It has gone from luxury to necessity, and there are over 2 billion air conditioning units in the world today.
In this episode, we'll take a look at how air conditioning got started, why people didn't mind being hot in the past, and what the true cost of staying cool might be for future generations.
Full transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available (F ... Show More
Oct 8
#636 | Victor Lustig: The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower
In 1925, Victor Lustig convinced a Paris scrap-metal dealer that the French government was selling the Eiffel Tower. His secret was a mixture of official papers, careful acting, and victims too embarrassed to report him. He later returned to Paris and tried to sell it again. Vict ... Show More
24m 34s
Sep 24
#634 | Nuclear Power's Unlikely Comeback
Nuclear power was meant to disappear in much of Europe, but Germany, Belgium and Italy are changing their minds. Rising energy demand, climate concerns and artificial intelligence are making old reactors and new designs attractive again. Germany’s Chancellor admits closing nuclea ... Show More
23m 30s
Aug 2020
Keeping Cool | A Chilly Reception | S31-E1
Muggy. Sticky. Miserable. For eons, that’s just what summer was. In fact, when air conditioning first became available, few people took advantage of it. Wasn’t summer supposed to be uncomfortable? This is the story of how people finally warmed up to the idea of keeping cool.You c ... Show More
38m 53s