December 16, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Recently, DNA has been extracted from a 400,000 year old femur discovered at an archaeological site in Spain. The DNA is the oldest yet published and its findings have surprised researchers because it was found to be more closely linked to the Denisovans, rather than Neanderthals as would be expected. The fossil was excavated in […]
December 10, 2013 at 11:33 pm
Over two hundred years since his death, Mozart is remembered as – among other things – the greatest child prodigy the world has ever seen. David Shenk writes: Standing above all other giftedness legends, of course, [is] that of the mystifying boy genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, alleged to be an instant master performer at age […]
October 9, 2013 at 3:17 pm
Any caring dog companion cannot deny the special, human bond they share with their furry friend. However, when it comes to the legal system, dogs, along with other domesticated animals, are treated much like property. Research over the past few decades has worked to prove that animals, in particular mammals, share many of the emotions […]
October 8, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Have you ever been lost as to when to use “whom” instead of “who” in a sentence? When in doubt, this hilarious comic from The Oatmeal should set you straight!
October 7, 2013 at 2:23 pm
When we think of great artists, unless we are expert scholars of them, we tend to think of their most popular masterpiece(s). The name Van Gogh brings to mind Starry Night, while Da Vinci makes one immediately think of the Mona Lisa. For Salvador Dali it may very well be The Persistance of Memory, or […]
October 4, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Relating to CC201’s recent study of Montaigne, Shaun Kenney discusses the idea of the 16th century French essayist as being a proto-blogger. Even though his writings came centuries before blogging and the internet, let alone the idea of a computer, it’s easy to see Montaigne’s essays being published through a popular blog on WordPress or […]
September 9, 2013 at 2:28 pm
This past Saturday, Core students, faculty and alumni gathered at the BU Beach to watch astronomy Professor Marscher reenacted Galileo’s supposed 17th century experiment and enjoy a late summer barbecue. For those who were unfortunate enough to miss the fun, here are some photos: More images on the Core Curriculum Facebook page!
September 8, 2013 at 12:09 am
Relating to Professor Alan Marscher’s recent lecture on ancient cosmology for CC105, an ancient astronomical calendar was found to be older than Stonehenge by six millennia this past summer. The 10,000 year old time keeping structure located at Warren Field is comprised of 12 pits with rocks that copy the lunar phases, all arranged in […]
August 25, 2013 at 9:20 pm
Relating to CC101’s study of Greek tragedy, Core humanities Professor Hamill published an article earlier this month for the Theatre Commons’ HowlRound on the Trojan War on Boston’s stages and it’s relation to our understanding of modern warfare. She writes: Homer’s epic, the Iliad, has become the standard-bearer for the theater’s understanding of war […]
August 16, 2013 at 10:34 am
The University of Iowa library contains over 4,000 books that can fit into one’s palm. One book, however, has come to the attention of The Atlantic. This pea-sized volume measures a mere 0.138 inches square and 0.04 inches thick, so tiny it cannot be read with the naked eye. Recently library staff put the miniature […]
