Author: By The Foundation for a Better Life
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Nikola Tesla’s mother encouraged him to look beyond his humble beginnings to the world stage
The last name that is most famous today for the car that bears his name began as a knowledge-obsessed schoolboy. One of five children, Nikola Tesla was intelligent and curious about the unknown forces in the world: electricity and magnetics. His father, an Orthodox priest, hoped his son would become a man of the cloth,…
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Barron Prize winner co-founded Growing the STEM, a nonprofit that creates math and science programs for students in 14 underserved schools
The roots of STEM education, or science, technology, engineering and mathematics, go all the way back to 1862, when universities that received land grants began promoting agricultural science. In those days, having the foresight to see the need for disciplines in science to improve output was revolutionary. Early scientific education focused on reaching young American…
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Georgia “Tiny” Broadwick was the first woman to jump from an airplane using a parachute
Watching paragliders and skydivers these days is thrilling. They float and control their gossamer sails like giant birds. Imagine the first parachutes and the thrills they evoked in crowds who had never seen a human drop from the sky. The year was 1913. Airplanes were new and a great attraction around the country. Fifteen-year-old Georgia…
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Whoever created the Loretto stairs in Santa Fe was a master craftsman
The Loretto Chapel, in the heart of Santa Fe, N.M., is built from warm earthen adobe, with a small nave and, above it, a choir loft. But at the beginning, the two weren’t connected. Legend has it that when the unfinished chapel needed a staircase to access the choir loft, the nuns offered a novena…
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Carroll Shelby left his name on racetracks and cars all over the world
At age 7, Carroll Shelby moved to Dallas. He was the son of working-class parents, balanced precariously on the poverty line. He had a leaky heart valve that reminded him that life could end any day. Might as well live it pedal to the metal. Shelby rode his bicycle to dirt tracks where his Sunday…
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James Earl Jones put away the villainous Darth Vader to enjoy a character more like his real self: the kind Mr. Mertle in ‘The Sandlot’
The young James Earl Jones suffered from a debilitating stutter. Shy and self-conscious, young James was encouraged to try theater as a way to overcome it. Perhaps the teacher saw his future potential, but more likely, she saw a boy who needed a little confidence. Jones worked hard as an actor, and the theater enhanced…
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The forgotten professor who influenced Einstein and developed a method for measuring aircraft velocity
Many of us can point to a teacher who directed our talents toward a career, a fulfilling hobby, a better way to understand ourselves. A good teacher inspires students to discover their imaginations through reading, understand the universe through keen observation, and uncover the boundless potential of their minds — all while refereeing games of…
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How skydiving legend Luigi Cani’s daring stunt is aimed at breathing new life into our world
The Earth is one giant, living organism, and we have the privilege of calling it home. We enjoy the beauty of blue skies, the shade of magnificent trees, the lulling motion of waves. Being able to breathe clean air is largely a result of the way plants retrieve carbon and purify the air on our…
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Dr. Rick Nielsen has climbed Kilimanjaro 10 times. His wife has summited twice. They have returned so others can feel the pain, and the exhilaration of freedom.
Elevation 19,341 feet. Hike Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest freestanding mountain, and you will feel every step. The journey takes an average of five to six days. Because the mountain is on the equator, the climate starts off warm and could drop to minus 20 at the top. The altitude change is so severe that…
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How actor Pat Morita, best known as Mr. Miyagi, endured a difficult childhood to become a voice against racism
Pat Morita nearly missed the opportunity that defined his professional career. He was working on and off as a stand-up comedian, barely making ends meet after a successful role in “Happy Days.” When he showed up to audition for Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid,” producer Jerry Weintraub couldn’t see the actor beyond his comedic…