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Ancient Light This ancient light, called the cosmic microwave background, is the cooled remnant of the hot explosion known as the Big Bang. “The cosmic microwave light is a fossil,” explained David Wilkinson, after whom the probe was named, “Just as we can study dinosaur bones and reconstruct their lives of millions of years ago, we can probe this ancient light and reconstruct the universe as it was.” (Wilkinson died just before WMAP’s amazing findings were published....

Related Links Famous Ship CanalsRepublic of PanamaThe Panama Canal Web Site U.S. engineers organized thousands of workers for the 10-year project that would eventually become one of the greatest engineering achievements in history. The United States government owned and operated the canal and the surrounding zone for 85 years, establishing it as a valuable trade route and important piece of national security for its armed forces. During World War II the U....

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Franz KlammerThe man who gave himself “terrible frights” Bjorn DaehlieThe winningest Winter Olympian Alberto “La Bomba” TombaThe big Italian with the even bigger hair Hermann MaierThe Hermanator’s horrific spill in 1998 Dorothy HamillThe media darling of 1976 Tonya and NancyAn ex-husband, a metal baton, and a U.S. title Katarina WittNear-flawless technique and charismatic style Bonnie BlairOne of the most decorated Winter Olympians in U.S. history Jansen Saves His Best for LastA gold medal and a world record in 1994 The Miracle of 1980Cold war heroes Happy HaradaJapanese ski-jumping legend Olympic Fun FactsPoland’s “Stella the Fella” and other amazing trivia Olympic TraditionsThe Olympics draws on traditions of war, religion, economy Olympics TimelineFrom ancient Greece to the present day Winter Olympics TriviaWho has won the most medals for the United States in the Winter Olympics?...

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The Indiana Pacers took the World Champion Bulls to seven games in last year’s Eastern Conference finals. Word is that the team stayed together and scrimmaged regularly during the lockout. They could be a few weeks ahead of the pack. The Utah Jazz have been bridesmaids for the past two years, finishing as runners-up to the Bulls. Karl Malone and John Stockton are closing in on social security and would like nothing more than to win now....

Second Place: $75,000 scholarship, Tianhui “Michael” Li, 18, Oregon Episcopal School, Portland, Ore., for his physics project studying inertial-electrostatic confinement, a different and less expensive method of controlling nuclear fusion. Third Place: $50,000 scholarship, Anatoly Preygel, 17, Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Spring, Md., for his mathematics project involving knot theory, that examines closed curves in three-dimensional space and is used in genetic research. Fourth Place: $25,000 scholarship, Peter Pawloski, 17, Troy High School, Fullerton, Calif....

The Golden Kite Award The Newbery Medal The Horn Book Award The Coretta Scott King Award Additional Book Awards