Second Place: $40,000 scholarship, David Moore, 18, Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Springs, Md., for his physics project “Quantum Calculations to Determine Electrical Properties for Molecular Electronic Rectifying Diodes.” He used detailed quantum modeling techniques to determine the electrical properties of a newly proposed design for molecular electronic switches. Third Place: $30,000 scholarship, Keith Winstein, 17, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), Aurora, Ill., for his computer science project “Lexical Steganography through Adaptive Modulation of the Word Choice Hash....

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Some states require a reason why you cannot make it to the polls on election day. Common reasons for applying for an absentee ballot include being overseas or in the military, being away from your town or city on election day, having a physical disability, or because of religious beliefs. All citizens 18 years old and over who reside overseas can apply to vote in federal elections by using the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)....

Judge’s chambers: A small room off the courtroom where the judge changes into robes and confers with lawyers. Jury room: A room outside the courtroom where the jury deliberates. Bar: A fence-like barricade that separates the spectators from the court. Bailiff: The police officer who maintains order in the court. Counsel: A name for the lawyer engaged in the trial. Both the plaintiff and the defendant have counsel. Court clerk: The person who helps with administrative duties and stores the physical exhibits introduced as evidence at the trial....

1. America’s State Parks and State-Owned Historic Sites, Nationwide All of America’s parks and state-owned historic sites are at risk of neglect and will likely deteriorate over the coming years. Due to the tight economy, countrywide budget cuts have reduced the available funds to maintain state parks and historic sites. The national system of sites and parks see about 725 million visitors per year; it is estimated that around 400 parks may be forced to shut down, which will inevitably affect millions of Americans....

History and Biography Learn about famous firsts by American Indians, read about the origins of American Indian Heritage Month, and view slideshows about American Indian life. Contemporary Issues and Culture Learn the etymology of many English words that have American Indian origins, find a list of the best American Indian novels and insightful proverbs, and read a glossary of American Indian terms. Tribes and Reservations Find a list of the largest tribes and reservations in the United States, where each group originated and where they were forced to move throughout the years, a map of reservations, and more....

Common ingredients: pork, chicken, seafood (especially shrimp, turtles, sea urchins, snails, clams), rice, coconut, bananas, watermelons, pineapples, taro, yams, corn Popular dishes: steamed fish with sweet potatoes More Information:

To get the answer, flip the divisor (the second fraction) over, and then multiply the fractions. (Or, to put it another way, multiply the dividend [the first fraction] by the reciprocal of the divisor [the second fraction].) In this case, that makes the problem: We begin by multiplying the numerators: And then we multiply the denominators: The answer has a numerator of 4 and a denominator of 2. In other words: This fraction can be reduced to lowest terms: There are 2 quarter-pies in a half-pie....

Brass Brass instruments are made of brass or some other metal and make sound when air is blown inside. The musician’s lips must buzz, as though making a “raspberry” noise against the mouthpiece. Air then vibrates inside the instrument, which produces a sound. Brass instruments include trumpet, trombone, tuba, French horn, cornet, and bugle. Percussion Most percussion instruments make sounds when they are hit, such as a drum or a tambourine....

Who are the Druze? The Druze, who speak Arabic and identify as Arabs, broke away from Islam in Egypt around the 10th century. Their religion incorporates monotheism with elements of Greek and Hindu beliefs. Druze has no specific rituals or formal activities, however, it does have strict rules that prohibit adherents from smoking, eating pork, or consuming alcohol. Completely closed to outsiders, the Druze accept no converts. In fact, their religious texts are kept not only from the outside world, but from most members of the community....