Podcast Transcript One of the most transformative events of the 20th century was the Russian Revolution. The Revolution was responsible for the downfall of the Russian monarchy and the rise of the Soviet Union, the world’s first communist country. However, its impact wasn’t limited to Russia. It had reverberations that were felt all over the …
Podcast Transcript Seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is covered with water… and the vast majority of it is useless for consumption or agriculture. This problem has been known for thousands of years, and for thousands of years, humans have recognized that it is possible to turn seawater into drinking water; it was just difficult …
Podcast Transcript During World War II, the US Army assigned statistician Abraham Wald the task of statistically figuring out where extra armor should be added to American bombers. After analyzing the evidence and sharing it with the Army, he recommended the exact opposite of what the Army assumed. The reason was that the Army had …
Podcast Transcript Modern society is completely dependent on a set of technologies that include computer chips, fiber optic cables, lasers, video screens, electric motors, and batteries. All of those things are dependent on a small category of chemicals called rare earth elements. Their importance in technology has made them a focal point of international trade …
Podcast Transcript We are all familiar with things that fly in the air. Hot air balloons, dirigibles, blimps, airplanes, and helicopters. However, there is another category of flying craft that most people aren’t familiar with. It isn’t an airplane, and it isn’t a helicopter. It actually lies somewhere in between. By combining parts of both, …
Podcast Transcript In 1818, the man who would go on to become one of the greatest leaders in the cause against American slavery was himself born into slavery. At the age of 20, he escaped bondage and went on to lead one of the most remarkable careers of the 19th century. He led a multifaceted …
Podcast Transcript Colors are something that we are all familiar with. The colors are among the first things we teach children. What if I were to tell you not every culture has the same colors? By that, I don’t mean they have different words for colors, but some very basic colors have no words at …
Podcast Transcript In the summer of 1944, the Allied forces planned an audacious amphibious landing on the beaches of France. It involved hundreds of ships, hundreds of thousands of men, and meticulous planning. Those who landed would face fierce resistance from entrenched German forces. …and I am not talking about D-Day and the invasion of …
Podcast Transcript In the year 1800, the last year of the 18th century, the world was on the precipice of radical change. The scientific revolution, the agricultural revolution, and the industrial revolution had all begun, but were yet to hit full swing. There were also literal revolutions afoot. Countries began overthrowing their leaders or colonial …