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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The Roman Province of Hispania

The Roman Province of Hispania

Transcript Before Spain became Spain, it was part of the Roman province of Hispania.  To understand the language, and geography of not just Spain but of the entire Iberian Peninsula, you have to understand Hispania.  Learn more about one of the greatest provinces in the Roman empire, and how it created modern Spain on this …

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The Nuclear Football

The Nuclear Football

Transcript Odds are, if you have ever seen a photo of the president of the United States over the last 60 years, there has been someone in the background or walking a few steps behind, who had in their hand a leather satchel. In that bag was everything the President would need to start armageddon.  …

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The McRib

The McRib

Transcript The musical Brigadoon is about a Scottish village which appears for one day every 100 years. The village can be thought of as a metaphor for things that are fleeting, or why we must take advantage of opportunities when they appear.  Brigadoon doesn’t exist in our world, but we do have the next best …

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