Week in Review: March 12, 2023
Remembering Four Trailblazers
These legends in their fields died this week. Read their stories.
Dick Fosbury: a legendary flop
Few people actually revolutionize their sport. This high jumper did. His innovative “Fosbury flop” became the sport’s standard jump.
Patricia Shroeder: pioneering House work
As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1973–97), she fought for women’s rights and challenged sexism in Congress—all while wielding a stinging wit.
Pat McCormick: making waves
She made history by winning the springboard and platform diving events at two Olympics. And for fun McCormick performed dives that few even attempted.
Kenzaburō Ōe: writing–and speaking–his mind
The winner of the 1994 Nobel Prize for Literature, this Japanese author was known for his personal works, especially about his intellectually disabled son, and for his activism.
Image: AP
A Full Court Press Across the Nation
For three weeks each spring, the U.S. is gripped by a type of madness: The NCAA basketball tournament becomes a national obsession as more than 60 universities vie to be the last team standing. And this year’s March Madness has some intriguing story lines. Howard University is in for the first time since 1992, but it draws a tough first-round opponent in last year’s champion Jayhawks. Meanwhile, the women’s No. 1 overall seed South Carolina looks to defend their title. But don’t feel bad if your bracket is a bust: the odds of picking every winner with a “perfect bracket” are one in 9.2 quintillion.
Method to the Madness: How the Tournament Was Born
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Every March Madness Winner Since 1939
Gerry Broome/AP Images
How College Basketball Spawned the Fast Break and Zone Defense
© Rick Stewart/Getty Images
The No. 1 Overall Seeds
Beware the Ides of March?
Thanks to the assassination of Julius Caesar and to Shakespeare, who dramatized the murder in a play, March 15 is considered a day of misfortune. But that wasn’t always the case. Learn the real history behind the Ides of March.
A day for celebration?
In ancient times, March was the start of the new year, and the Ides was marked by feasts and sacrifices to honor the first full moon. However, it wasn’t fun for everyone. The day was also when debts had to be settled.
Why was Caesar killed?
While changing the course of history, Caesar also made many enemies. Some 60 senators became concerned over his growing power, especially after he named himself “dictator in perpetuity.” But by killing Caesar, they doomed the Roman Republic.
“Et tu, Brute?”
Caesar utters this line in Shakespeare’s play after realizing that he has been betrayed by Brutus, someone he loved and trusted. Who was the real Brutus? And what happened to him?
Image: Photos.com/Getty Images
China Expands Its Reach
China took the world by surprise last week when it brokered a deal for rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia to resume diplomatic relations. The agreement comes at a time when U.S. influence in the Mideast is waning, due in part to its sanctions on Iran and its growing criticism of human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. And it provides another example of China’s growing influence in the region and around the world.
Already the World’s Largest Country (by Population)
© Yuri Yavnik/Dreamstime.com
Building a “Corridor” to the World
Arif Ali—AFP/Getty images
Reviving the Silk Road
© Mpavlov/Dreamstime.com
Keeping the Money Safe
Unless you’re a West Coast start-up or venture capitalist, odds are you had never heard of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) until last week when the bank suddenly collapsed, sending shock waves throughout the financial system. Got questions? Britannica Money has some answers for you.
A Run on the Bank
If you’ve seen It’s a Wonderful Life, you know how a bank run works. A large swarm of depositors withdraw their funds from fear their bank may fold, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.
FDIC to the Rescue
During the Great Depression, a new entity, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC), was set up to guarantee customer deposits in the event of a bank failure. If the FDIC fears a failure could be contagious, it may extend the guarantee well beyond the $250,000 insured limit.
Another Banking Crisis?
A meltdown in the subprime mortgage market in 2008 triggered a crisis that nearly brought down the global financial system. Regulations were overhauled, and the Federal Reserve kept interest rates at or near zero for over a decade. The Fed’s recent rate hikes to tame inflation, however, might have been too much too soon for small, regional banks such as SVB.
A Slice of Life: Happy Pi Day
Today’s date bears a resemblance to one of the most important mathematical equations in history. In its strict definition, pi explains the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. But put another way, the famous formula starting with 3.14 was an entry point for our ability to measure and understand the universe. Its application runs through nearly every aspect of our lives—from the construction of buildings to calculating the flights of spacecraft. And while we’re at it, let’s celebrate another type of circle: the baked delights with which pi shares a name.
Life of Pi: How the Formula Was Formed
PRNewsFoto/Raytheon/AP Images
The Chemistry of Pizza: Why It Tastes So Good
© Isabel Pavia—Moment/Getty Images
How This Savory Dish Became Known as Shepherd’s Pie
© rudisill—E+/Getty Images
Actresses Like No Other
The convergence of the 95th Academy Awards and Women’s History Month offers an opportunity to celebrate some of the actresses whose work made Oscars history.
Hattie McDaniel
She was the first African American to win an Oscar, for her role in Gone With the Wind. But due to segregation, she wasn’t allowed to sit at the same table as her white costars or attend the after-party.
Rita Moreno
Moreno (pictured below) is the first Latina to win an Oscar, for her role in West Side Story, and is one of only 18 EGOT winners (that’s Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony).
Cate Blanchett
The Australian actress, lauded for her star turn in Tár, is the only woman in Academy history to be nominated for the same role, Elizabeth I, in two different films.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Speaking of firsts, this was the first Oscar nomination for winner Jamie Lee Curtis, whose movie career began with the slasher classic Halloween in 1978.
Image: Michael Ochs Archives—Moviepix/Getty Images
Please Touch the Exhibits
The Punk Rock Museum is set to open its doors on the edge (where else?) of downtown Las Vegas. And in true punk fashion, many instruments won’t be cordoned off with a velvet rope—guests can play some of the equipment themselves. Artifacts include clothing from Sid Vicious and Debbie Harry, hats from Devo, and guitars from the New York Dolls and other legends. And you’ll hear stories straight from the source: The tour guides are members of famous punk bands, including Fishbone and The Offspring.
Gabba Gabba Hey! A Rousing History of Punk Rock
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
How Patti Smith Brought Poetry to Punk
© David Atlas/Retna Ltd.
These Gen X Riot Grrrls Are Still Going Strong
© Christian Bertrand/Dreamstime.com