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 …
Podcast Transcript In August 1945, a single decision changed the course of history and introduced a weapon unlike anything the world had ever seen. The choice to drop the atomic bomb didn’t just end World War II; it opened the nuclear age and sparked debates that continue to this day. Was it necessary? Was it …
Podcast Transcript In 480 BC, the most powerful empire on Earth set out to crush a collection of small, divided Greek city-states. On land, defeat seemed inevitable. But at sea, in a narrow strait near a small island called Salamis, everything changed. Through strategy, deception, and sheer determination, the Greeks pulled off one of history’s …
Podcast Transcript When the Internet was first launched, it was only available on a few computers at a few research institutions. Over the last 50 years, internet access has expanded to cover more institutions and more computers. Eventually, it was available in our homes and even in our pockets. Recently, the final step in creating …