Petra: Jordan

On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple

Taj Mahal: Agra, India

This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.

Christ Redeemer: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of the world’s best-known monuments. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms.

Science and technology in the United States

He United States came into being around the Age of Enlightenment (circa 1680 to 1800), a period in which writers and thinkers rejected the superstitions of the past. Instead, they emphasized the powers of reason and unbiased inquiry, especially inquiry into the workings of the natural world. Enlightenment philosophers envisioned a "republic of science," where ideas would be exchanged freely and useful knowledge would improve the lot of all citizens.
The United States Constitution itself reflects the desire to encourage scientific creativity. It gives the United States Congress the power "to promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective

GTA 5: new screenshots – in pictures

Rockstar has revealed a selection of new screenshots from the long-awaited return of its multimillion-selling Grand Theft Auto series. In a collection entitled 'The Fast Life' we see lead characters Michael, Trevor and Franklin in a variety of cool vehicles, causing trouble through the open streets of Los Santos. The game is not due until 17 September, so for now, this is as close as we get to the chaos..

Florida executes mentally ill man despite constitutional prohibition

The execution's opponents argued that Ferguson should have been given life without parole because he had been mentally ill since before he committed the crimes. Photo: Antonio Olmos

Florida has executed a schizophrenic man who believed that he was the immortal prince of God vested with superhuman powers including an ability to control the sun, despite the US constitution's prohibition against

RNC threatens boycott of CNN and NBC over Hillary Clinton shows

Priebus also accused the networks of 'thinly-veiled attempts at putting a thumb on the scales of the 2016 presidential election'. Photograph: Getty Images

The Republican National Committee has threatened a boycott of CNN and NBC in the runup to the next presidential election unless the networks cancel films they have planned on Hillary Clinton.
Reince Priebus, chair of the RNC, wrote to the heads of CNN and

Doctor Who: Peter Capaldi revealed as 12th Doctor

Actor Peter Capaldi has been announced as the new star of BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who
The 55-year-old Glasgow-born star will be the 12th actor to play the Doctor, replacing out-going lead Matt Smith.
Capaldi is best known for his role as foul-mouthed spin-doctor Malcolm Tucker in the BBC series The Thick of It.

Conn. boy: I was cheated over 'Jeopardy!' spelling

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut eighth-grader who misspelled the correct answer to a "Jeopardy!" question and lost money over it says he was cheated

Lindsay Lohan Disses Kristen Stewart On Chelsea Lately

Is there a new feud brewing? Fresh out of rehab, Lindsay Lohan guest hosts the upcoming Aug. 5 Chelsea Lately episode and in a preview clip from the gig, the actress didn't have, well, the nicest things to say about fellow actress and former child star Kristen Stewart.

PHOTOS: Lindsay's most shocking moments
Speaking about a recent incident in which the Twilight actress, 23, yelled at a photographer, Lohan, 27, quipped, "I'm just excited that Kristen Stewart, you know, finally showed some emotion."
Met with laughter and some surprise from the other hosts, The Canyons

4-year-old mayor is re-elected in northern Minn

DORSET, Minn. (AP) — Robert "Bobby" Tufts hasn't made it to preschool yet, but he's already been elected twice as mayor of a tiny tourist town in northern Minnesota.

Mayor Tufts' name was picked Sunday during annual Taste of Dorset festival to be mayor of Dorset for a second term. It has no formal city government and has a population of 22 to 28, depending on whether the minister and his family are in town.

Anyone could vote as many times as they like — for $1 a vote — at any of the ballot boxes in stores around town. The proceeds go toward organizing the festival.

San Francisco's $30 million Pacific Heights mansion

San Francisco’s most expensive home for sale sits at 2724 Pacific Ave., perched high above the sloping street, in the tony neighborhood of Pacific Heights. Tucked behind metal gates, the “pedestrian

Diversity & inclusion

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion — in thought, style, experience, culture, ethnicity and sexual orientation — is helping us to create not only a great place to work, but also an environment where our employees, our customers and our communities around the world can

Encouraging Those Who Enrich Us All

We are one of the leading supporters of the arts in the world because we believe that a thriving arts and culture sector benefits economies and societies. Our program is designed to engage people in creative ways to build mutual respect and understanding. We do this through grants and sponsorships to arts organizations, and through our owWorks of art can provide a lasting reflection of peoples and cultures. But, over time, they are subject to deterioration. This unique program provides grants to

U.S. AbilityOne Commission

The Access Board is an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information technology.

Eagle and Shield

It is difficult to document the origin of the Senate’s gilded wood Eagle and Shield, which currently adorns the dais in the Old Senate Chamber. An 1809 plan for the room shows that architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe intended to hang an eagle crest and elaborate canopy over the vice president’s desk. His drawing also includes an oval cartouche or escutcheon of unspecified design on the eagle’s breast. However, Latrobe’s bird, with drooping wings, lacks the majesty and drama of the soaring eagle that exists today in the Old Senate Chamber. It is unclear whether his design ever became reality–-any evidence would have been destroyed when British troops burned the Capitol in 1814.

Landsat’s Critical Role in Energy

Energy is a growing necessity for people worldwide. As the demand for energy grows, Landsat plays an important role in identifying new energy

Landsat’s Critical Role in Protecting Human Health

People have long recognized the connection between the environment and human health. Various animal and insect species from mice to mosquitoes serve as vectors that can transmit disease pathogens to

Landsat’s Critical Role in Understanding Climate Change

Long-term weather patterns averaged over 30 years or more make up our climate. Human well-being—our

infrastructure and agriculture—depend on a reliable climate. This reliability allows farmers to plant seeds in the spring with confidence that

Landsat’s Critical Role in Agriculture

Worldwide, millions of people are helped by Landsat-data-based decisions that impact food and water management. Food and farming