Mark asks: How exactly do astronauts poop and pee in space? Very carefully. Ever since Yuri Gagarin was first launched into space on April 12, 1961, engineers and space travelers have had to face the problem of how to go and where to put the waste. Birth of Space Travel In the early years of the National Aeronautics and Space […]
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Today in History: January 7, 1901 Alferd Packer went down in history as one of Colorado’s most notorious – and macabre – criminals. Nicknamed the “Man-eater,” Packer was tried and found guilty of eating five of his fellow travelers on an expedition from Utah to Colorado in 1874. The group originally included 21 people, with Packer acting as guide. As […]
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In this episode, you’re going to learn about an amazing man few know of today, but who was integral in keeping San Francisco on the map, helping to establish Hollywood (and Disney) via funding, and getting banks to start lending to the common man instead of just the rich, among many other accomplishments, most of which earned him very little […]
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The buzzer sounds. The teammates’ hands link and raise up in victory. The heads of the other team dip in defeat. The orange basketball is flung up in celebration. Young student-athletes dance around, releasing a year’s worth of pent up stress due to basketball and (in theory) school-work. Another men’s basketball NCAA championship has been won. The winning team gathers, […]
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With its roots in 19th century warfare, the phrase “meet a deadline” has an interesting, somewhat literal, etymology. American Civil War Most etymologists agree that the word “deadline” first appeared during the American Civil War (1861-1865). According to author Christine Ammer, deadline was coined at the hellish Andersonville, GA prison camp, and first appeared in writing in the report of […]
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Several artists have died on stage while conducting live performances; however, one case is highly unique and probably the most ironic at the same time. The incident involved actress Edith Webster. Webster was a relatively unknown actress who never managed to make a name for herself during her lifetime, but left her mark in history with her bizarre death. During […]
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Today in History: January 6, 1994 Projected by many to win the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked as she stepped off the ice following a practice session in Detroit on this day in history, 1994. (Yes, that happened 20 years ago!) Her assailant whacked her in the knee with a metal baton, causing the […]
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This is a weekly wrap of our Daily Knowledge Newsletter. You can get that newsletter for free here. Why We Sing “Auld Lang Syne” on New Year’s Eve This tradition is mostly thanks to Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadian Band. While their work is largely unknown to those born in the last few decades, the band has sold over […]
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In this episode, you’re going to learn about the origin of the practice of toasting drinks. [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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Kateri asks: How did organic matter become fossil fuels? Three hundred million years ago (or so), about the time amphibians first emerged from primordial seas, enormous, lush swamps filled with large trees, ferns and other leafy plants thrived along the coasts of the ancient ocean, which itself was filled with algae and billions of microorganisms. Plants and algae breathe in […]
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John Nance Garner may have been a well-respected Speaker of the House in 1931, but always ambitious, he wanted more. So, in 1932, he ran to be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. When it became clear that New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt was going to get the presidential nomination, Garner cut a deal with […]
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Mark asks: Does the president have to report food, transportation and other such gifts from taxpayers on his taxes? No. And although it’s difficult to find an official explanation (or even a detailed one), I think the answer lies in the United States’ ridiculously complicated tax code. Gifts The transportation, security, housing and other benefits received by the President and […]
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Today In History: January 3, 1938 President Franklin Roosevelt, himself a victim of polio, founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis on this day in history, during an era when the disease was on the rise in the United States. Better known as the March of Dimes, efforts to launch the organization were boosted by stars of the screen and […]
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In this episode, you’re going to learn about the curious case of the only man to be officially a dwarf and, later in life, a giant. 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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Brian asks: How do bats tell whether it’s their own squeaks they’re hearing or another bat’s? Does this ever confuse them? Seeing with sound, bats can find their way around by bouncing sound waves off of objects. Called echolocation, it allows a bat to navigate the world with impressive accuracy and speed. However, each bat, even within a swarm, needs […]
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Evan asks: When did the practice of burning books start? To a writer, a bookworm, or a believer in the freedom of press and knowledge, there is nothing quite as horrifying as hearing about piles of books getting eaten by flames, never to be read again, particularly in instances in history where some of the books being burned were extremely […]
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In 1946, Glen Bell left the Marine Corps at the age of 23. Like many of his comrades, he was looking forward to post-war activities and settling into a career when he returned home. Luckily for him, the fast food business was booming, and Bell had an idea: a hot dog stand. It was called Bell’s Drive-In, and it was […]
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Today in History: January 2. 1974 On January 2, 1974, U.S. President Richard Nixon signed the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act into law, which set a new national speed limit. This law was drafted to counter the effect of spikes in oil prices and disruptions in supply that were common during the 1973 oil crisis. Before 1974, speed limits were […]
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