logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2021
14m 44s

How Tall Is Mount Everest? Hint: It Chan...

NPR
About this episode
We talk to NPR's India correspondent Lauren Frayer about the ridiculously complicated science involved in measuring Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. And why its height is ever-changing. (Encore episode)

Read Lauren's reporting on Mt. Everest.

Have other quirks of the planet on your mind? Tell us by emailing shortwave@npr.org.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Jul 22
Does the science of peptides live up to the hype?
Synthetic peptides are getting some serious hype, from fitness influencers on your FYP to people seeking new options for chronic conditions. And while the human body already makes peptides, like insulin and the hormone oxytocin, most of the viral synthetic peptides are not approv ... Show More
12m 52s
Jul 21
Cyclosporiasis: the science, risks and red flags
What’s small, round and could give you explosive diarrhea? Cyclospora parasites. The diarrheal disease they cause is wreaking havoc on thousands this summer in what is the largest known flare up in the U.S. ever. What’s causing it and what can we do about it? NPR’s Joseph Kim joi ... Show More
10m 36s
Jul 20
Are Trump and AI driving a nuclear power boom?
A race started by President Trump is leading to the rapid construction of new, experimental nuclear reactors. If they work, they could power data centers for artificial intelligence. But critics worry that the breakneck pace is compromising safety and public trust. NPR correspond ... Show More
13m 46s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2021
The many heights of Mount Everest
How tall is the world’s tallest mountain? The answer is surprisingly tricky, which means that Everest’s official height is constantly changing. In fact, depending on the type of measurement scientists use, Everest may not be the tallest mountain in the world. Learn more about you ... Show More
28m 32s
Jun 2024
What’s the tallest mountain in the world?
If you just stood up and shouted, “It’s Mount Everest, duh!” then take a seat. Not only is Everest’s official height constantly changing, but three other mountains might actually be king of the hill. For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to vox.com/unexp ... Show More
28m 9s
Oct 2024
The tallest mountain in the world is getting taller
Moving mountains isn’t meant to be an easy feat. But did you know that mountains can, and are currently, getting taller? It's true – and researchers have found Mount Everest is one mountain which makes that list. The mountain has risen an extra 15 to 50 meters over the last 89,00 ... Show More
12m 7s
Jul 2024
“Mount Everest Trivia: Fascinating Facts, Records, and History of the World’s Tallest Mountain”
Think you know Mount Everest? Test your knowledge with this fun trivia episode of All About Everest! Host Pauline Reynolds Nuttall takes you through surprising questions and answers about the world’s highest peak: Was it really Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay who first summ ... Show More
12m 27s
Feb 2021
Unraveling a Mapmaker’s Dangerous Decision
For much of recorded history, maps have helped us define where we live and who we are. National Geographic writer Freddie Wilkinson shows us how one small line on a map led to a bitter conflict in another country, thousands of miles away. For more information on this episode, vis ... Show More
29m 32s
Oct 2022
The Conquest of Everest
Standing over 29,000ft above sea level, the peak of Everest is the highest point on the planet. To the sherpa people of the Himalayas it is sacred, and to foreign adventurers, it is the holy grail of climbing. But what did it take to reach the summit? Was it expertise and enduran ... Show More
52 m
Mar 2009
Are there dead bodies on Mount Everest?
<p>Every year, adventurers brave the elements and attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Yet dangers abound, and more than a hundred bodies litter the mountain. Listen in and learn more about Mount Everest in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.</p><p> </p> Learn more abou ... Show More
25m 2s
Apr 2025
How do you measure a mountain?
On the banks of the St Lawrence River in Quebec stands a 100-year-old lighthouse. While initially built to help boats navigate one of Canada’s most difficult waterways, the Point-de-Père site now also holds a different responsibility: it is a key reference for measuring sea level ... Show More
26m 28s
Jun 2023
BBC OS Conversations: Mount Everest
It’s 70 years since a New Zealand mountaineer and his Nepali-Indian Sherpa mountaineer guide reached the highest point on Earth. There have been celebrations in Nepal in recent days to mark the anniversary. Thousands of people have followed in their footsteps but this climbing se ... Show More
24m 9s
Jun 2023
#163 How Mount Everest Became A Huge (And Dangerous) Business
Mount Everest is the world’s tallest mountain — and has also become a huge business. So today’s newsletter breaks down everything you need to know, including why the mountain has become so popular, the crazy amount of money each person spends on the trip, how much the Sherpas are ... Show More
27m 50s