Wikipedia:Main Page history/2021 September 28

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From today's featured article

A field of iceberg lettuce

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an annual plant of the daisy family, Asteraceae, often grown as a leaf vegetable, and sometimes for its stem or seeds. Often used for salads, lettuce is also seen in other kinds of food, such as soups, sandwiches and wraps. In addition to its use as a leafy green, it has religious and medicinal significance. World production of lettuce and chicory for 2017 was 27 million tonnes, 56 percent of which came from China. Generally grown as a hardy annual, lettuce is easily cultivated, although it requires relatively low temperatures to prevent it from flowering quickly. It can be plagued by numerous nutrient deficiencies, as well as insect and mammal pests, and fungal and bacterial diseases. Lettuce is a rich source of vitamin K and vitamin A, and a moderate source of folate and iron. Contaminated lettuce can be a source of bacterial, viral, and parasitic outbreaks in humans, including E. coli and Salmonella. (Full article...)

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Did you know ...

James McDivitt

... that astronaut James McDivitt saw a UFO during his first spaceflight?
... that the defendants in the Racism-Turanism trials between 1944 and 1947 were absolved because racism was not contrary to the Turkish constitution?
... that civil rights activist Bob Zellner was arrested at least 25 times and severely beaten on several occasions for his activism?
... that Queen Elizabeth II sat for Ben Enwonwu on twelve occasions as he created his sculpture of her?
... that Jay-Z was re-added to "Jail" by Kanye West after initially being replaced with DaBaby?
... that Jan Hecker influenced the foreign policy of Angela Merkel?
... that the 1992 championship of Vince McMahon's World Bodybuilding Federation consisted of "two of the silliest hours in the history of live sports"?
... that "why" is the only lyric of "Why"?

In the news

Michael Kovrig

Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig (pictured) are released from detention in China shortly after Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou is released from house arrest in Canada.
The Liberal Party of Canada, led by Justin Trudeau, is re-elected to a minority government.
Former President of Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika dies at the age of 84.
SpaceX launches Inspiration4, the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight.

On this day

September 28: Shemini Atzeret (Judaism, 2021)

Alexander Fleming

351 – The Eastern Roman armies under Constantius II defeated those of the usurper Magnentius at the Battle of Mursa Major.
1821 – The Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain was drafted in the National Palace in Mexico City.
1928 – Scottish biologist and pharmacologist Alexander Fleming (pictured) discovered penicillin when he noticed a bacteria-killing mould growing in his laboratory.
1978 – Pope John Paul I died only 33 days after his papal election due to an apparent myocardial infarction, resulting in the first year of three popes since 1605.

François Turrettini (d. 1687)
Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs (b. 1821)
Sheikh Hasina (b. 1947)

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Today's featured picture

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The Atari 2600, originally branded as the Atari Video Computer System, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari. Released in September 1977, it popularized the use of microprocessor-based hardware and of games stored on swappable ROM cartridges, a format first used with the Fairchild Channel F the year before. The VCS was bundled with two joystick controllers, a conjoined pair of paddle controllers, and a game cartridge – initially Combat and later Pac-Man.Photograph credit: Evan Amos

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