The History of Military Ranks

The History of Military Ranks

Podcast Transcript Every military in the world is a hierarchal organization. There are people at the top who make decisions, people down below who follow those orders, and people in between who make it happen.  Today, most militaries have an elaborate rank structure with multiple ranks in the chain of command.  However, it wasn’t always …

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The Legend of Ned Kelly

The Legend of Ned Kelly

Podcast Transcript In the late 19th century, the American frontier became famous for its outlaws and gangsters. Men like Billy the Kid and Jesse James became notorious for their criminal exploits. While this was happening in the American West, there were similar outlaws in the Australian bush.  One, in particular, has captured the imagination of …

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Senegal and The Gambia

Senegal and The Gambia

Podcast Transcript Nestled in the heart of West Africa lie two nations with distinct identities yet tied together by a common geography and history: Senegal and The Gambia. The landscape of this region wasn’t always as fragmented as it is now. It wasn’t until the 19th century that it was carved into the separate entities …

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The Discovery of DNA

The Discovery of DNA

Podcast Transcript One of the most important advancements in the 20th century was the identification of the structure of the DNA molecule. However, that discovery didn’t appear out of nowhere. It was part of a century-long process that included many advancements in biology, chemistry, and physics.  Solving the secret of the DNA molecule was a …

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The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte

The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte

Podcast Transcript In 1804, one of the most significant individuals of the 19th century placed a crown upon his head in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris and declared himself Emperor of the French.  He went on to revolutionize France and French society and profoundly affected all of Europe.  His influence was so great …

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Questions & Answers: Volume 16

Questions & Answers: Volume 16

Podcast Transcript Several centuries ago, many places celebrated the start of the new year in March, not January.  March was originally the first month of the year, according to the Romans, which is why the Latin numbers for seven, eight, nine, and ten all appear in the months of September, October, November, and December.  That, …

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The Battle of Cajamarca

The Battle of Cajamarca

Podcast Transcript Some of the most important battles in history, the ones that changed the course of civilizations, are often very small battles.  In 1532, a battle, really just a skirmish, took place, which completely changed the future paths of Peru, Spain, and the entire continent of South America.  Despite the importance of this battle, …

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Leap Day and Leap Years

Leap Day and Leap Years

Podcast Transcript Once every 1461 days, sometimes, we have a day on the calendar that we don’t normally have: Leap Day.  This extra day is a necessity if our calendars are kept in sync with the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, but it also can cause problems with people and computers.  Nonetheless, whatever …

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Stealth Technology

Stealth Technology

Podcast Transcript The history of warfare has been a history of measures and countermeasures.  When the airplane was invented, RADAR was later invented as a means of advanced detection of airplanes.  RADAR then spurred the development of its own countermeasures to hide airplanes from RADAR so they couldn’t be detected.  Today, these RADAR countermeasures are …

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