Moths, beetles and flies all get caught in spider webs, but you almost never see a spider unable to extricate herself from one. Here’s why. The Web When a spider makes an orb web, each line is actually comprised of at least two or more threads, and in fact, the supporting threads, radiating spokes and hub are all made from […]
Read more
On May 18, 1926, Aimee Semple McPherson went for a swim in the Pacific Ocean at Venice Beach. An avid swimmer, Aimee loved to escape from her temple in Echo Park for a quick dip in the ocean. She was dropped off by her secretary, who then left to do errands. When the secretary returned, McPherson wasn’t on the beach […]
Read more
This Day In History: August 5, 1962 In the early morning hours of August 5, 1962, legendary screen goddess Marilyn Monroe was found dead in the bedroom of her Los Angeles home at the age of 36. From the moment her body was discovered, her death became as much of a media circus as most of her life had been, […]
Read more
In this episode of the podcast, you’re going to learn about Wilmer McLean and how his back yard and parlor played a pivotal role in the beginning and end of the American Civil War. You’re also going to learn why certain coins have ridges and others don’t. [TRANSCRIPT: The Civil War and Wilmer McLean | Why Certain Coins Have Ridges] […]
Read more
David G. asks: Why do people yawn? Do other animals do this too? Babies, dogs, cats, birds, mice, rats and even snakes yawn, and some of us were even doing it in the womb. Although for thousands of years the reason has remained elusive, recent scholarship may have uncovered the truth as to why we yawn. Physiology of Yawning When […]
Read more
Nathan K. asks: Why is Notre Dame’s slogan “Fighting Irish”? When the green and blue uniformed athletes of the University of Notre Dame run on to the field or court, their fans are rooting for the “Fighting Irish.” Represented by a small green leprechaun- hat tilted with his fists up, ready to fight- the athletic teams of this South Bend, […]
Read more
This Day In History: August 4, 1892 Lizzie Borden took an axe, And gave her mother forty whacks; When she saw what she had done, She gave her father forty-one. Most people know this rhyme about Lizzie Borden, but far fewer know the fact that she was acquitted of any crime. (The “whack” count is also over-stated, but we’ll get […]
Read more
This is a weekly wrap of our Daily Knowledge Newsletter. You can get that newsletter for free here. Why Does Chemotherapy Make Your Hair Fall Out? Most cells in the human body divide using a process called mitosis. This process has 5 phases (prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telephase). It is preceded by interphase, and results in the cell dividing, […]
Read more
In this episode, you’re going to learn what the song the “Purple People Eater” and arguably the most famous scream of all time, used in over 200 major motion pictures (the Wilhelm Scream), have in common. [TRANSCRIPT] As mentioned in the episode, if you’re interested in getting your phone to do the Wilhelm Scream anytime it’s tossed, you can get […]
Read more
Kerry asks: Who invented tequila? I was also wondering if they really put worms in it? Although tequila dates back only a few hundred years, people have long used the heart of the agave plant to make delicious, alcoholic beverages. Maguey (Agave) Cultivated from at least as early as 200 A.D. by the Zapotecs of the Oaxaca Valley of southern […]
Read more
A neurobiological disorder that causes its sufferers to make uncontrolled sounds and movements, the symptoms of Tourette syndrome (not Tourette’s) can be so mild that many people who have the condition are not even aware of it. What is Tourette? Like many other psychological conditions, the syndrome is diagnosed after several symptoms have been observed, and they include: At least […]
Read more
On August 23, 1994, Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty set fire to, and completely destroyed, £1 million. What makes the story even weirder is that nobody, not even the burners, seems to really know precisely why. The K Foundation Beginning in 1987, under several different names including The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu and The Timelords, Drummond and Cauty produced […]
Read more
This Day In History: August 1, 1981 “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” These were among the first words spoken when MTV, or Music Television, debuted on the airwaves at 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981. The first video played by the fledgling channel described the effect MTV would have on the music industry accurately and succinctly – “Video Killed […]
Read more
In this episode of the podcast, you’re going to learn about the curious phenomenon known as “stone babies,” and particularly a woman who carried one of this in her body for over six decades. [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
Read more
This is a video from CGP Grey. If you’re a fan of TodayIFoundOut, I guarantee you’re going to love his YouTube channel, unless you just hate videos that is. (He also has a good podcast, Hello Internet, with fellow famous YouTuber Brady Haran. The two have a really great dynamic in the show and it’s a great listen when driving […]
Read more
Sam asks: What makes snot yellow and green? Snot is an essential part of a healthy body (no, really), and its color and consistency can give you a lot of information about what’s going on in yours at any given time. What is mucus? Produced in the lining of the sinuses, nose, throat, mouth, lungs and even digestive tract, mucus […]
Read more
This Day In History: July 31, 1975 Controversial Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa was reported missing on July 31, 1975 after vanishing from a restaurant parking lot in Detroit, Michigan the previous day. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance still remain a mystery and have made Hoffa a permanent fixture of American folklore. Jimmy Hoffa showed exceptional leadership skills from a very […]
Read more
In this episode of the podcast, you’re going to learn when people started smiling in photographs and the truth about why they didn’t before. [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
Read more