In this episode, you’re going to learn about the breakthrough that allowed hieroglyphics, formerly thought to be picture writing, to be correctly translated for the first time. [TRANSCRIPT] And, as mentioned in the episode, you can check out a version of the translation of the object that resulted in the breakthrough here. Don’t miss future episodes of this podcast, subscribe […]
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Erin G. asks: Why do we color code electric wires the way we do? Black, white, green, red, blue, orange, brown and grey, the color of the insulating sheath on an electrical wire generally designates its purpose. So, before you start fiddling around with that new light fixture, besides switching off the breaker to a given circuit, it’s a good […]
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When I was a kid, my parents had a collection of historic old, yellowed newspapers. For example, I distinctly remember an old Washington Post newspaper sitting on a bookshelf from July 21, 1969 with the headline “The Eagle Has Landed – Two Men Walk on the Moon.” Or a fading, brownish-yellow one from August 8, 1974 with the big headline, “Nixon […]
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This Day In History: March 18, 1911 “My struggles didn’t actually begin until after I’d written Alexander’s Ragtime Band. It’s been a struggle ever since to keep success going.” – Irving Berlin Before the phonograph and radio became common fixtures in most homes, popular music still thrived through the sale of sheet music. Families would gather around the piano and […]
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In this episode, you’re going to learn about paw preferences in cats and dogs, as well as methods for figuring out whether your cat is right or left pawed. [TRANSCRIPT] As mentioned in the episode: Nora the Piano Playing Cat Don’t miss future episodes of this podcast, subscribe here: iTunes | RSS/XML You can also find more episodes by going […]
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From the first Trinity test in Alamogordo, New Mexico on July 16, 1945 until a unilateral moratorium was declared on October 2, 1992, the United States conducted hundreds of nuclear tests around the globe and in the lower 48. Early on, nearly all of these nuclear devices were detonated above ground, including those tested between 1952 and 1958 at the […]
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Jim asks: Do non-human animals ever get sunburned? Why don’t things like snakes and other cold blooded animals seem to get burned even though they lay in the sun all day? Without a protective coating of feathers, fur or scales, pretty much any animal with exposed skin can get a sunburn; luckily, most animals have adapted methods of avoiding the […]
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This Day In History: March 17, 461 After St. Patrick’s death on March 17, 461, his story was largely forgotten. It took centuries for him to attain mythological status, and even at that, the St. Patrick that is revered today bears little resemblance to the man who actually existed. To begin with, St. Patrick wasn’t Irish. He was born as […]
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In this episode, you’re going to learn about Al Capone’s lesser known brother and the ironic profession he held. [TRANSCRIPT] Don’t miss future episodes of this podcast, subscribe here: iTunes | RSS/XML You can also find more episodes by going here: Daily Knowledge Podcast
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Melissa K. asks: Do high end wine makers really have people walk all over grapes with their bare feet? Perhaps no image is more synonymous with the act of wine making than that of a person smushing grapes with their bare feet to extract the precious juices contained therein (in the grapes, not the inevitably sweaty feet). But did winemakers […]
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Karl W. asks: Why are calico cats always female? While any breed of cat can be born with calico fur, the vast majority of these cats are female, with only about one in three thousand calico cats born male according to the Humane Society. So why are most calico cats female? As you may or may not be aware, females […]
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This Day In History: March 16, 1190 The Jewish people inspired fear, revulsion and hatred among the English during the Middle Ages. They looked and talked a little different, their customs were different, and their religion was different. They were also reviled as the killers of Christ, a Jew who advocated “love thy neighbor as thyself” second only in importance […]
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This is a weekly wrap of our popular Daily Knowledge Newsletter. You can get that newsletter for free here. When Lincoln Was Almost Assassinated Nine Months Before He was Assassinated In August 1864, the Sixteenth President of the United States of America was nearly assassinated about nine months before he was actually assassinated. This is the story. Throughout the Civil […]
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This is one of many great videos from the seemingly perpetual great video making machine known as Vi Hart, in which she (once again) does the Pi-Day equivalent of revealing there is no Santa Clause, a.k.a. this time explaining why it’s actually Tau Day. You can subscribe to her phenomenal YouTube channel here. If you liked this video, you might […]
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This is one of many great videos from the seemingly perpetual great video making machine known as Vi Hart, in which she (once again) does the Pi-Day equivalent of revealing there is no Santa Clause, a.k.a. why Pi is a terrible mistake. You can subscribe to her phenomenal YouTube channel here. If you liked this video, you might also enjoy: […]
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This is one of many great videos from the seemingly perpetual great video making machine known as Vi Hart, in which she does the Pi-Day equivalent of revealing there is no Santa Clause, a.k.a. why Pi is not special. You can subscribe to her phenomenal YouTube channel here. If you liked this video, you might also enjoy: The Terrible Mistake […]
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In this episode, you’re going to go down the fascinating rabbit hole of tracing the origin of XOXO meaning “hugs and kisses.” [TRANSCRIPT] Don’t miss future episodes of this podcast, subscribe here: iTunes | RSS/XML You can also find more episodes by going here: Daily Knowledge Podcast
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Matt J. asks: Was the peanut gallery expression really originally a racial term? Used to refer to those giving unsolicited (and unvalued) advice, the expression “peanut gallery” has its roots in late 19th century vaudeville, although for some, the phrase is considered a racial slur. A typical vaudevillian show of music, drama, comedy, acrobatics, dance and other acts was performed […]
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