Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 April 11

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Today's featured article
Parkinson's disease is an age-related degenerative disorder of the human brain. It rarely arises before the age of 40, but afflicts more than 1% of people over 60 and 4% of people over 80. The most obvious symptoms are movement-related, including shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with walking gait. Cognitive, sensory, sleep and emotional problems may also occur, especially in the later stages. The most noticeable symptoms are brought about by the death of brain cells that produce the chemical dopamine. Some cases are caused by genetic factors, but for most cases the causes are not known. Diagnosis is based on assessment of symptoms. In spite of extensive scientific research, no cure has yet been found. Modern treatments are effective at managing the early motor symptoms of the disease, mainly through the use of levodopa and dopamine agonists. In the later stages, however, these treatments gradually lose their effectiveness. The disease is named after British apothecary James Parkinson, and his birthday, April 11, has been designated Parkinson's Disease Day. (more...) Recently featured: Populous: The Beginning – Pithole, Pennsylvania – The Pit and the Pendulum Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that the Pawtuxet-class revenue cutters *Ashuelot, Kankakee, Kewanee, and Pawtuxet* were all sold in 1867 after barely three years service, but their sister ship *Levi Woodbury* (pictured) retired in 1915 as the Coast Guard's oldest cutter? ... that Jerry Harper was the first Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball player to lead his team in scoring all four years? ... that Salvador Dalí insisted that his painting Galatea of the Spheres be displayed on an easel previously owned by Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier in the Dalí Theatre and Museum in Figueres? ... that an annual award is given in honor of the Georgia old-time craftsman and blacksmith Alex W. Bealer, author of The Art of Blacksmithing? ... that Keipert syndrome affects the nose and big toes? ... that acquisitions whilst Christopher Wright was Head of Manuscripts at the British Library included the archives of Punch magazine and that of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? ... that Tommy Lyttle, the leader of the Ulster Defence Association's West Belfast Brigade, liked to read James Bond novels? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Sidney Lumet American film director Sidney Lumet (pictured) dies at the age of 86. A gunman opens fire in a shopping mall in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands, killing himself and six others. At least 27 people are killed in anti-government protests in the Syrian city of Daraa. The government of the People's Republic of China announces the arrest of artist and dissident Ai Weiwei. Indian social activist Anna Hazare ends a 96-hour hunger strike after the Indian government agrees to his movement's anti-corruption demands. At least 11 people are killed and 20 more injured in a shooting at a school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
April 11 1814 – The Treaty of Fontainebleau was signed, ending the War of the Sixth Coalition, and forcing Napoleon to abdicate as ruler of France and sending him into exile on Elba. 1908 – SMS Blücher, the last armored cruiser to be built by the German Imperial Navy, launched. 1921 – Emir Abdullah (pictured) established the first centralized government in the recently created British protectorate of Transjordan. 1979 – Uganda–Tanzania War: The Uganda National Liberation Army and Tanzanian forces captured Kampala, forcing Ugandan President Idi Amin to flee. 1996 – Seven-year-old Jessica Dubroff was killed in a plane crash in Cheyenne, Wyoming, while attempting to set a record as the youngest person to pilot an airplane across the United States. More anniversaries: April 10 – April 11 – April 12 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now April 11, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Pholiota malicola is a species of fungus in the Strophariaceae family of mushrooms. All of the 1,316 species in this group are saprotrophs, growing on various kinds of decaying organic matter.

Photo: JJ Harrison

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