SONAR

SONAR

Podcast Transcript One of the most significant developments in the history of naval warfare was the submarine.  The submarine offered a means of stealth and surprise that surface ships couldn’t compete with.  At first, navigating submarines was relatively simple, as they traveled just below the surface and used a snorkel and a periscope. However, as …

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Questions and Answers: Volume 31

Questions and Answers: Volume 31

Podcast Transcript The month of June comes from the Latin word Iunius, which is derived from the Roman goddess Juno.  Juno was the queen of the Roman gods and was the goddess of marriage, love, and childbirth. Despite her domestic associations, she was often depicted ready for battle, holding a shield and a spear. While …

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The History of the Hamburger

The History of the Hamburger

Podcast Transcript One of the most popular foods around the world is the hamburger. If most people think of American foods, it is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Hamburgers are pretty simple in terms of what they are composed of and how they are prepared, but they have developed an enormous amount …

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The Last Days and Death of Adolf Hitler

The Last Days and Death of Adolf Hitler

Podcast Transcript In April 1945, in the last days of the war in Europe, everything was falling apart for the Third Reich.  Adolf Hitler and his closest advisors holed up in a bunker in Berlin and issued delusional orders until the Russians arrived. Hitler, his wife, and other high ranking Nazi officials took their own …

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Marco Polo

Marco Polo

Podcast Transcript In the 13th century, the Republic of Venice was one of the leading merchant empires in Europe. The merchants from Venice traveled far and wide in pursuit of profit. A few of them, however, traveled very far.  A small group of men from the same family made the extremely long and dangerous voyage …

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Bonds and the Bond Market

Bonds and the Bond Market

Podcast Transcript One of the most important markets in the global economy is the bond market.  The bond market doesn’t get as much attention as the market for stocks. Yet, the global market for bonds is actually larger than the total value of all publicly traded stocks.  Moreover, bond markets have the power to influence …

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The History of Memorial Day (Redux)

The History of Memorial Day (Redux)

Podcast Transcript Every year, on the last Monday in May, the United States honors its war dead. It is often celebrated with parades, cookouts, and ceremonies at military cemeteries. While many people just think of it as a three-day weekend and the beginning of summer, it is a tradition that extends back over 160 years.  …

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The Moons of Jupiter

Moons of Jupiter

In 1610, Galileo Gallieli used a new invention called the telescope to observe the planet Jupiter. What he found revolutionized the science of astronomy and our entire understanding of the universe. He discovered four moons in orbit around the planet, the first objects in the solar system to have been discovered since antiquity.  Today, astronomers …

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The First and Second Banks of the United States

The First and Second Banks of the United States

Podcast Transcript After the American Revolution, the United States economy was in trouble. One solution proposed to solve the crisis was the establishment of a national bank.  The bank wasn’t just an economic issue; it also sparked one of the first constitutional debates in the nation’s history.  Fast-forward several decades, and the United States found …

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