Pu’ukohola Heiau is the ruins of the last major ancient Hawaiian temple. It is notable in Hawaii’s recent history for being the home of King Kamehameha I, who was responsible for uniting the independent islands of Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai, and Niihau under his rule. This unification took decades at the cost of …
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. …
Podcast Transcript On April 15, 1947, a rookie infielder took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers. All eyes in the world of baseball, and indeed the United States, were focused on this player and this game. However, this wasn’t the normal debut of a rookie player. This game marked the breaking of the long-standing color …
Podcast Transcript Ever since the discovery of the planet Neptune in 1846, astronomers have noticed that something was not right. The orbit of Neptune was being gravitationally influenced by some other, unknown body that was dubbed Planet X. In 1930, it was thought that this body had been discovered with the discovery of Pluto, but …