The 7 People Who Control the Internet

The 7 People Who Control the Internet

Transcript The internet is often considered to be an open environment where no one really controls anything. A company or a person might have control over a particular website but in the big scheme of things you can set up whatever websites you want without anyone’s permission.  This is mostly true, but not totally true. …

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The Problem With Track & Field World Records

The Problem With Track & Field World Records

Transcript One of the unique things about track and field is that you don’t just compete against your immediate competitors, but you are also competing against the clock or the tape measure.  That means you can compare achievements with people in the past, and that means world records. You would expect world records to fall …

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Did Shakespeare Write the Works of Shakespeare?

Did Shakespeare Write the Works of Shakespeare?

Transcript William Shakespeare is widely considered to be one of the greatest poets and playwrights in the history of the English language.  However, over the last two centuries many people have begun to wonder if William Shakespeare of Stratford-on-Avon, England was indeed the person who wrote the works which have been attributed to him.  If …

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Rome: Empire vs Republic

Rome: Empire vs Republic

Transcript I’ve done several episodes pertaining to Ancient Rome. The reason is that so many of the foundational things in our world, from our alphabet to our calendar, to the names of our months, all can be traced back to Rome. During these episodes, I’ve often talked about the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire.  …

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The History of La Liga

The History of La Liga

Transcript Soccer, aka football, is the most popular sport in the world. Of all the professional leagues in the world, there is one that has achieved a level of success and competition above all others.  Spain’s Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Primera División, otherwise known as La Liga.  Learn more about La Liga, and the …

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The Svalbard Global Seed Vault

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Transcript Far above the Arctic Circle on the Norwegian island of Svalbard, built into the side of a mountain which is permanently frozen, is humanity’s greatest insurance policy.  There lie genetic backup copies for much of the world’s agricultural crops.  These seeds are stored for a day which hopefully will never come. Learn more about …

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How Orchestras Work

How Orchestras Work

Transcript Even if you aren’t a fan of classical music, you are probably at least familiar with what an orchestra is.  But have you ever wondered why orchestras use the instruments they do? Or why they have them in that combination, or why it is even called an orchestra at all?  And what exactly is …

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The B-52 Stratofortress

The B-52 Stratofortress

Transcript World War II was the first major conflict that saw the use of strategic bombers. In the months immediately after the war, the US saw the need for an advanced bomber to replace the bombers which were developed during the war. Moreover, they wanted something bigger, faster, and that used newly developed jet engines.  …

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The Yellow Fleet

The Yellow Fleet

Transcript In 1967, war broke out between Israel and Egypt. It was the beginning of what would be known as the Six-Day War. As Israeli forces raced across the Siani Peninsula, Egyptian forces took measures to ensure that the Suez Canal wouldn’t be captured. They scuttled ships on either end of the canal to prevent …

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