An Enormous Project in Scope and Cost Scientists working on the Encyclopedia of Life (www.eol.org) liken the scope and significance of the project to mapping the human genome. They expect the project will take about ten years to complete, at a cost of about $100 million. The Field Museum of Natural History, Harvard University, the Marine Biological Laboratory, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Biodiversity Heritage Library are collaborating on the project, as well as software experts and computer engineers....

World Population Milestones 1 billion in 18042 billion in 1927 (123 years later)3 billion in 1960 ( 33 years later)4 billion in 1974 ( 14 years later)5 billion in 1987 ( 13 years later)6 billion in 1999 ( 12 years later) Source: United Nations Population Division

Super PACs emerged as a major influence in the 2012 campaign, and will continue to be a major factor in future elections. Super PACs are independent political committees that support a candidate with unlimited, often anonymous, donations from companies, unions, or individuals. The groups can’t contribute directly to a candidate, but they can run favorable ads about a candidate—or negative ones about their favored candidate’s opponent. Most of the ads sponsored by super PACs are negative and take considerable liberties....

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And the Nominees Are… Best ActressBest ActorBest Supporting ActressBest Supporting ActorBest DirectorBest Picture

Related Links The 50 StatesState MapsState SymbolsState MottoesState Nicknames Flag DayOrigin of State NamesU.S. GeographyU.S. StatisticsFlags from Around the World

American speed skater Chad Hedrick wins the 5000 m event. An enormously successful inline skater, Hedrick only began speed skating in 2002. American Apolo Ohno falls in the 1500 m short track prelims, losing a chance to repeat his 2002 gold medal performance. American speed skater Joey Cheek announces he will donate his $25,000 gold medal award from the U.S. Olympic Committee to child refugees from Darfur, Sudan, and encourages Olympic sponsors to do the same....

Related Links 2010 Winter OlympicsIce Hockey Through the YearsEncyclopedia: Ice Hockey Memorable Moments The Miracle of 1980The Miracle of 1960 Since that year, the U.S. men’s hockey team has fallen on hard times, failing to get the gold in each of the last seven Olympics. The low point for the program perhaps came in Nagano in 1998, when some members of the team trashed their room at the Olympic Village following a loss to the eventual champion, the Czech Republic....