NASA’s Human Computers

NASA's Human Computers

Podcast Transcript Today computers are ubiquitous. You are listening to this podcast right now on some sort of computing device.  However, before computers were machines, the name computer was given to people. Computers were people who computed.  In fact, in the early days of NASA, the space program relied upon these human computers to do …

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The Tombs of the Unknown Soldiers

The Tombs of the Unknown Soldiers

Podcast Transcript After the horrors of the first world war, many of the nations in the conflict sought to build memorials to honor their dead.  While there were many memorials built, often large and grandiose, the most important memorial in many countries is that of a tomb, oftentimes simple, dedicated to a soldier whose remains …

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The Spanish Reconquista

The Spanish Reconquista

Podcast Transcript After the rise of Islam in the 7th century, it spread rapidly, conquering lands in Asia, Africa, and Europe. In Europe, it established a foothold on the Iberian Peninsula.  For almost 800 years, Europeans sought to expel the invaders. It took the better part of a millennium, but they finally achieved their goal. …

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Operation Valkyrie and the Plot to Kill Hitler

Operation Valkyrie and the Plot to Kill Hitler

Podcast Transcript Adolf Hitler single-handedly started the Second World War in Europe.  While the allies were desperately trying to end the Third Reich and Hitler personally, they weren’t the only ones trying to bring Hilter’s reign to an end. Inside Nazi Germany, a small but committed group sought to remove Hitler from power, and they …

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Apollo 13

Apollo 13

Podcast Transcript On April 11, 1970, Apollo 13 was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, as the third mission to land on the moon.  It never achieved its mission objective.  Despite having failed in its goal, it still managed to return to Earth and, in its own way, achieved a type of success it could never …

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The Walled City of Kowloon

The Walled City of Kowloon

Podcast Transcript Formerly located in the territory of Hong Kong was arguably the most densely populated place on Earth. In fact, it might have been the most densely populated place in human history.  Not only was it packed with people, but it also had a unique political status. No government controlled it, which made it …

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Paricutin: The World’s Youngest Volcano

Paricutin: The World's Youngest Volcano

Podcast Transcript There are estimated to be over 1,300 active volcanoes in the world today.  Almost all of them have one thing in common, they were around well before there were humans to record their creation. In fact, their creation might have taken many thousands of years.  However, there is one volcano were know quite …

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All About The Pipe Organ

All About The Pipe Organ

Podcast Transcript There are a host of different musical instruments. There are woodwinds, strings, brass, and percussion instruments. These are the instruments that make up the backbone of orchestras and bands.  However, there is one instrument that is unlike any other.  Almost no one who plays the instrument actually owns one, and if you want …

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The Roman Triumph

The Roman Triumph

Podcast Transcript The elite citizens of the Roman Republic were part of a system built to encourage ambition and competition.  As the men of the republic competed for honors and political positions, the greatest honor Rome could bestow upon someone was a triumph.  A triumph was much more than a parade. It was a mixture …

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