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From today's featured article

Banksia sceptrum, the sceptre banksia, is a plant that grows in Western Australia near the central west coast from Geraldton north through Kalbarri to Hamelin Pool, extending inland almost to Mullewa. It is generally a shrub up to 4 m (13 ft) in diameter and 2–4 m (7–13 ft) high, sometimes reaching 5 m (16 ft). First collected and grown by early settler James Drummond in Western Australia, it was described by Swiss botanist Carl Meissner in 1855. In nature, B. sceptrum grows in deep yellow or pale red sand in tall shrubland, commonly on dunes. It is killed in bushfires and regenerates by seed, the woody follicles opening with fire. B. sceptrum is one of the most striking yellow-flowered banksias, with tall bright flower spikes (inflorescences) that are well displayed on the ends of branches. Flowering is in summer, mainly December and January, though flowers are occasionally seen at other times. (Full article...)

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Did you know ...

Dahomean statue in the Musée du Quai Branly, Paris

... that following the Report on the Restitution of African Cultural Heritage, the President of France promised to return African artworks (example pictured) looted during colonial times?
... that the WandaVision episode "Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience" employed a variety of live special effects such as wire rigs to emulate television series of the 1950s and 1960s?
... that despite not initially being selected for the 2020 Summer Paralympics, British equestrian Georgia Wilson won two bronze medals at the Games?
... that River Works station is only for the use of GE Aviation employees?
... that Niccolò Paccanari was sentenced to a decade in prison by the Inquisition for mismanaging the religious congregation he founded?
... that four Altars for Peace, fashioned out of large trees by George Nakashima, have been placed on different continents?
... that Soviet scientist Mikhail Ioffe was not allowed to collect the Atoms for Peace Award because he was seen to be too friendly with western scientists?
... that Spud Island was sold for US$15,000?

In the news

Abdelaziz Bouteflika

Former President of Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika (pictured) dies at the age of 84.
SpaceX launches Inspiration4, the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight.
The United States, United Kingdom, and Australia sign a security pact that will provide Australia with nuclear submarines.
British tennis player Emma Raducanu wins the US Open, becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title.

On this day

September 21: International Day of Peace; Mid-Autumn Festival (traditional Chinese calendar, 2021)

A painting depicting the Angel Moroni delivering golden plates to Joseph Smith

1675 – Led by Antonio de Vea, a Spanish naval expedition departed El Callao, Peru, for the fjords and channels of Patagonia to find whether rival colonial powers were in the region.
1823 – According to Joseph Smith, he was first visited by the Angel Moroni (pictured), who would guide him to the golden plates that became the basis of the Book of Mormon.
1968 – The Soviet Zond 5 landed in the Indian Ocean, becoming the first spacecraft to safely return to Earth after circling the Moon.
2001 – With racial tensions high after the September 11 attacks, a gang of British Muslim youths in Peterborough, England, murdered 17-year-old Ross Parker.

Leonello d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara (b. 1407)
Charles Nicolle (b. 1866)
Jacqueline Susann (d. 1974)

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Today's featured picture

Asahi Breweries is a Japanese global beer, spirits, soft drinks and food business group. This photograph, taken during the blue hour with a full moon, shows the headquarters of Asahi Breweries in Sumida, Tokyo, as viewed from the wharf on the Sumida River near Azuma Bridge. The Asahi Beer Hall, topped by the Asahi Flame, designed by Philippe Starck, is visible on the right, with the Tokyo Skytree in the background on the left.

Photograph credit: Basile Morin

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