A History of Presidential Inaugurations

A History of Presidential Inaugurations

Transcript Every four years on January 20th, the United States holds a ceremony for the inauguration of the President of the United States. There are traditions for the inauguration, some of which have been passed down since the very first. Why do we use January 20th as the date, and how did many of these …

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The Great Crash at Crush

The Great Crash at Crush

Transcript In 1896, the United States was experiencing what we now call a recession. The Panic of 1896 had made life tough on everyone, and many of the companies in the highly competitive railroad business were looking for new ways to make money.  One man, William George Crush, came up with a smashing idea.  His …

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All Rats Must Die! The Story of Rat Eradication on South Georgia Island

All Rats Must Die! The Story of Rat Eradication on South Georgia Island

Transcript Humans and rats have lived in an uneasy relationship for millennia. Rats have spread diseases like the bubonic plague, destroyed grain harvests, and stolen our pizzas.  In return, rats have given humans……pretty much nothing.  As such, humans have waged a relentless war against rats, which for the most part has gone nowhere. However, there …

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The British Pound(s)

The British Pound(s)

Transcript If you visit a different country you might need to get some of the local currency. You might get Ringgit in Malaysia, Pesos in Mexico, Kip in Laos, or Tala in Samoa.  However, there is one country where you have to be careful what currency you get because there are different notes produced in …

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Moving Day in New York

Moving Day in New York

Transcript Since the year 1790, New York City has been the largest city in the United States.  Given the population density of the city, the vast majority of the people there rent apartments.  Now imagine if everyone in New York who switched apartments had to do so on the exact same day every year.  Well, …

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Did Gutenburg Really Invent the Printing Press?

Did Gutenburg Really Invent the Printing Press?

Transcript The printing press is considered to be one of, if not the greatest invention in history. The printing press allowed for an explosion in information and it ushered in the renaissance, the enlightenment, and the scientific and industrial revolutions.  As such, Johannes Gutenberg is often considered one of the most important people in history. …

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The Dunbar Number

The Dunbar Number

Transcript There is a number, a very special number, which is inside all of us. It is inside you, inside me, and inside every person on Earth. It dictates our social interactions. It has determined the size of communities, Christmas Card lists, and has implications for social media.  Learn more about the Dunbar Number on …

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The Legend of D.B. Cooper

The Legend of D.B. Cooper

Transcript On November 24, 1971, a man who identified himself as Dan Cooper purchased a $20 ticket for a short 30-minute flight from Portland to Seattle.  He had with him a briefcase filled with dynamite and wanted $200,000.  After getting his money, the plane took off again, Dan Cooper took the money, jumped out of …

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Surströmming: The World’s Smelliest Food

Surströmming: The World's Smelliest Food

Transcript There are many foods that are considered an acquired taste. Foods that might not be very palatable the first time you try it, or something that just doesn’t sit right with most people. It could be something as simple as blue cheese, or something like the Filipino delicacy, balut, which is a boiled, fertilized …

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