On this day in 1909 Leo Baekeland announced his invention of Bakelite to the American Chemical Society.
Having already earned a fortune selling his photographic patent to Kodak, the Belgian-born chemist had opened his own lab in Yonkers, experimenting with formaldehyde and phenol. The resulting material, which he called Bakelite, could be used in everything ... Show More
Yesterday
Elizabeth of Russia's Bloodless Coup
Wearing an armoured breastplate, clasping a silver cross and seizing an Army spontoon, 31 year old Elizabeth Petrovna appeared at the HQ of the elite Preobrazhensky Regiment guards in St. Petersburg on 25th November, 1741 - intent on over-throwing Tzar Ivan VI (a baby), and seizi ... Show More
11m 23s
Jan 2024
106: Building Blocks of Civilization: How the World Really Works
“Modern economies will always be tied to massive material flows, whether those of ammonia-based fertilizers to feed the still-growing global population; plastics, steel, and cement needed for new tools, machines, structures, and infrastructures; or new inputs required to produce ... Show More
1h 18m
Jul 2023
'The O.C.' 20th Anniversary: Season 1, Episodes 2 and 3
Bill, Jo, and Juliet continue the 'O.C.’ Hall of Fame tribute by immediately diving into their favorite scenes and overly dated nitpicks for the show’s second episode, "The Model Home." They quickly pivot to its iconic follow-up, "The Gamble," which ignites a discussion about the ... Show More
44m 15s