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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In this episode, you’re going to learn about one linguists attempt to foster the world’s first native speaker of Klingon. 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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Today I Found Out was started four years ago on January 1, 2010. In that span, just over 34 million people have visited the site, with about 14 million of those people visiting at least once in 2013. There are now over 2100 posts on Today I Found Out for you to feed your brain with, about 700 of which […]
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Human beings have suffered from many of the same chronic illnesses and conditions since the dawn of recorded history. In fact, many of the words we use to describe medical maladies today date back to the birth of classical civilization, when Greek and Roman physicians first began studying medicine. Asthma The original Greek word, aazein, meant to pant or exhale […]
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Today I found out about a man who fairly accurately estimated the circumference of the Earth well over 2,000 years ago: Eratosthenes of Cyrene. Born around 276 B.C. in Cyrene, Libya, Eratosthenes soon became one of the most famous mathematicians of his time. He is best known for making the first recorded measurement of the Earth’s circumference, which was also […]
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Today in History: January 1, 1973 Roseann Quinn was a 27-year-old teacher living in New York City who had a spent a quiet New Year’s Eve home alone. Restless and bored by New Year’s Day, she decided to hang out for awhile at Tweed’s, a bar located across the street from her Upper West Side apartment. While she was there, […]
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