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Soong Mei-ling, also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek, was a Chinese political figure and a first lady of the Republic of China. Born in Shanghai, China, on March 5, 1898, Soong Mei-ling split her education between schools in the United States and China. Some might say that this worldly upbringing was a key factor contributing to her achievements later in life.

While the political feats of her husband, President Chiang Kai-shek, may be more widely recognized, Soong Mei-ling's accomplishments are just as notable. As first lady, Soong Mei-ling introduced her husband to Western culture and ideas. Likewise, she served as her husband's emissary, or spokesperson, to the West. During a visit to the United States in 1943, Soong Mei-ling became the second woman to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress. The trip earned her the esteem of the American public, who praised her passion and determination, and she raised billions of dollars in aid for her country.

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Pablo Picasso is often considered one of the greatest and most influential artists of the twentieth century. As a young child, Picasso displayed an exceptional talent for drawing and painting. His extraordinary skill allowed him to enter Barcelona's prestigious School of Fine Arts when he was only fourteen years old—several years younger than the typical students at this well-regarded school. Although Picasso left Barcelona before graduating, the city still inspired him. His experiences there would lead him to break away from traditional ideas about art and create a new style that would change the world of art forever.

Picasso's rise to prominence began in 1907. While living in Paris, he produced a painting that featured five Barcelonian women represented by sharply contrasting geometric shapes. Instead of a realistic representation of the women, the painting presented an abstract scene showing the women's forms from multiple viewpoints at once. That the art world had never seen such a painting before only added to Picasso's growing popularity. This painting, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, would serve as the inspiration for the artistic movement that came to be known as Cubism.

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Pablo Picasso is often considered one of the greatest and most influential artists of the twentieth century. As a young child, Picasso displayed an exceptional talent for drawing and painting. His extraordinary skill allowed him to enter Barcelona's prestigious School of Fine Arts when he was only fourteen years old—several years younger than the typical students at this well-regarded school. Although Picasso left Barcelona before graduating, the city still inspired him. His experiences there would lead him to break away from traditional ideas about art and create a new style that would change the world of art forever.

Picasso's rise to prominence began in 1907. While living in Paris, he produced a painting that featured five Barcelonian women represented by sharply contrasting geometric shapes. Instead of a realistic representation of the women, the painting presented an abstract scene showing the women's forms from multiple viewpoints at once. That the art world had never seen such a painting before only added to Picasso's growing popularity. This painting, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, would serve as the inspiration for the artistic movement that came to be known as Cubism.

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A typical human baby is born with around 300 bones, but by the time that baby reaches adulthood, it will have only 206. Initially, such a notable diminution in the number of bones may seem counterintuitive—shouldn't a skeleton need more bones, not fewer, as it grows? The explanation lies in the way bones grow and develop.

With age, the human skeleton undergoes a process of bone fusion. Newborns' bones are spongy and give way to pressure because they are made primarily of cartilage. These malleable bones make it easier for a newborn to pass through the narrow birth canal. Over time, however, the bones gain more calcium and join together, forming the 206 bones that make up an adult's skeletal structure.

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A typical human baby is born with around 300 bones, but by the time that baby reaches adulthood, it will have only 206. Initially, such a notable diminution in the number of bones may seem counterintuitive—shouldn't a skeleton need more bones, not fewer, as it grows? The explanation lies in the way bones grow and develop.

With age, the human skeleton undergoes a process of bone fusion. Newborns' bones are spongy and give way to pressure because they are made primarily of cartilage. These malleable bones make it easier for a newborn to pass through the narrow birth canal. Over time, however, the bones gain more calcium and join together, forming the 206 bones that make up an adult's skeletal structure.

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At high latitudes, one might look into the night sky and see dazzling curtains of colorful light. This brilliant sight, known as an aurora, is the result of solar winds. Solar winds occur when the outer layers of the sun boil off due to the intense heat, emitting streams of magnetically charged particles into the surrounding space.

Some of these solar wind particles end up traveling in Earth's direction. If unimpeded, these particles would have deleterious effects on human health, increasing the risk of heart failure and other health problems. But Earth's magnetic poles—located near the geographic North and South Poles—create a magnetic field that protects the planet from the solar wind particles. Some of these particles, however, do manage to break free and end up colliding with oxygen and nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere. The collisions release energy, thus creating the aurora's stunning display.

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At high latitudes, one might look into the night sky and see dazzling curtains of colorful light. This brilliant sight, known as an aurora, is the result of solar winds. Solar winds occur when the outer layers of the sun boil off due to the intense heat, emitting streams of magnetically charged particles into the surrounding space.

Some of these solar wind particles end up traveling in Earth's direction. If unimpeded, these particles would have deleterious effects on human health, increasing the risk of heart failure and other health problems. But Earth's magnetic poles—located near the geographic North and South Poles—create a magnetic field that protects the planet from the solar wind particles. Some of these particles, however, do manage to break free and end up colliding with oxygen and nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere. The collisions release energy, thus creating the aurora's stunning display.

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Scientists have found that bilinguals have many advantages over people who grow up hearing only one language at home. In a 2004 study, for example, bilingual participants performed better on certain mental puzzles than their monolingual counterparts. It is believed that people who are bilingual are so adept at problem solving because their brains have developed differently. These differences, revealed through brain scans and experiments, enhance their concentration, allowing them to complete some tasks with greater ease.

Bilingualism seems to influence the brain across the span of a person's life. Differences first present themselves during infancy. Studies have found that babies exposed to two languages from birth can acclimate to new situations quickly, responding to changes in their environment faster than those raised with only one language. Other studies have found that bilingualism provides advantages in old age as well. Bilingual adults tend to experience memory loss at a later age compared to monolingual adults.

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Scientists have found that bilinguals have many advantages over people who grow up hearing only one language at home. In a 2004 study, for example, bilingual participants performed better on certain mental puzzles than their monolingual counterparts. It is believed that people who are bilingual are so adept at problem solving because their brains have developed differently. These differences, revealed through brain scans and experiments, enhance their concentration, allowing them to complete some tasks with greater ease.

Bilingualism seems to influence the brain across the span of a person's life. Differences first present themselves during infancy. Studies have found that babies exposed to two languages from birth can acclimate to new situations quickly, responding to changes in their environment faster than those raised with only one language. Other studies have found that bilingualism provides advantages in old age as well. Bilingual adults tend to experience memory loss at a later age compared to monolingual adults.

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Peanut allergy is one of the most prevalent food allergies in the United States. More than three million people in the United States are allergic to peanuts, and that number is only increasing. For those with peanut allergy, exposure to peanuts results in mild to severe allergic reactions, including swelling, itching, shortness of breath, and nausea.

People with peanut allergy must be extremely vigilant, paying close attention to everything they eat in order to avoid accidentally eating peanuts. Packaged foods often have labels that state whether they were prepared in facilities that also process peanuts. This information helps protect against the accidental consumption of peanuts.

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Peanut allergy is one of the most prevalent food allergies in the United States. More than three million people in the United States are allergic to peanuts, and that number is only increasing. For those with peanut allergy, exposure to peanuts results in mild to severe allergic reactions, including swelling, itching, shortness of breath, and nausea.

People with peanut allergy must be extremely vigilant, paying close attention to everything they eat in order to avoid accidentally eating peanuts. Packaged foods often have labels that state whether they were prepared in facilities that also process peanuts. This information helps protect against the accidental consumption of peanuts.

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