Transcript The highest and most prestigious award in the United States military is the Medal of Honor. It is awarded for only acts of extreme valor and bravery. Established during the Civil War in 1863, it has been awarded 3,506 times. If you read through the list of Medal of Honor recipients, you will read …
Transcript The greatest fire in American history, in terms of loss of life, occurred in the town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin in 1871. Most people haven’t heard of it, and even people who live in the region today aren’t aware of the disaster which happened in their own backyard. 150 years later, there is speculation that …
Transcript At its peak, the British Empire covered 23% of the world’s population and 24% of the Earth’s landmass. By either measure, it was the largest empire in the history of the world. Since then…..well, let’s just say the Empire has seen better days. While the vast majority of the Empire is gone, there are …
Transcript For years a story had circulated that the rock and roll group Van Halen had a contract that required that a bowl of M&Ms be left backstage wherever they performed, with all the brown M&Ms removed. If there were any brown M&Ms in the bowl, they would use it as an excuse to trash …
Transcript In 1927, Professor Thomas Parnell of the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, created an experiment to demonstrate to his students the concept of viscosity and how some substances that appear to be solids are actually liquids. That experiment is still running 90 years later. Learn more about the Pitch Drop Experiment, the world’s …
Podcast Transcript Approximately 3,400 years ago, Egypt was at the height of its power during the 18th Dynasty. In the midst of this period came a Pharoah who completely upended Egyptian society. He built an entirely new capital, created an entirely new religion, neglected his empire, and ultimately caused the destruction of his dynasty. Yet, …
Podcast Transcript April derives from the Latin Aprilis, traditionally linked to aperire, meaning “to open,” referring to the opening of buds and flowers in spring. Another theory connects it to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, via the Etruscans. The name reflects renewal, growth, and seasonal rebirth in the ancient Roman calendar. Regardless of the …
Podcast Transcript For thousands of years, farmers didn’t plant just one crop; they planted many together in the same field. This practice, known as maslin agriculture, once fed entire populations and offered a built-in defense against famine and failure. Then, almost everywhere, it vanished. But today, as modern agriculture faces new challenges, this ancient method …
Podcast Transcript Iodine is far more important than you might think. It was discovered accidentally, yet it can be found almost everywhere. It’s something so small you only need a trace of it, yet without it, entire populations can suffer devastating health consequences. It has been used as a medicine and a disinfectant, and is …