Welcome to Wikipedia

,

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

264,777 active editors
7,122,668 articles in English

The English-language Wikipedia is celebrating its 25th birthday! Learn how you can take part in the encyclopedia's continued improvement.

From today's featured article

Michael Keaton, who played Batman

Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton and written by Daniel Waters. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, it is the sequel to Batman (1989) and the second installment in the Batman film series (1989–1997). Set during Christmas in Gotham City, the film follows Batman, played by Michael Keaton (pictured), as he confronts corrupt businessman Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) and deformed crime boss Oswald Cobblepot / the Penguin (Danny DeVito), whose bid for power threatens the city. Their schemes are further complicated by Shreck's former secretary Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer), who seeks revenge against him as Catwoman. Released in June 1992, Batman Returns broke several box-office records and grossed $266.8 million worldwide, becoming the sixth-highest-grossing film of 1992. Critical reception was polarized, though most reviewers praised the principal cast. Following the film's mixed reception, Burton was replaced as director for its sequel, Batman Forever (1995). (Full article...)

Recently featured:

Did you know ...

Jilly Cooper

... that, when reminiscing about her Spitting Image puppet, bonkbuster writer Jilly Cooper (pictured) only remembered it shouting "sex sex sex sex sex sex"?
... that the film Wicked was dubbed by actresses who were part of the stage show in various countries returning to voice their characters?
... that Fernando Mayén was named the top college football player in Mexico in 2023 after leading the nation with 14 touchdowns?
... that a World War I chemical agent was apparently used against protestors in Tbilisi during the 2024–2026 Georgian protests?
... that, according to the Albatross file, Singapore's Goh Keng Swee never raised proposals for a looser federation in talks with the Malaysian leaders, in spite of Lee Kuan Yew's instructions?
... that Oregon lumberjack Clarence Boggie had been convicted and pardoned twice for robbery before being charged with murder in 1935?
... that six people were killed and more than 100 others injured during the Trieste riots in 1953 following the announcement of the city being transferred to Italy?
... that Samar was the first Philippine island sighted by Ferdinand Magellan?
... that between 1906 and 1914 Julian P. Thomas claimed to have set ballooning records, crashed a wind wagon, sold mislabeled bread, and was arrested for providing fraudulent medical advice?

In the news

An APD.20 train

Thirty-two people are killed when a crane falls onto a passenger train (similar train pictured) in Sikhio district, Thailand.
Following a Saudi-led offensive, Yemeni government forces take control of Aden, the capital of the Southern Transitional Council.
Faustin-Archange Touadéra is re-elected as the president of the Central African Republic.
Delcy Rodríguez is sworn in as the interim president of Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during United States strikes on the capital.

On this day

January 16

The aftermath of Turkish Airlines Flight 6491

1537 – Sir Francis Bigod began an armed rebellion against King Henry VIII and the English Parliament.
1883 – The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, establishing the United States Civil Service, is enacted by the U.S. Congress.
1945 – World War II: Adolf Hitler and his staff moved into the Führerbunker in Berlin, where he would eventually commit suicide.
2016 – After gunmen took hostages the previous night at a restaurant in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, government commandos stormed the premises to bring the situation to an end.
2017 – Turkish Airlines Flight 6491 crashed in Manas International Airport (aftermath pictured) after the flight overflew the entire runway, which resulted in 39 deaths.

John C. Breckinridge (b. 1821)
Miguel Ángel Mancera (b. 1966)
Susie Bootja Bootja Napaltjarri (d. 2003)
Valene L. Smith (d. 2024)

More anniversaries:

From today's featured list

Ord's kangaroo rat

There are sixty-three extant species of heteromyids, members of Heteromyidae, a family of small mammals in the order Rodentia. Members include kangaroo rats (example pictured), kangaroo mice, pocket mice, and spiny pocket mice. They are found in North America, Central America, and the northwest tip of South America, primarily in forests, shrublands, and deserts, though some species can be found in grasslands or rocky areas. The sixty-three extant species in Heteromyidae are divided into three subfamilies: Dipodomyinae, containing twenty-two species of kangaroo rats and kangaroo mice in two genera; Heteromyinae, containing fourteen species of spiny pocket mice in a single genus; and Perognathinae, containing twenty-seven species of pocket mice in two genera. (Full list...)

Recently featured:

Today's featured picture

Narbonne Cathedral is a Catholic church located in the town of Narbonne, France. Dedicated to Saints Justus and Pastor, it was the cathedral of the Diocese of Narbonne until it was merged with the Diocese of Carcassonne under the Concordat of 1801. It is now a co-cathedral of the Diocese of Carcassonne–Narbonne, and was declared a minor basilica in 1886. The first church on the site was a small Constantinian structure that was erected in 313 and destroyed by fire in 441. A replacement building, erected in 445, fell into ruin and was eventually replaced in 890 by a Carolingian cathedral whose restored steeple remains on the site. Construction on the present Gothic building began in 1272, opening in 1286. It was gradually expanded until 1354, but its size was then limited by the location of the city walls and the rest of the building was never completed, the nave and transept being notably absent. This photograph shows the choir of Narbonne cathedral, looking towards the high altar in the background.

Photograph credit: Diego Delso

Recently featured:

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – The central hub for editors, with resources, links, tasks, and announcements.
Village pump – Forum for discussions about Wikipedia itself, including policies and technical issues.
Site news – Sources of news about Wikipedia and the broader Wikimedia movement.
Teahouse – Ask basic questions about using or editing Wikipedia.
Help desk – Ask questions about using or editing Wikipedia.
Reference desk – Ask research questions about encyclopedic topics.
Content portals – A unique way to navigate the encyclopedia.

Wikipedia's sister projects

Wikipedia is written by volunteer editors and hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization that also hosts a range of other volunteer projects: