The word zodiac is used in astronomy and astrology to refer to the band of sky over which the sun, moon, and planets move—as seen from Earth, at least. The zodiac contains a number of constellations, and the sun (or other celestial body) is said to be “in” a constellation when it moves into the portion of the zodiac that includes that constellation. The zodiac …
COVID-19 has provided a consistent vocabulary lesson in epidemiology. Among the most important distinctions it has highlighted are the differences between the terms epidemic, pandemic, and endemic. These words have major similarities—all three end in -demic and deal with the spread of disease. But there are key differences, including those related to scale and duration. In this article, we’ll sort out the differences and answer …
Just after the season of Capricorn comes to a close, the age of Aquarius is upon us. It usually runs from around January 20–February 18. In addition to claiming one of the best songs about an astrological sign ever (“This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius …”), Aquarians are a special bunch. Aquarius is the 11th sign of the zodiac. Common characteristics often …
As any participant in a spelling bee can tell you, correctly spelling words in the English language is not always easy. In most languages, the way words are spelled (graphemes) consistently relate to the way they sound (phonemes). But the English language uses a mix of spellings and pronunciations from Latin, Greek, French, German, and many others. To further confuse matters, words in English have …
Sale and sell sound pretty similar and they’re used in all the same contexts. Adding to the potential confusion is that sell can be both a verb and a noun—a noun whose meaning can be very similar to sale. In this article, we’ll define many of the different senses of sale and sell, break down their differences, explain where their meanings can overlap, and provide …
Your coworker has gotten a raise, and it bothers you because you really wish you’d gotten one, too. Is what you’re feeling jealousy or envy? The two feelings are similar, but the words are often used to convey slightly different things, mainly involving whether the feeling is hostile or malicious. In this article, we’ll discuss the similarities and differences between jealousy and envy, including the …
Birthstones are precious or semiprecious gemstones that are associated with a particular month or sign of the Zodiac. Going back to ancient times, certain gems were believed to bring good fortune if worn during specific months. The origin of this belief is often traced back to the story of the Breastplate of Aaron in the book of Exodus from the Bible. The legendary breastplate was …
When a new year rolls around, many people mark the occasion by making resolutions for all the things they’d like to accomplish in the 365 days ahead. Unfortunately, that may not be the best approach. About 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail, according to U.S. News & World Report, and that’s likely because the “new year, new me” philosophy is really difficult to master. Want …
Reptiles vs. Amphibians: it sounds like a monster movie title, but it’s a classic question of animal classification. Although both are cold-blooded vertebrates and the two are often mistaken for each other, there are some key differences. Many people think the difference is whether or not an animal spends some time in water, but it’s more complicated than that. In this article, we’ll explain how …
Known for recaps and resolutions, each new year often starts with retrospection and … the month of January. But where did the name January come from, and can we learn anything about the name of this first month to inspire us to actually keep those New Year’s resolutions intact? January, as we know, is the first month of the year and contains 31 days. The …
