Ancient Egyptians did lots of amazing things, from building pyramids to inventing a form of writing called hieroglyphics. They also mummified important people after they died. In this episode, we’ll explain how that process was done and why. We’ll also meet a museum curator who thinks it might be time to rethink how we study mummified people.
Plus, we’ll fi ... Show More
Apr 7
Sport science: softballs, baseballs, and curve balls
Baseball and softball are both a feat of physics, from the curve of a pitch to the swing of a bat. Today, we’re exploring the science of these popular pastimes. Join Molly and co-host Kian as they learn about curve balls and the stuff inside a ball. Plus, our listeners share thei ... Show More
29m 57s
Jun 2021
What Egyptian Crocodile Mummies Tell us About Life, Death, and Taxes Thousands of Years Ago
Our story begins in 1899, when two archaeologists — Arthur Hunt and Bernard Grenfell — were on an expedition in Northern Egypt in an ancient town once known as Tebtunis on a search for mummies and other ancient artifacts.<br>This was during a growing Western fascination with anci ... Show More
54m 55s
Sep 2022
Tutankhamun | 6. secrets of the pharaoh's mummy
There’s no more instantly recognisable symbol of ancient Egypt than a mummy. And, of course, the mummy of Tutankhamun is the most famous of all. But what can we learn from looking at the mummified body of an ancient boy king? In episode 6 of our series on Tutankhamun, Ellie Cawth ... Show More
41m 16s
Oct 2022
S7E3.5 - Overheard on Greeking Out - The Hole Where King Tut’s Heart Used to Be
This is a kid-friendly episode of Overheard at Nat Geo! We encounter descriptions of mummification, a game show, lots of Black Goo, the aftermath of the Amarna period, and a missing heart! We dig into why ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamun’s heart is missing from his tomb and what ... Show More
27m 34s
Oct 2023
Why Chilean Mummies Are Decomposing After 7,000 Years
Here on Short Wave, we're getting into the Halloween spirit a little early with a look at the world's oldest mummies. They're found in modern-day northern Chile. The mummies are well-preserved, so over the past 7,000 years, some have been exhumed for scientific study. But recentl ... Show More
12m 19s