Solving the Longitude Problem

Solving the Longitude Problem

Transcript Navigation on the open ocean is extremely difficult. It is a skill that takes years to master.  Even with years of skill, an experienced mariner was still able to ground their ship on an unseen reef, underwater rocks, or a sandbar, because they didn’t know their precise location.  The main problem, which was unsolved …

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The Tallest Structures Throughout History

The Tallest Structures Throughout History

Transcript Standing next to an extremely tall structure can be an exhilarating experience. Something which was no less exhilarating to early humans. Ever since humans created the first pile of rocks, we have been trying to build ever-larger piles of rocks. These piles of rocks eventually evolved into structures hundreds of meters tall.  Learn more …

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The TMZ: Thirty Mile Zone

The Thirty Mile Zone

Transcript Hollywood is known the world over for being the center of the motion picture industry.  But did you ever wonder why the movie business is centered there or why it hasn’t moved somewhere else? Well, it all has to do with a clause in various union contracts. Learn more about the Thirty Mile Zone, …

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The Halifax Explosion

The Halifax Explosion

Transcript On December 6, 1917, one of the greatest tragedies of World War I took place.  In a single instant, 2,000 people, mostly civilians were killed.  However, this tragedy didn’t take place on the fields of Belgium or in a trench in France. It took place in the harbor of Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Learn more …

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Sobrino de Botín

Sobrino de Botín

Transcript Running a restaurant is a very difficult business. Most restaurants barely make a profit, and it isn’t unheard of for a series of restaurants to shuffle through the same building as one goes out of business after the other. Longevity in the restaurant game is very difficult. Even if you manage to make your …

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All About the Latin Language

All About the Latin Language

Transcript “E Pluribus Unum”, “Habeus Corpus”, “Carpe Diem”, “Caveat Emptor”. All of these phrases are known by most people, yet they come from a language that has been dead for 1500 years: Latin. Latin is on our money, serves as mottos for universities, and is the foundation for our entire naming system in biology. Many …

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Who Was the 5th Beatle?

Who Was the 5th Beatle?

Transcript In 1964, New York City disc jockey “Murry the K” humorously dubbed himself the fifth Beatle due to his early promotion of the Beatles on his radio program. Since then, almost two dozen other people have been dubbed the 5th Beatle due to their contributions to the band.  Some people dubbed the 5th Beatle …

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The Dodo Bird

The Dodo Bird

Transcript In 1598 the Dutch Empire acquired the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. There, they found a short, fat, flightless bird that was only found on that island. The bird had absolutely no fear of humans, but perhaps it should have. In 1662, just 64 years later, the last known bird was sighted, …

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Alcohol in Early America

Alcohol in Early America

Transcript In the very days of the United States, the country was mostly made up of farmers.  They primarily ate the food which they grew, and maybe hunted to supplement their diet.  They also drank. Alcohol. A lot of alcohol. In fact, the amount of alcohol consumed by early Americans on average might have been …

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