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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A Brief History of Digital Audio

A Brief History of Digital Audio

Podcast Transcript Right now, you are listening to the sound of my voice on some sort of digital audio device. In fact, almost all of the audio you consume today was digitally recorded or edited at some point in the process. But sound is inherently analog. How does sound, the movement of air, become converted …

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Questions and Answers: Volume 12

Questions and Answers: Volume 12

Podcast Transcript I’m at the store buying something at the checkout counter, and I’m talking to the cashier. A guy overhears my voice and says, “are you that guy from the podcast?” I reply, “Yeah, I have a podcast.” He says, “Well, I love your podcast, and I want to sponsor it for one million …

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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Sun

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Sun

Podcast Transcript Approximately 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers from Earth lies our nearest star, the Sun. The Sun is responsible for life as we know it and for the entire solar system.  The Sun doesn’t just provide light and heat. It also constantly affects the plants and the solar system in ways most …

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The Origin of Words and Phrases: India

The Origin of Words and Phrases: India

Podcast Transcript The British ruled India for over 200 years.  During that period, the British attempted to impose British culture on India. While they were somewhat successful, especially in exporting India’s national sport of cricket, they unknowingly were influenced by India as well. It turns out that words from several languages on the subcontinents have …

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