Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 April 30

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Today's featured article
The search for planets beyond Neptune began following the discovery of the planet Neptune in 1846, amid considerable speculation that another planet might exist beyond its orbit. The search began in the mid-19th century but culminated at the start of the 20th with Percival Lowell's quest for Planet X. Lowell proposed the Planet X hypothesis to explain apparent discrepancies in the orbits of the gas giants, particularly Uranus and Neptune, speculating that the gravity of a large unseen ninth planet could have perturbed Uranus enough to account for the irregularities. Clyde Tombaugh's discovery of Pluto in 1930 appeared to validate Lowell's hypothesis, and Pluto was officially considered the ninth planet until 2006. In 1978, Pluto was found to be too small for its gravity to affect the gas giants, resulting in a brief search for a tenth planet. The search was largely abandoned in the early 1990s, when a study of measurements made by the Voyager 2 spacecraft found that the irregularities observed in Uranus's orbit were due to a slight overestimation of Neptune's mass. (more...) Recently featured: Rainilaiarivony – SMS König – Rogers Hornsby Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the flags hoisted by the Finnish icebreaker Tarmo (pictured) on 3 March 1918 included a large white tablecloth? ... that the Anacostia Community Museum was the first federally funded community museum in the United States? ... that Looking for Madonna, meant to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in Papua, used shots of a green bra to symbolise sex? ... that the Jarvis launch vehicle was designed to deliver up to six satellites into different orbits on a single flight? ... that Czech international footballer Jan Suchopárek dislocated his shoulder while attempting a bicycle kick? ... that the partitioning of the state of Jin, during the reign of Duke Chu, is often considered the start of China's Warring States period? ... that the Flaming Lips plan to include blood samples from their collaborators in the vinyl edition of their album The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends? ... that Shlomo Moussaieff owns rare gemstones worth millions of dollars, including a flawless blue diamond and the world's largest known red diamond? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Saudi Arabia closes its embassy and consulates in Egypt following protests (pictured) over the Saudi detention of Egyptian lawyer Ahmed al-Gizawi. Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is found guilty of aiding and abetting war crimes during the Sierra Leone Civil War. Connecticut becomes the fifth U.S. state in five years to abolish the death penalty. Chinese civil rights activist Chen Guangcheng escapes house arrest and flees to Beijing. Bahraini police clash with demonstrators calling for the cancellation of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix due to ongoing political protests. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
April 30: National Persian Gulf Day in Iran; Children's Day in Mexico; Queen's Day in the Netherlands; Consumer Protection Day in Thailand 1006 – SN 1006 (pictured), the brightest supernova in recorded history, first appeared in the constellation Lupus. 1557 – Arauco War: Spanish forces of the Governor Francisco de Villagra launched a dawn surprise attack against the Mapuche headed by their toqui Lautaro in what is now Chile. 1894 – A crowd of workers unemployed due to the Panic of 1893 conducted the first significant popular protest march on Washington, D.C. 1943 – Second World War: The Royal Navy submarine HMS Seraph began Operation Mincemeat to deceive Germany about the upcoming invasion of Sicily. 1975 – American forces completed a helicopter evacuation of U.S. citizens, South Vietnamese civilians and others from Saigon, just before North Vietnamese troops captured the city, ending the Vietnam War. More anniversaries: April 29 – April 30 – May 1 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now April 30, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured list

There are 270 Underground stations composing 11 lines in the London Underground, a metro system in the United Kingdom that serves Greater London and adjacent districts of Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Its first section opened in 1863, making it the oldest underground metro system in the world. The system operates below ground in central London but generally runs on the surface in the outlying suburbs. Approximately 55 per cent of its routes are above ground. The system is operated by Transport for London (TfL). Most of the system is north of the River Thames with stations in the City of London or one of twenty-seven London boroughs. Stations at the north-eastern end of the Central line are in the Epping Forest district of Essex and stations at the north-western end of the Metropolitan line are in the Three Rivers and Watford districts of Hertfordshire and the Chiltern district of Buckinghamshire. (more...)

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Lee Bollinger (b. 1946) is an American lawyer and educator who is currently serving as the 19th president of Columbia University as well as the chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York board of directors. Formerly the president of the University of Michigan, he is a noted legal scholar of the First Amendment and freedom of speech.

Photo: Daniella Zalcman/PLW

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