April 13, 2019
When the Amber Waves Were Blue Anyone who has ever driven through Kansas is familiar with the endless wheat fields whose brassy waves resemble those of the ocean. Not everyone knows that when they are in Kansas, they are standing on what was once the bottom of a 3,000 foot-deep ocean...
April 2, 2019
In 1970, activism was on the mind of Americans. Anti-war movements had rocked the country, and the United States was still forming a new consciousness in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement. There must have been a palpable sense that, as Eleanor Roosevelt put it, "a small group of thoughtful,...
November 9, 2018
In Game of Thrones, during the Battle of Blackwater Bay, the Lannister forces under the direction of Tyrion Lannister unleash a devastating and dangerous weapon: Wildfire. This incendiary weapon, capable of burning even on water and near impossible to put out, engulfs the fleet of Stannis Baratheon in unnatural green...
August 8, 2018
People love sharks. Just look at The Discovery Channel’s annual “Shark Week” programming, which this year is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Whether it be educational programs about the ocean’s most fearsome predators or popcorn entertainment like Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster film Jaws, sharks capture our imaginations like few other creatures can....
June 19, 2018
The scientific depiction of a dinosaur today is far different from what both scientists and the general public believed 20 years ago. In fact, our understanding of how dinosaurs behaved and what they looked like has changed almost constantly from when dinosaur fossils were first discovered. But though our scientific...
December 19, 2017
For generations now families have donned their holiday best to appreciate what is arguably the most recognizable ballet of all time. But, did you know that when it first premiered in December of 1892, The Nutcracker was met with ambivalent reviews. Many felt that the original choreography was lack-luster. And...
September 8, 2017
To the literati and officialdom of ancient China, tea represented “elegance, harmony, friendliness, and grace”. The act of tea drinking was a way in which one could “cultivate the mind and improve moral integrity” and it was admired as a drink that was pure of content and consisting of elegant...
August 24, 2017
In ancient times when technology was not yet advanced enough to help the human race understand the reasons for a solar eclipse, mythology was created to provide people with an explanation. For the ancient Greeks, the word itself, ‘eclipse', comes from the word for ‘abandonment’ as if the sun was literally...
August 9, 2017
Visiting a museum is always a great way to be entertained on any day of the week. There are so many interesting things to see, especially at the local favorite, Museum of World Treasures. This Saturday, August 12th, we have something extra special to entertain all of you lovely Wichitans...
August 3, 2017
In today’s world, the amount of media we have to entertain ourselves is endless. From cellphones to tablets to the big screen at the theater, it seems like we are never not looking at a screen. Well, can you imagine a time where one of the only forms of entertainment...