Explore the fascinating story of Mark McLeod, whose San Francisco home functions as a museum for his extensive collection of over 33,000 expired LSD blotters. Despite the psychedelic's illegality, McLeod avoids legal trouble as his tabs are too old to be potent, allowing him to focus on their artistic value. He openly shares this unique collection, educating visitors about LSD's short history and enjoying strong community support.
Could Greenland sharks be the most ancient predators?
Would you enter a raffle with babies as prizes?
Robert Ripley, a pioneer of on-location radio, once broadcasted from 850 feet deep within Carlsbad Caverns, interviewing its superintendent and discoverer, Jim White. White's remarkable journey began in 1898 when he spotted a plume of bats, leading him to explore the vast, dark caverns alone before they became a national park. The episode also highlights Ripley's favorite feature, a stalagmite and stalactite that grew for millions of years but narrowly failed to meet.
How many sheets do you use?
Could smelling dirty socks cause a life-threatening illness?
This episode delves into the enigmatic Atacama skeletons, specifically a 6-inch human skeleton often referred to as "Atta Boy's sister." Initially baffling scientists due to its unusual features and size, DNA testing confirmed it was human despite speculations of alien origin. Further research uncovered gene mutations that accelerated bone growth, ultimately revealing it was likely a miscarried fetus, aligning with Robert Ripley's early theories about similar specimens.
During World War 2, a squadron of Russian women bombed Germany in the pitch black of night.
Are you as blind as a bat?
This episode explores the fascinating history of cruise control, tracing its origins from James Watt's steam engine to its modern iteration. It highlights Ralph Teeter, a blind inventor who created the "Speedostat" in 1948, driven by his acute sense of touch and frustration with inconsistent driving. Beyond automotive innovation, Teeter's engineering genius was crucial to World War II, where he solved complex balance issues in engine components, earning him the title "soldier of production."
How many people can you fit in a phone booth?
Could you spend 520 days on Mars?
Is George Washington really the first President of the United States?
How do you make off with three tons of gold?
This episode details the pioneering efforts of New York socialite Ruth Harkness, who, after her adventurous husband's death, embarked on an expedition to bring a giant panda out of China. In 1936, she successfully located a cub, named Sue Lynn, and, despite customs challenges, managed to smuggle it into the US. Harkness raised the cub briefly before selling it to the Chicago Zoo, where the world first had the chance to marvel at a living panda.
Could the leaning tower of Pisa fall over?
Will eating cheese late at night give you nightmare?
Why was the Finnish infantry trained to ski?
Would you take a trip to Quintland?
This episode unveils the story of ALVINN, the Autonomous Land Vehicle In a Neural Network, developed by Carnegie Mellon in 1986. Despite having processing power less than an Apple Watch, this innovative van navigated roads at 70 mph, making autonomous decisions using cameras and radar. ALVINN, a project that garnered significant military funding, showcased early AI capabilities and foreshadowed today's self-driving advancements.
In 1666 the Great Fire of London burned the city for 3 days…
What are the details of top secret CIA project MK Ultra?
What could have stopped the deadly exploits of Typhoid Mary?
How should you dress for the world’s largest desert?
Learn about Britain's Calendar New Style Act of 1750, which transitioned the nation from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. This change, enacted 170 years after much of Europe, required skipping 11 days to synchronize with trading partners and correct for accumulated time differences.
This episode uncovers the lesser-known history of Aunt Sammy, the partner of Uncle Sam, introduced in 1926 by the Department of Agriculture. She served as a domestic advisor on the radio, offering recipes and advice, and even published the first Braille cookbook, making her a unique cultural icon.
Does the Mattel hoverboard from Back To The Future part 2 really exist?
What secrets were kept by the infamous Hellfire club?
This episode delves into the life of Constance Markievicz, an extraordinary London countess who transitioned from high society to a pivotal figure in Irish independence. It details her roles in training soldiers, leading suffragettes, commanding the Irish Citizens Army, and her unwavering political activism, even after facing imprisonment and being the first woman elected to the House of Commons, which she refused in protest.
Discover why raccoons are considered nature's cunning burglars, possessing an ultra-fine sense of touch and sharp hearing. The episode details animal behavior scientist H.B. Davis's study, which found raccoons could pick 11 out of 13 complex locks and retain these solutions for years, demonstrating learning equivalent to macaques.
