The Science of Natural Disasters

Natural disasters make news around the world. Earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, and volcanic eruptions cause damage to plants and animals, land, and buildings. Such natural disasters sometimes also take human lives. However, the science of natural disasters provides people with the ability to prepare for such occurrences. Scientists predict hurricanes, measure the magnitude of earthquakes, and calculate the speed of tornadoes. While natural disasters cannot be controlled or prevented, science helps people plan before a disaster and manage afterwards. Read more about the science of natural disasters in such SIRS Discoverer articles as:

• Rebuilding the Gulf Coast
• Walls of Water
• Volcanic Matters: It's Time to Look Beneath the Surface
• Tornado!
• Finding Fault

Food Safety

In February 1906, the publication of Upton Sinclair's book The Jungle revealed the horrors of the meat packing industry in Chicago with its unsanitary practices. Spurred on by the public's reaction, Congress passed and President Theodore Roosevelt signed into law both the Pure Food and Drugs Act and the Meat Inspection Act on June 30, 1906. Since then, ensuring the safety and purity of the nation's food supply is a federal mandate, shared between agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Agriculture Department.

This is a priority because if food becomes contaminated, consumers may get sick upon consumption. Meat, poultry, and seafood may also transmit communicable diseases. Moreover, new and emerging foodborne diseases such as listeriosis, mad cow disease, and the potential threat of avian influenza have become federal priority concerns. Marking the hundredth anniversary of the passage of the two historic acts, SIRS Government Reporter explores the issue of food safety in such articles as:

• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1: Frequently Asked Questions
• FDA Proposes Additional "Mad Cow" Safeguards
• Foodborne Illness: Frequently Asked Questions

Shakespeare and His Works

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts." So wrote the English icon of literature and performing arts, William Shakespeare, often known simply as "the Bard."

From a struggling playwright and actor of 16th-century England, Shakespeare's legendary status developed during his lifetime and has gained momentum through the centuries, resulting in a global appeal that propagated countless translations and adaptations. His comedies, tragedies, histories, and poems touch universal chords that transcend the boundaries of economic class and literary intellect. He appealed to kings and peasants alike, with thought-provoking soliloquies and slapstick sight gags. Read, performed, analyzed, and adapted for contemporary audiences, Shakespeare remains a living presence. But what do we really know about him? Explore the crucible of London in such SIRS Renaissance articles as:

Mystery Man

Shakespeare of Stratford

Students Hurl Insults, With a Nod to the Bard

Shakespeare Behind Bars

Shakespeare Is Coming Your Way

For our June Spotlight, WebSelect highlights information and resources on food safety. The safety of the food supply is essential for health and wellness. Learn how to handle, prepare, cook, and store food to prevent illness. Discover the causes, treatments and prevention of foodborne illness such as E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Norwalk-like viruses. Also investigate potential technology that can eliminate disease-causing germs from foods. The following are a sampling of our featured sites:

• Bad Bug Book: Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook
• Foodborne Illness
• Frequently Asked Questions About Food Irradiation

Hurricanes

Hurricanes are powerful forces of nature that develop over warm tropical oceans and have sustained winds of 74 to more than 155 miles per hour, depending on the strength of the storm. Hurricanes are awesome and dangerous: these powerful storms are capable of great destruction and loss of life as they make landfall. Learn about the development, structure, tracking, and effects of hurricanes. Here are just a few of our featured sites:

• Hurricane Preparedness for Kids
• Hurricane Hunters
• Severe Weather and Natural Disasters: Hurricanes
• Horrific Hurricanes

Flag Day
Flag Day, June 14th, is a relatively recent holiday with a long and complicated history--almost as long and complicated as the history of the American flag itself. Read about Flag Day here, and also find the texts of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem.Source: Embassy of the United States of America

Flag Day: June 14
"On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved the design of a national flag. Since 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation declaring June 14 Flag Day, Americans have commemorated the adoption of the Stars and Stripes by celebrating June 14 as Flag Day." (LOC) On this site, read about Flag Day and the history of the American flag. Source: Library of Congress (LOC)

Facts for Features: Father's Day: June 18
How many American fathers are there? You can find out here. The Census Bureau presents statistics about fathers on this page. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Father's Day
"The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has an official day on which fathers are honored by their children. On the third Sunday in June, fathers all across the United States are given presents, treated to dinner or otherwise made to feel special." (EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) Read about the origin and practice of Father's Day. Source: Embassy of the United States of America

Spotlight of the Month topics are selected mainly from Chase's Calendar of Events. Articles are also accessible within the main database and remain in the SIRS Spotlight of the Month newsletter archives for one year.