Sitaram Yechury Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury speaking to media in Kolkata, August 13, 2021. (more) Communist Party of India (Marxist) political party, India Also known as: CPI(M) Written by Andrew Pereira Andrew Pereira is an editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. He covers a variety of topics, with a focus on Indian politics, foreign policy, and...

　　 　　Pope Leo XIV on his election day On May 8, 2025, the newly elected pope, Leo XIV, delivered his first remarks to the world, a message that included the formal blessing known as the Urbi et Orbi (Latin: “To the City and to the World”). (more) What Is the Urbi et Orbi Blessing? Written by René Ostberg René Ostberg...

　　 　　Fog on Oak Island, Nova Scotia, Canada As air cools near Earth's surface, fog results when relative humidity rises to 100 percent. (more) What Is Relative Humidity? Written by John P. Rafferty John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences, covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other...

　　 　　The growth cycle of human hair Human hair growth can be divided into three phases: the anagen (growth) phase, the catagen (transition) phase, and the telogen (resting) phase. In the anagen phase the papilla induces basal cells to begin development of a new hair. The new hair, growing both upward and downward, moves alongside the old hair and eventually...

　　Are Declining Birth Rates a Problem? Written by Arpit Nayak Arpit Nayak is an associate editor at Encyclopedia Britannica. Arpit Nayak Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr....

　　 　　April 8, 1870: A farmer excavating stone blocks from a long-crumbled wall found a statue in a hollow (more) Today in History—April 8: The Accidental Excavation of the Venus de Milo Written by Michele Metych Michele Metych is the lead editor for Today in History at Encyclopædia Britannica. Michele Metych Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject...

　　 　　April 9, 1965: Mickey Mantle launched an orange baseball into the center-field stands (more) Today in History—April 9: The Day Baseball Moved Indoors Written by Michele Metych Michele Metych is the lead editor for Today in History at Encyclopædia Britannica. Michele Metych Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether...

　　 　　Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. (more) Today in History—April 10: The Day Bananas Debuted In London Written by Melissa Petruzzello Melissa Petruzzello (she/her) is Assistant Managing Editor and covers plants, algae, fungi, insects, spiders, renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles certain topics in Christianity,... Melissa Petruzzello Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors...

　　 　　The Pitt Doctors (from left) Dennis Whitaker (Gerran Howell), Baran Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi), Frank Langdon (Patrick Ball), and Robby (Noah Wyle) tending to a patient in episode 10 of season two of the HBO series The Pitt. (more) The Pitt American television series Written by Fred Frommer Fred Frommer is a sports historian, author, and writer who has written...

　　 　　Ismail Omar Guelleh Djibouti's president, Ismail Omar Guelleh, attends the opening ceremony of the 24th Africa-France summit, at Cannes, France, February 15, 2007. (more) Ismail Omar Guelleh president of Djibouti Written by Amy McKenna Amy McKenna is a senior editor, primarily focused on geography and history matters pertaining to sub-Saharan Africa. She joined Encyclopaedia Britannica in 2004. She was...

　　 　　The structure of actin and myosin filaments Myosin proteins bind to actin filaments and use ATP hydrolysis to drive contraction and movement, acting as a molecular motor in muscles and nonmuscle cells. (more) myosin protein Written by Kara Rogers Kara Rogers is the senior editor of biomedical sciences at Encyclopædia Britannica, where she oversees a range of content from...

　　 　　Leader of the Black Sheep World War II flying ace Pappy Boyington. (more) Five Downed Fighter Pilots Who Made History Written by Tracy Grant Tracy Grant is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. She previously served as editor in chief, the first woman to hold that title. Tracy Grant Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas...