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National Radio Astronomy Observatory

(Encyclopedia)National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), federal observatory for radio astronomy, founded in 1956 and operated under contract with the National Science Foundation by Associated Universities, Inc.,...

Simic, Charles

(Encyclopedia)Simic, Charles sĭmˈĭc [key], 1938–2023, American poet, b. Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now in S...

Confederation, Articles of

(Encyclopedia)Confederation, Articles of, in U.S. history, ratified in 1781 and superseded by the Constitution of the United States in 1789. The imperative need for unity among the new states created by the America...

Bok, Derek Curtis

(Encyclopedia)Bok, Derek Curtis, 1930–, American educator and university president, b. Bryn Mawr, Pa., grad. Stanford (B.A., 1951) and Harvard (LL.B., 1954). A professor of law at Harvard from 1958, he served as ...

Cowen, Brian

(Encyclopedia)Cowen, Brian, 1960– Irish political leader, prime minister of the Repubic of Ireland (2008–11). A lawyer from a family long involved in Fianna Fáil politics, he was first elected to the Irish par...

Manning, Olivia

(Encyclopedia)Manning, Olivia, 1911–80, English novelist, b. Portsmouth, Hampshire. During World War II she served as a journalist in the Middle East. She is best known for her “Balkan trilogy”: The Great For...

Solent, The

(Encyclopedia)Solent, The sōˈlənt [key], channel, c.30 mi (50 km) long and 3⁄4 to 5 mi (1.2–8 km) wide, between the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, S England. It serves as an anchorage for ships entering Southa...

Gentz, Friedrich von

(Encyclopedia)Gentz, Friedrich von frēˈdrĭkh fən gĕnts [key], 1764–1832, German conservative political theorist. Admirer of the English political system of checks and balances, Gentz was critical of the Fren...

Nkurunziza, Pierre

(Encyclopedia)Nkurunziza, Pierre nko͞oro͞onzēˈzä [key], 1964–2020, Burundian political leader. A Hutu whose father was killed (1972) in an ethnic massacre, he taught physical education until 1995 when renewe...

Livni, Tzipi

(Encyclopedia)Livni, Tzipi (Tziporah Malkah Livni) tsĭpˈpē lĭvˈnē [key], 1958–, Israeli politican, b. Tel Aviv. The daughter of Polish immigrants, both members of the violent Irgun militia, Livni served in ...
 

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