Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 September 26

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

Today's featured article
Lettuce is an annual plant of the family Asteraceae. It was first cultivated by the ancient Egyptians, who turned it from a weed into a plant grown for its leaves. The Greeks and Romans gave it the name "lactuca", from which the modern "lettuce" derives. Varieties developed in Europe in the 16th through 18th centuries can still be found in gardens today. The consumption of lettuce has now spread throughout the world. Lettuce is most often used for salads, but is sometimes seen in other kinds of food. It is a good source of vitamin A and potassium and a minor source of several other vitamins and nutrients. Despite its beneficial properties, lettuce can become contaminated with disease-causing bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella. Lettuce has also gathered religious and medicinal significance. (more...) Recently featured: Lynching of Jesse Washington – Osiris myth – White Stork Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that when the Texas landmark Steves Homestead (pictured) was restored by the San Antonio Conservation Society in the 1950s, Yale University donated an 1857 Chickering grand piano? ... that former Syrian prime minister Nasuhi al-Bukhari resigned after only three months in office when talks to ratify the Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence broke down? ... that Theatre Royal is the oldest surviving theatre building in Manchester? ... that Brooks Kieschnick is the first Major League Baseball player to hit a home run as a pitcher, designated hitter and pinch hitter in the same season? ... that the Chashme Shahi, a Mughal garden in Srinagar, was built by Ali Mardan who was a governor of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan? ... that the school of surgery founded by Charles Illingworth, Glasgow's Regius Professor of Surgery from 1939, "came to dominate academic surgery in Britain for a generation or more"? ... that the Australian tree Agathis atropurpurea is known as the black kauri or the blue kauri because of the colour of its bark? ... that French tennis player Christian Boussus was part of the victorious French Davis Cup squad who held the title between 1929 and 1932, as "the Fifth Musketeer", although he never played a match? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
At the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, Homeland and Modern Family win the awards for Outstanding Drama and Comedy Series, respectively. In Gaelic football, Donegal defeat Mayo in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. After 40 suicides of victims trigger a parliamentary inquiry, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne confirms the sexual abuse of 618 children over 80 years. Anticipating violent reactions to a series of cartoons depicting Muhammad in the magazine Charlie Hebdo, France announces plans to temporarily close its embassies in 20 Muslim countries. Silver Linings Playbook, directed by David O. Russell (pictured), wins the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. Syrian civil war – Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
September 26: European Day of Languages; Yom Kippur ends at nightfall (Judaism, 2012); Dominion Day in New Zealand (1907) 1687 – The Parthenon in Athens was partially destroyed during an armed conflict between the Venetians under Francesco Morosini and Ottoman forces. 1917 – First World War: The Battle of Polygon Wood, part of the Third Battle of Ypres, began near Ypres, Belgium. 1933 – As gangster Machine Gun Kelly surrendered to the FBI, he supposedly shouted out, "Don't shoot, G-Men ('government men')!", which became a nickname for FBI agents. 1983 – Soviet Lieutenant Colonel Stanislav Petrov averted a possible worldwide nuclear war by deliberately certifying what otherwise appeared to be an impending attack by the United States as a false alarm. 2008 – Swiss pilot and inventor Yves Rossy (pictured) became the first person to fly a jet engine-powered wing across the English Channel. More anniversaries: September 25 – September 26 – September 27 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now September 26, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Galápagos Islands that has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to live and forage in the sea, making it a marine reptile. It can dive over 10 m (33 ft) deep and mainly lives on the rocky coasts, but can also be spotted in marshes and mangrove beaches.

Photo: Benjamint444

Recently featured: Welcome Swallow – Black rhinoceros skull – Greyhound racing

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.