The Monroe Doctrine

The Monroe Doctrine

Podcast Transcript When the United States became independent in the late 18th century, it didn’t have much of a foreign policy. Their primary concern was creating the framework of a country that hadn’t existed before.  However, after a few decades, the United States grew in confidence and eventually asserted its own unique foreign policy objectives.  …

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All About the Element Mercury

All About the Element Mercury

Podcast Transcript Since the dawn of human history, humans have been aware of a seemingly miraculous substance. It was a substance that had the same color as silver, but unlike silver, it wasn’t a solid. It was a liquid.  Ancient people used this substance as a medicine and as an elixir for long life, something …

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How the Roman Army Worked

How the Roman Army Worked

Podcast Transcript For centuries, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire were able to conquer and force their will on other people around the Mediterranean Sea. The success of Rome was built on its army, and its army was able to sustain its dominance for so long because of its system of superior organization and …

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The History of Parachutes

The History of Parachutes

Podcast Transcript Centuries ago, someone decided jumping from a great height and trying to land without being injured would be a good idea.  …and in a few cases, it actually worked….although in many more cases, it didn’t.  Once humans actually figured out how to fly, they realized that there might be an actual use for …

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The History of Pizza

The History of Pizza

Podcast Transcript There is a good chance that sometime in the last few days, weeks, or months, you might have enjoyed a slice or two of pizza. Pizza has become a near-ubiquitous food which can be found in almost every country.  However, there is no one pizza. There are vehement disagreements about what pizza is …

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Eponymous Laws: Part 2

Eponymous Laws: Part 2

Podcast Transcript In a previous episode, I went through a list of eponymous laws. These were laws, general rules, or sometimes even scientific laws that were named after people. However, the eponymous laws I went through only scratched the surface of the eponymous Laws that are out there. There are all sorts of laws, rules, …

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The OMG! Particle

The OMG! Particle

Podcast Transcript On October 15, 1991, a cosmic ray detector in Utah observed something that had never been seen before or since.  It was a cosmic ray with more energy than anything ever observed and more energy than most scientists thought possible.  When one of the first researchers saw the data, they responded simply, “Oh, …

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Operation Unthinkable

Operation Unthinkable

Podcast Transcript In the days immediately following the surrender of Germany in May 1945, new concerns gripped the victorious Allied forces.  The alliance had always been one of convenience. Diametrically opposing political and economic systems joined forces to defeat a common foe.  But now that the foe had been vanquished, what was next? Would the …

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Sergei Korolev: The Most Important Russian You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Sergei Korolev: The Most Important Russian You've Probably Never Heard Of

Podcast Transcript In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Soviet space program was on a roll. They launched the first satellite into space. They launched the first man and woman into space. They conducted the first space walk.  Then, around 1966, everything changed.  The momentum they had ground to a halt, and the Americans …

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