale Irwin is the oldest winner of the U.S. Open: he was 45 years 15 days old when he won the 1990 Open. The youngest winner of the U.S. Open is John McDermott who was 19 years 315 days old when he won in 1911. Rory McIlroy holds the record for both the lowest aggregate score and score under par in 2011 at 268 and 16-under. (Full list...)
June 22
The English architect Charles Holden designed numerous buildings, including many London Underground stations during the 1920s and 1930s. Other notable designs were Bristol Central Library, the Underground Electric Railways Company of London's headquarters at 55 Broadway and the University of London's Senate House. Many of his buildings have been granted listed building status, indicating that they are considered to be of architectural or historical interest and protecting them from unapproved alteration. Holden also designed over 60 war cemeteries and two memorials in Belgium and northern France for the Imperial War Graves Commission from 1920 to 1928. His early architectural training was in Bolton and Manchester where he worked for architects Everard W. Leeson and Jonathan Simpson before moving to London. After a short period with Arts and Crafts designer Charles Robert Ashbee, he went to work for Henry Percy Adams in 1899. He became Adams' partner in the firm in 1907 and remained with it for the rest of his career. (Full list...)
June 26
_(cropped).jpg)
American singer and actress Ariana Grande has won 27 awards from 71 nominations. Grande's debut album Yours Truly spawned the single "Baby I", for which she was nominated for Love Song at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards. She played a titular role in the teen sitcom Sam & Cat (2013–14), for which she won a Favorite TV Actress award at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. At the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, Grande was nominated for two awards—Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Bang Bang" and Best Pop Vocal Album for My Everything. The latter included the single "Break Free", which was nominated for the Break-Up Song award at the Teen Choice Awards. At the 31st annual MTV Video Music Awards, 2014, the song "Problem" won the Best Pop Video award, and garnered three nominations, including Best Female Video. That same year, the American Music Awards declared her New Artist of the Year. She won the Favorite Breakout Artist award at the 40th ceremony of the People's Choice Awards. (Full list...)
June 29
.jpg)
The children's television program Sesame Street has featured many Muppets, a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson (pictured). Henson's involvement in Sesame Street began when he and Joan Ganz Cooney, one of the creators of the show, met in the summer of 1968, at one of the show's five three-day curriculum planning seminars in Boston. Author Christopher Finch reported that director Jon Stone, who had worked with Henson previously, felt that if they could not bring him on board, they should "make do without puppets". Henson was initially reluctant, but agreed to join Sesame Street in support of its social goals. He also agreed to waive his performance fee for full ownership of the Sesame Street Muppets and to split any revenue they generated with the Children's Television Workshop (renamed to the Sesame Workshop in 2000), the series' non-profit producer. The Muppets were a crucial part of the show's popularity and it brought Henson national attention. The Muppet segments of the show were popular since its premiere, and more Muppets were added during the first few seasons. (Full list...)