Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 February 11

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Today's featured article
Albertosaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in western North America during the Late Cretaceous Period, more than 70 million years ago. The type species, A. sarcophagus, was restricted in range to the modern-day Canadian province of Alberta, after which the genus is named. Scientists disagree on the content of the genus, with some recognizing Gorgosaurus libratus as a second species. As a tyrannosaurid, Albertosaurus was a bipedal predator with tiny, two-fingered hands and a massive head with dozens of large, sharp teeth. It may have been at the top of the food chain in its local ecosystem. Although relatively large for a theropod, Albertosaurus was much smaller than its more famous relative Tyrannosaurus, probably weighing less than 2 metric tons. Since the first discovery in 1884, fossils of more than thirty individuals have been recovered, providing scientists with a more detailed knowledge of Albertosaurus anatomy than is available for most other tyrannosaurids. The discovery of 22 individuals at one site provides evidence of pack behaviour and allows studies of ontogeny and population biology which are impossible with lesser-known dinosaurs. (more...) Recently featured: Herbert Greenfield – Black Friday (1945) – Buffalo nickel Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that sea butterflies Limacina helicina and Limacina antarctica (pictured) are keystone species of polar open seas? ... that humanist minuscule handwriting, invented in the fifteenth century in Italy, was based on Carolingian minuscule, which Renaissance humanists took to be ancient Roman? ... that the Fringe episode title "Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep?" refers to a novel that was later adapted into the film Blade Runner? ... that the Cameroon line of volcanoes is 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) long, and includes Mount Oku, the second highest mountain in Cameroon? ... that children's writer Will Scott, author of The Cherrys series, wrote 2,000 short stories for adults? ... that Bohuslav Martinů's Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra was first performed in the United Kingdom by oboist Evelyn Rothwell at The Proms? ... that Gary Fanelli, who represented American Samoa in the marathon at the 1988 Summer Olympics, has competed in various costumes including Elwood Blues, a Ghostbusters ghost, and Michael Jackson? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
After more than two weeks of protests across Egypt, the largest crowd gathers in Tahrir Square (pictured) amid calls for President Hosni Mubarak's resignation. A new round of clashes erupts between Cambodian and Thai soldiers over the area surrounding Preah Vihear Temple. NASA's STEREO satellites obtain the first simultaneous images of the entire surface of the Sun. In American football, the Green Bay Packers defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers to win Super Bowl XLV. The Japan Sumo Association cancels a Grand Tournament for the first time in 65 years after a match-fixing controversy. Following an explosion affecting the Arab Gas Pipeline in Egypt's North Sinai Governorate, natural gas supplies to Israel and Jordan are suspended. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
February 11: Victory of the Revolution in Iran (1979), National Foundation Day in Japan 660 BCE – According to tradition, Emperor Jimmu founded Japan and established his capital in Yamato. 1826 – Swaminarayan wrote the Shikshapatri, a book of 212 verses that serves as the basis of Swaminarayan Hinduism. 1938 – The BBC aired an adaptation of Karel Čapek's play R.U.R., the first science fiction television programme ever broadcast. 1979 – Iranian Revolution: The Pahlavi dynasty effectively collapsed when the military declared itself "neutral" after rebel troops overwhelmed forces loyal to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in armed street fighting. 1990 – Anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner for 27 years, was released from Victor Verster Prison near Paarl, South Africa. 2008 – Rebel East Timorese soldiers invaded the homes of President José Ramos-Horta (pictured) and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, seriously wounding the former. More anniversaries: February 10 – February 11 – February 12 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now February 11 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A head crash is a hard-disk failure that occurs when a read–write head of a hard disk drive comes in contact with its rotating platter, resulting in permanent and usually fatal damage to the magnetic media on the platter surface, visible here as a circular mark. A head crash can be initiated by dirt or excessive shock or vibration.

Photo: Alchemist-hp

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