As a young man in England, Charles Darwin had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. Then he was asked to go on a long ocean voyage. Boarding the ship Beagle in 1831, he spent nearly five years sailing around the world. He returned with one of the most important ideas in the history of science: the theory of evolution. It took him more than 20 years to publish a book about his theory. When his book, The Origin of Species, appeared in 1859, it aroused a great deal of controversy. It directly challenged many of the beliefs in the Bible. Darwin’s theory of evolution remains controversial today in the United States. Many Americans believe that what is in the Bible is true. There are numerous challenges to teaching evolution in schools....

American Idol is the most-watched prime-time television show in the United States. It is also seen around the world, and more than 40 countries have their own version. One of the main reasons for American Idol's success is the show's panel of three judges. Randy Jackson has many years of experience as a performer and music producer. Paula Abdul is a singer and dancer who was an American pop sensation in the late 1980s and early 1990s. And then there's 'Mr. Nasty,' Simon Cowell, whose harsh opinions - and his frequent disagreements with Paula and Randy - are always entertaining. But Paula, Randy, and Simon are not just focused on their hit television show. All three have tried to help others through a variety of charitable works. Most recently, the 'Idol Gives Back' episodes have raised nearly $150 million for children's organizations in the United States and Africa....

Fans are in for the match of a lifetime when two of the best fighters enter the ring. Relive some of the best matches in the history of MMA.

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Talented singer and actress Mandy Moore was just 14 when she released her first album, "So Real". It quickly sold more than a million copies. In 2002 she won several awards for her starring role in the movie "A Walk to Remember". Since then she has appeared in several hit films, including 2007's "License to Wed"....

Anne Frank was bright, cheerful, and full of hope when her family moved to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The family, who were Jewish, had left Germany because Adolf Hitler, the country s leader, was trying to kill as many Jews as possible. Soon the Germans invaded their new country. Anne, her family, and four others hid in a tiny apartment for more than two years. Anne wrote in her diary about her feelings and experiences during this difficult time. When the Franks hiding place was discovered, Anne and the others were sent to German concentration camps. Her father was the only one of the eight to survive. After the war ended, he published her diary. Millions of people have read Anne s words. Her story underlines the tragedy of lost humanity....

"American Idol" is the most-watched prime-time television show in the United States. It is also seen around the world, and more than 40 countries have their own version. One of the main reasons for "American Idol"'s success is the show's panel of three judges. Randy Jackson has many years of experience as a performer and music producer. Paula Abdul is a singer and dancer who was an American pop sensation in the late 1980s and early 1990s. And then there's 'Mr. Nasty', Simon Cowell, whose harsh opinions - and his frequent disagreements with Paula and Randy - are always entertaining. But Paula, Randy, and Simon are not just focused on their hit television show. All three have tried to help others through a variety of charitable works. Most recently, the "Idol Gives Back" episodes have raised nearly $150 million for children's organizations in the United States and Africa....

MMA has come a long way since its dark days in the mid 1990s. Discover the history behind MMA and how it has become one of today_s most popular sports.

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Soccer is probably the world's most popular spectator sport. Yet Major League Soccer has never been more than a minor sport in the United States, even though millions of youngsters enjoy the game on playgrounds and in organized leagues. To change that situation the Los Angeles Galaxy signed superstar David Beckham to a five-year, $250 million contract in 2007. The league hopes that his celebrity status will help make soccer more appealing in the United States. So far, they are getting their wish. But David Beckham is more than just a superb soccer player. He contributes time and money to charity, to try to save lives in the poorest parts of the world. And he encourages youngsters to enjoy soccer as much as he does through academies he has opened across the globe....

As an eight-year-old in a gang-ridden community, Troy Polamalu seemed destined for a life of crime. His life turned around, however, when he moved to rural Oregon to live with his uncle. He became a top athlete and eventually earned a football scholarship to the University of Southern California. Drafted in 2003 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Troy became one of the top-rated defensive players in the National Football League in just two years. Troy is equally noted for his hard hits and his long hair, which honors his Samoan heritage. The combination led to the nickname 'the Tasmanian Devil'. Despite that moniker, Troy is humble, soft-spoken, and deeply religious. Read about his fascinating story in this book....

When Leonard Bernstein died in 1990 at the age of 72, one of his admirers said he was actually 288 because he led four separate lives: as a conductor, a composer, a pianist and a teacher. No other American musician has ever had such a diverse career.

A sickly boy, Bernstein discovered music when he was about 10 and pursued a musical career despite his father’s objections. He became literally an overnight sensation when he was 25. With only a few hours notice, he conducted a concert that was broadcast across the entire country. He spent the rest of his life—nearly 50 years—in the spotlight, continually impressing people with his seemingly boundless energy and his love for music. Those qualities have influenced countless numbers of people, adding to their own appreciation of music....

Chock full of jaw dropping punches and hard hitting kicks, MMA grabs the attention of its fans with a tight grip. Get the details on the sport_s rules, its rise to fame, and an inside look at MMA_s most famous fighters.

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Science is behind all things cool. From hitting a homer to lighting a city, this set takes science in action to a new level. Illustrative text skillfully unravels the science concepts while hands-on activities bring them to life. Science has never been so action-packed!

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Science is behind all things cool. From hitting a homer to lighting a city, this set takes science in action to a new level. Illustrative text skillfully unravels the science concepts while hands-on activities bring them to life. Science has never been so action-packed!

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Disgusting food. Stinky houses. Scratchy clothes. Find out how medieval peasants coped with their miserable lives.

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More than 3,500 years ago, people on the Greek island of Calliste had a very good life. They enjoyed lots of sunshine, had plenty of food, and lived in large homes. They even had running water and flush toilets. There was only one problem: Calliste was actually a volcano. Around 1650 BCE, the volcano erupted, blowing out the center of the island and creating a large bay. What was left of Calliste was buried under a thick layer of volcanic ash. Though the island was deserted for many years, people eventually returned. Several centuries ago, it was renamed Santorini. The has island reclaimed its beauty and allure, but the volcano below continues to reshape this little plot of land in the Mediterranean Sea....

Nearly 2,500 years ago, the Greek world was ripped apart. A savage conflict known as the Peloponnesian War pitted many of the Greek city-states against each other. It dragged on for nearly 30 years and cost tens of thousands of lives. We know a great deal about what went on because a man named Thucydides wrote a book about the war. Called History of the Peloponnesian War, it was the first book of scientific history. Thucydides description of the war was based entirely on observation of events and an analysis of human nature. Unlike accounts by earlier writers, the gods didn t play any role. Early in his book, Thucydides wrote that he believed it would be a possession for all time. His prediction proved to be correct. Historians, military officers, and many other people still read History of the Peloponnesian War for its insights into politics and human nature....

For centuries, ordinary Russians lived under the absolute power of the czars, the country s hereditary rulers. For many, such a life involved few rights and grinding poverty. The Russian people increasingly wanted a greater voice in the way they were governed and a higher standard of living. These desires put pressure on the government of the czars. The civil unrest finally came to a head in 1917. The last czar, Nicholas II, was overthrown in what history calls the Russian Revolution. But the government still wasn t stable. Russians realized they had no more freedom under the new communist government than they had had under the czars. Find out about the events that led up to the Russian Revolution, one of the landmark events of the twentieth century, and the decades of conflict that followed....

The formation of the State of Israel in 1948 is one of the most important events in recent history. About 3,000 years ago, Israel was a powerful nation. But it soon fell from power and in the second century CE most Jews were forced out of their homeland. Many went to Europe, where they were subject to prejudice and persecution for centuries. By far the worst case was the Holocaust, in which six million Jews died. Their suffering accelerated a move toward the development of a Jewish state in what came to be called Palestine. However, Palestine was the home to hundreds of thousands of Arabs. Conflict between the two sides was inevitable. Open warfare broke out after the United Nations voted to partition Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state. Though the Israelis achieved their independence, the region has never known true peace....

Frogs are very sensitive to their environment. Changes in their appearance and their rapid disappearance can tell us when the environment is unhealthy. When people around the world began noticing that frog species were dying or becoming deformed at an alarming rate, they knew something had to be done. Frogs in Danger gives an overview of some of the frog species that have become endangered and why. Read about a flesh-eating fungus that thrives in the warmer climate and the skin of frogs. Find out what scientists and kids in their own backyards can do to help these indicators of Earth s health....