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What Does the “D” in “D-Day” Stand For?

Sarah Stone January 2, 2015 1

Tom C. asks: The V in V-Day was for Victory right? So what does the D in D-Day stand for? The Battle of Normandy, also known as D-Day, started on June 6, 1944 and

Podcast Episode #309: The Bermuda Triangle

Simon Whistler January 1, 2015 1

In this episode, you’re going to learn whether there is any truth to the notion that the Bermuda Triangle is a ship and plane graveyard. [TRANSCRIPT] Don’t miss future episodes of this podcast, subscribe

Who Invented the Fahrenheit and Celsius Temperature Scales and What Zero Degrees Fahrenheit Signifies

Melissa December 31, 2014 2

B. Halpern asks: 0 degrees Celsius is the freezing point of water. So what is 0 degrees Fahrenheit? Who came up with Celsius and Fahrenheit? Firmly entrenched in American society, the seemingly capricious nature

Podcast Episode #307: Auld Lang Syne

Simon Whistler December 30, 2014 0

In this episode, you’re going to learn how the tradition of singing Auld Lang Syne on New Year’s Eve got started and who originally composed the song in the first place. [TRANSCRIPT] Don’t miss

What are Blue Laws?

Melissa December 29, 2014 2

Jen asks: What are “Blue Laws” and how did they come to be? Rooted in the basic Christian tenet that Sunday is to be reserved as “the Lord’s day,” blue laws were originally enacted

The Man on the Raft: The Story of Poon Lim

Matt Blitz December 26, 2014 2

On the morning of April 5, 1943, about ten miles off the coast of Brazil, a fishing family in their small boat spotted a Chinese man on a much smaller wooden raft bobbing up

Christmas Facts Wrap

Daven Hiskey December 24, 2014 0

Krampus, the Christmas Demon Santa Claus has long been the symbol of Christmas, bringing joy and presents to all the good girls and boys. But if you are child in Germany, Austria, and other

The First Person to Use the Temporary Insanity Defense was a Congressman Who Murdered the Son of the Composer of “The Star Spangled Banner”

Eddie Deezen December 23, 2014 0

You might think the temporary insanity defense was a relatively new thing. I mean, maybe it began in the 1940s or possibly the ’30s. What with all the psychobabble around in those times. But,

When Art was an Olympic Sport

Matt Blitz December 22, 2014 3

When Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894, he declared that one of the missions of the modern Olympiad would be “to reunite in the bonds of legitimate wedlock

Weekly Wrap Volume 68

Daven Hiskey December 20, 2014 0

This is a weekly wrap of our popular Daily Knowledge Newsletter. You can get that newsletter for free here. The Anonymous Publishing of “The Night Before Christmas,” and Other Interesting Christmas Staple Origins On

The Momentous Peanut Butter Hearings

Matt Blitz December 18, 2014 1

An average American child eats about 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches prior to graduating from high school. That is about a sandwich every four or five days. Americans eat a lot of peanut

The Connection Between Saddam’s and Hitler’s Bunkers, Why Your Friends are Likely to Have More Friends Than You, and More, in Yet Another 10 Quick Facts

Theodoros II December 17, 2014 0

Quick Fact 841: If you’ve ever felt like your friends are more popular, happier, and wealthier than you… well, on average, you’re probably right. This all comes down to something known as the Generalized