Podcast Transcript The odds are quite good that somewhere around you right now as you listen to me speak these words, is a battery. Whether it is in your smartphone, earbuds, automobile, smoke detector, or laptop, batteries have become ubiquitous in the modern world. The origins of chemical batteries go back thousands of years before …
Podcast Transcript Located in Northern Europe, along the Atlantic coast, is the relatively small nation of Belgium. Belgium is like other countries in most ways, but its history and founding are very different from those of its neighbors. How it was founded had important implications for all over Europe and may still impact the country’s …
Podcast Transcript Sandwiches are one of the most popular types of food in the world. They are incredibly easy to make, can be incredibly cheap, and they come in numerous varieties. Yet, the humble sandwich is also the subject of a great deal of controversy. What type of sandwich is best? Where did sandwiches come …
Podcast Transcript Aircraft carriers are some of the most fearsome weapons in the world. They are enormous platforms that can travel around the globe, projecting power over an enormous part of it. However, aircraft carriers have a rather humble origin that actually predates the invention of the airplane. Throughout the 20th century, they saw many …
Podcast Transcript In 1760, George III succeeded to the throne of the United Kingdom at the age of 22, becoming the third king in the House of Hannover dynasty. His reign would become one of the longest in British history, and he was monarch during some of the most important events in history, including the …
Podcast Transcript In October 1918, just weeks before the end of the First World War, one of the most incredible feats of military valor took place in the Meuse–Argonne offensive, one of the last great battles of the war. This incredible feat of bravery and soldiering was done by a very unlikely soldier. One that …
Podcast Transcript The surface of the Earth is 70 percent water. If you just looked at a map and saw a sea of blue, you might think that the water is just sitting there, but it’s not. The oceans are constantly moving, and it isn’t just waves and tides that move. There are enormous rivers …
Podcast Transcript Every few years, somewhere on Earth is witness to one of the planet’s greatest sights: a total solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse is rare, but it can be calculated centuries in advance. However, that wasn’t always the case. For thousands of years, solar eclipses were rare events that were considered to be …
Podcast Transcript There is an old saying that April showers bring May flowers. However, that saying doesn’t really address where the April showers come from in the first place. I believe they come from the questions of curious people. When they are answered, they bring tears of joy which manifests in the form of rain. …