This episode explores the history and evolution of open-source software. It covers the early days of shared software, the rise of the GNU project, and the open-source movement. It also highlights the prevalence and importance of open-source software in today's digital world.
This episode explores the rich and complex history of pasta, questioning its true origins beyond Italy. It traces pasta's journey from ancient possible references to its mass production and global spread. The episode also details how pasta transformed from a delicacy for the wealthy to an affordable staple, highlighting its current status as a globally beloved dish.
This episode explores Earth's five major mass extinction events, detailing the causes and consequences of each. It covers the Ordovician-Silurian extinction linked to global cooling, the late Devonian extinction caused by plant expansion, the Permian-Triassic extinction from volcanic activity, the Triassic-Jurassic extinction due to Pangaea rifting, and the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction triggered by an asteroid impact.
In this Q&A episode, Gary Arndt answers listener questions on a variety of topics. He discusses his podcasting process, regrets about past episodes, the definition of temperature, and his travel tattoo. Other topics include hidden gems in Germany, favorite airports, photography publishing, and geopolitical concepts like East vs. West.
This episode of Everything Everywhere Daily delves into the Crimean War, exploring its causes rooted in the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the clashing interests of European powers like Russia, Britain, and France. It covers the key events, including the siege of Sevastopol, and highlights the war's significant impact on military technology and medicine, marking it as a transitional conflict between old and modern warfare.
This episode explores the life and conquests of Attila the Hun, a fearsome leader who terrorized 5th-century Europe. It details his rise to power, his military campaigns against the Roman Empire, and his sudden, mysterious death. The episode also examines Attila's lasting legacy and his impact on European history and culture.
This episode explores the unique knuckleball pitch in baseball, detailing its physics, history, and the challenges of mastering it. It highlights famous knuckleball pitchers and discusses why this unconventional pitch is becoming increasingly rare despite its potential benefits for longevity and effectiveness. Ultimately, the episode expresses hope for its revival.
This episode explores the scientific method, its steps, and historical evolution from ancient civilizations to modern philosophy. It highlights key figures and paradigm shifts, while also addressing the method's limitations in fields like astronomy and the challenges of replicability in scientific studies. The discussion emphasizes the scientific method as a framework for approaching inquiry.
This episode explores Sicily's rich history, marked by numerous invasions and conquests due to its strategic location in the Mediterranean. From the Phoenicians and Greeks to the Romans, Arabs, Normans, and involvement in World War II, Sicily has been a battleground and a cultural crossroads. The podcast highlights the island's unique identity shaped by a diverse range of rulers and influences throughout its 3,000-year history.
Every military in the world is a hierarchical organization. There are people at the top who make decisions, people down below who follow those orders, and people in between who make it happen. Today, most militaries have an elaborate rank structure with multiple ranks in the chain of command. However, it wasn’t always like that. The modern system of ranks evolved over time, and the ranks that exist today have origins that go back centuries. Learn more about military ranks, where they came from, ...
On July 31, 1944, one of the greatest naval exploits in history took place in the Western Pacific Ocean. Two American submarines led by Commander Lawson "Red" Ramage found themselves in the middle of a Japanese merchant fleet. Over the course of 46 minutes, they managed to achieve something that had never been done by so few submarines in so short of time. Learn more about Ramage’s Rampage and one of the most incredible exploits of the Second World War on this episode of Everything Everywhere Da...
Over a thousand years ago, a wealthy family in Germany gave birth to their tenth child, a daughter. They gave their child to the church, as was the custom in those days. She grew to become the leader of her monastic community. More than that, she became one of the leading thinkers of her era. She composed music, wrote about medicine and theology, revolutionized brewing, and corresponded with kings and emperors. Learn more about Hildegard of Bingen, the most influential woman of the Middle Ages, ...
This episode discusses the Columbian Exchange, the transformative exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and people between the Old and New Worlds following Columbus's voyage. It covers the spread of crops like corn and potatoes, the devastating impact of diseases on indigenous populations, and the mass migrations that reshaped global demographics, ultimately creating the foundation for our modern globalized world.
This episode explores the origins and evolution of cruciferous vegetables, detailing how they were selectively bred from wild Brassica oleracea. It covers the history of vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, highlighting the impact of human cultivation and the genetic relationships between different varieties, explaining the "Triangle of Yu." The episode also touches on the nutritional benefits of these common vegetables.
This episode explores the life and legacy of Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher. It details his path to power, his co-emperorship, and the challenges he faced, including wars and plagues. The episode highlights his personal diary, Meditations, and its enduring influence on philosophy and modern thought, emphasizing his example of virtuous leadership.
This episode explores the history of whaling, from its origins as a subsistence activity for indigenous groups to its rise as a major global industry. It details the dangerous hunting methods, the economic importance of whale products, and the factors that led to its decline, including the rise of petroleum and over-hunting. The episode also covers modern whaling practices, conservation efforts, and the recovery of some whale populations.
Once every 450,000 years or so, the Earth undergoes a radical transformation. The planet’s magnetic field will literally flip. The North Pole becomes the South Pole and vice versa. Despite the fact that we know this has happened many times in the Earth’s history, we really don’t know what would happen if the poles were to reverse today. Learn more about when the Earth’s magnetic poles reverse on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Mint Mobile Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks ...
Every March, the United States experiences a period known as March Madness. It is the time when college basketball teams compete for a national championship. The process of crowning a national champion is a months-long process where teams vie for a chance to make the national tournament. From there, in theory, every team that makes the big dance has a shot at becoming a champion. All you have to do is win five, or maybe six, consecutive games. Learn more about March Madness and how the NCAA Bask...
This episode explores the history and evolution of the alphabet to understand why it is in its current order. The discussion traces the alphabet's roots from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics through Phoenician, Greek, and Roman adaptations, and considers the influences that shaped its sequence over thousands of years. The episode also delves into the origins of the ABC song and potential mnemonic devices that may have contributed to the alphabet's arrangement.
This episode of Everything Everywhere Daily delves into the Battle of Gettysburg, a pivotal moment in the American Civil War. It explores Confederate General Robert E. Lee's strategic reasons for invading the North, the key events and battles over the three days, and the battle's ultimate impact as a turning point in the war, leading to eventual Confederate defeat.
The 19th century was one of rapid technological advancement. Of all of the innovations to come out of this century, and there were many, perhaps none was more important than that of the telephone. The telephone radically changed communications, allowing personal communications over long distances. Despite what many people are often told, this invention wasn’t simply the genius of one man, but was rather something developed over decades. Learn more about the invention of the telephone and the con...
This episode explores the 'videotape wars' between Betamax and VHS, examining the technical differences, market strategies, and ultimate reasons for VHS's victory. It debunks the myth of Betamax being superior, highlighting the importance of recording time and open standards in consumer adoption. The discussion also touches on the evolution of videotape technology and its eventual decline with the rise of DVDs.
In 1869, the world was shocked by a discovery that was made outside of the town of Cardiff, New York. Two workers discovered what was claimed to be the remains of a 10 foot tall, petrified human being. The claim set off a fiery debate between those who thought it was proof of the Bible and those who just thought it was a long lost statue. It turned out, neither group was correct. Learn more about the Cardiff Giant and one of the biggest hoaxes of the 19th century on this episode of Everything Ev...
This episode explores lunar eclipses, explaining the science behind them, including why they occur, how they differ from solar eclipses, and what causes the reddish hue. It also delves into the historical and cultural significance of lunar eclipses across various civilizations, from ancient Mesopotamia to medieval Europe, highlighting how these events were interpreted and integrated into religious practices and scientific understanding.
This episode explores the history of the crossbow, from its origins in ancient China to its impact on medieval warfare and eventual replacement by firearms. It details the crossbow's technical evolution, its role in democratizing warfare by enabling less-trained soldiers to challenge heavily armored knights, and its lasting influence on military technology. The episode also touches on modern uses of the crossbow in hunting and special operations.
This episode explores the life of Emperor Claudius, Rome's fourth emperor and a surprising ruler due to his lifelong ostracization because of physical disabilities. Despite being underestimated and ridiculed by his family, Claudius proved to be a capable administrator and expanded the empire. The podcast dives into his unlikely rise to power, his personal challenges, and his ultimate legacy as a paradox among Roman emperors.
This episode explores the history and significance of Messier objects, a catalog of deep-sky objects compiled by French astronomer Charles Messier in the 18th century. It details Messier's original purpose for the list, the types of objects included, and highlights some of the most famous Messier objects like the Crab Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy. The episode also encourages amateur astronomers to observe these objects themselves.
Sponsors Mint Mobile Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Stitch Fix Go to stitchfix.com/everywhere to have a stylist help you look your best Tourist Office of Spain Plan your next adventure at Spain.info Stash Go to get.stash.com/EVERYTHING to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase and to view important disclosures. Subscribe to the podcast! https://everything-...
This episode explores the history and evolution of artificial turf, starting with its invention for the Houston Astrodome due to the failure of natural grass indoors. It covers the rise of AstroTurf, its pros and cons compared to natural grass, and the advancements in second and third-generation turf designed to improve safety and performance. Finally, the episode examines modern hybrid systems that combine natural grass with synthetic fibers, offering enhanced durability and playability.
For thousands of years, humans have used the power of water to do work for them. At first, it was very simple, then it gradually evolved to more complex and more efficient devices to harness the power of water. Eventually, we were able to harness some of the world’s largest rivers to produce incredible amounts of power for millions of people. Despite the advanced hydropower systems that exist today, there are still small-scale uses available as well. Learn more about how humanity has harnessed t...
