In 2023, the US mint released a quarter that bears the image of the woman considered to have been America’s first prima ballerina, known as Maria Tallchief. Her American name was actually Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief, and her Osage name, Wa-Xthe-Thoṉba, translates to Two Standards. Her stage and Osage names adorn the back of the […]
Rain itself has no scent. But moments before a rain event or as it begins, an earthy smell known as petrichor permeates the air. This comes from the moistening of the ground. Tiny microorganisms decompose dead or decaying organic matter, and a byproduct is a type of alcohol that has a strong scent. Its complex […]
The first movie to popularize the idea that nuclear weapons could “awaken” something monstrous was The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms. It is cited as having inspired the movie Godzilla. Based in part on a short story by Ray Bradbury and with stop-motion effects by Ray Harryhausen, Beast was one of the top grossing films of […]
Most animals will run away from an approaching snowstorm. But one member of the bovine family, bison, turns into storms, meeting them head on. According to the National Bison Association, bison do this instinctively, knowing that if they head into the storm, they can get through it more quickly, effectively reducing their exposure. It helps […]
Though George Washington was the first President of the United States, he technically wasn’t the first person in the federal government with the title of “president.” Washington was elected under the government formed by the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788. But in 1781, the Articles of Confederation — the United States’ first constitution […]
You’ve probably heard that elephants are scared of mice. Not really. However, they are afraid of bees. If they disturb a hive, the bees come out and attack them, stinging their eyes, behind their ears, and in their trunks. Elephants even have a sound that they make, a bee rumble, when they hear bees. A […]
We are designed to pick up other people’s emotions, and all emotions are contagious, and that includes laughter. Laughter is part of our evolution, and it’s something we share with other mammals. It’s well established that apes laugh in a remarkably human-like way. Laughter produces endorphins that help us de-stress, which is why humor helps […]
The origin of the word corduroy is fuzzy. Originally made of silk and worn by royal servants, modern corduroy was a product of the industrial revolution in the 1700s. A clever marketing ploy said it was corde du roi, “ropes of the king.” But it was really from cord duroy, rope with a heavy woolen […]
Seattle’s Space Needle? Nah. Let’s go back to 1st century Rome. Nero’s Golden Palace contained a 52-foot circular dining hall that rested on a 13-foot pillar with four spherical mechanisms. It rotated day and night to imitate the motion of the celestial bodies around the Earth and, of course, to impress his guests. The rotation […]
Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County – UUCDC
Email: churchoffice@uucdc.org
Contact: Webmaster
Tel: (610) 566-4853
Mailing Address:
145 W. Rose Tree Road
Media, PA 19063
