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From today's featured article Deoxyribonucleic acid (i/diˌɒksiˌraɪboʊ.njuːˌkleɪ.ᵻk ˈæsɪd/; DNA) is a molecule that carries most of the genetic instructions used in the development, functioning and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. DNA is a nucleic acid; alongside proteins and carbohydrates, nucleic acids compose the three major macromolecules essential for all known forms of life. Most DNA molecules consist of two biopolymer strands coiled around each other to form a double helix. The two DNA strands are known as polynucleotides since they are composed of simpler units called nucleotides. Each nucleotide is composed of a nitrogen-containing nucleobase—either cytosine (C), guanine (G), adenine (A), or thymine (T)—as well as a monosaccharide sugar called deoxyribose and a phosphate group. The nucleotides are joined to one another in a chain by covalent bonds between the sugar of one nucleotide and the phosphate of the next, resulting in an alternating sugar-phosphate backbone. According to base pairing rules (A with T, and C with G), hydrogen bonds bind the nitrogenous bases of the two separate polynucleotide strands (Full article...) Did you know... ... that Lord Minginish is the first Gaelic-speaking Chairman of the Scottish Land Court? ... that Donald Trump was elected the 45th US President and defeated Hillary Clinton? ... that NuScale Power has designed a line of small, modular nuclear reactors? ... that there are 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac? ... that Jupiter is considered a Substellar object? ... that the name Zoroaster possibly means "he who manages camels"? ... that the President of the US, the Supreme Court and Congress are three significant branches of the US Government?

In the news (from Infogalactic News) California Bans State Travel To Four More States No Word Yet If They Will Also Cease Attempts To Meddle In Elections Rand Paul to Vote Against Republican Healthcare Bill "The current bill does not repeal Obamacare," Rand Paul said. Caliphate Mosque Blown Up ISIS, US Point Fingers Fifth GOP Senator Opposes Senate Health Bill 3 More Than Needed To Kill It Uncle Sam Doesn't Want You Military Seeks Hold On Transgender Enlistments Milo Forced to Cancel "Coming Out Conservative" Event Restaurant Denies Service to Gay Man In Face Of Pressure From Tolerant Left /a 238 Arrested in Child Predator Sweep in Los Angeles On this day... June 23 1565 – Dragut, commander of the Ottoman navy, dies during the Great Siege of Malta. 1661 – Marriage contract between Charles II of England and Catherine of Braganza. 1713 – The French residents of Acadia are given one year to declare allegiance to Britain or leave Nova Scotia, Canada. 1938 – The Civil Aeronautics Act is signed into law, forming the Civil Aeronautics Authority in the United States. 1959 – Convicted Manhattan Project spy Klaus Fuchs is released after only nine years in prison and allowed to emigrate to Dresden, East Germany where he resumes a scientific career. 1961 – Cold War: The Antarctic Treaty, which sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve and bans military activity on the continent, comes into force after the opening date for signature set for the December 1, 1959. 1972 – Title IX of the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 is amended to prohibit sexual discrimination to any educational program receiving federal funds. More anniversaries: June 22 June 23 June 24 June 24 1717 – The Premier Grand Lodge of England, the first Masonic Grand Lodge in the world (now the United Grand Lodge of England), is founded in London. 1813 – Battle of Beaver Dams: A British and Indian combined force defeats the United States Army. 1894 – Marie François Sadi Carnot is assassinated by Sante Geronimo Caserio. 1916 – World War I: The Battle of the Somme begins with a week-long artillery bombardment on the German Line. 1949 – The first television western, Hopalong Cassidy, is aired on NBC starring William Boyd. 2002 – The Igandu train disaster in Tanzania kills 281, the worst train accident in African history. 2010 – Julia Gillard assumed office as the first female Prime Minister of Australia. More anniversaries: June 23 June 24 June 25 1658 – Spanish forces fail to retake Jamaica at the Battle of Rio Nuevo during the Anglo-Spanish War. 1786 – Gavriil Pribylov discovers St. George Island of the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea. 1906 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania millionaire Harry Thaw shoots and kills prominent architect Stanford White. 1944 – The final page of the comic Krazy Kat is published, exactly two months after its author George Herriman died. 1947 – The Diary of a Young Girl (better known as The Diary of Anne Frank) is published. 1975 – Mozambique achieves independence. 1982 – Greece abolishes the head shaving of recruits in the military. More anniversaries: June 24 June 25 June 26

Today's featured picture

Shortly before his death in 1534 Pope Clement VII commissioned Michelangelo to paint a fresco of The Last Judgement on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel. His successor, Paul III was instrumental in seeing that Michelangelo began and completed the project. Michelangelo labored on the project from 1534 to October 1541. The fresco depicts the Second Coming of Christ and his Judgement of the souls. Michelangelo ignored the usual artistic conventions in portraying Jesus, and showed him a massive, muscular figure, youthful, beardless and naked. He is surrounded by saints, among which Saint Bartholomew holds a drooping flayed skin, bearing the likeness of Michelangelo. The dead rise from their graves, to be consigned either to Heaven or to Hell. (Full article...)

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