logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2024
23m 6s

Can AI Unlock the Secrets of the Ancient...

bloomberg
About this episode

Almost 2,000 years ago, a volcano preserved Herculaneum’s vast library of 
scrolls but left them unreadable. A volunteer army of nerds has been racing 
to decipher them. By Ashlee Vance and Ellen Huet

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
The Fight Over Delhi's Street Dogs Is Dividing India
A sudden court order has turned into a test of the country's megacities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
6m 19s
Aug 30
How Alcaraz and Sinner Skipped the Line in Men’s Tennis
With carbon-fiber racquets, polyester strings and prodigious talent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
7m 17s
Aug 29
The Cracks in America's Rule of Law Are Getting Deeper
Court battles are exposing limits on the judiciary’s ability to constrain the presidency.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
14m 8s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
Into the Volcano
Between 1630 and 1944, Mount Vesuvius was continually erupting, and remains one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes. Yet, as Rosemary Hill explains in a recent piece, the volcano exerted an irresistible pull on poets, tourists and statesmen. She tells Tom how the 19th century ... Show More
45m 22s
Jul 2021
The Hunt for Hieroglyphs
July 15, 1799 (approximately). In the town of Rashid on the Nile Delta, French soldiers and Egyptian laborers are rebuilding an old, falling-down fort, when someone spots something unusual. It’s a jagged black rock, inscribed with what looks like three different types of writing. ... Show More
31m 57s
Apr 2023
CLASSIC: Is there really a lost civilization in the Grand Canyon?
The Grand Canyon is a breath-taking natural formation, and every year more than 4 million people visit. Despite its popularity, areas of the canyon remain dangerously remote, and it’s no secret that numerous people have disappeared in or around the canyon over the years. But what ... Show More
53 m
Jul 2022
Unearthed! in July 2022, Part 2
The second installment of things literally or figuratively unearthed that appeared in the news in the the second quarter of 2022 includes some animal stuff, some art stuff, and a bit of potpourri. Research: Torchinsky, Rina. “2 missing Charles Darwin notebooks are mysteriously re ... Show More
31m 18s
Feb 2024
Strange News: New Cryptid Just Dropped, Chernobyl's Wolves, A Lawyer Saves The Day
A new study shows wolves in Chernobyl have developed resistance to cancer. A scammer tries to refinance house behind owner’s back, lawyer saves the day. Shocking new research reveals human beings are host to a previously-unknown, bizarre collection of life forms called "obelisks" ... Show More
54m 43s
Aug 2023
Pompeii: The Eruption of Vesuvius
This episode contains references to scenes that some listeners may find distressing In 79 AD, ancient armageddon hit Pompeii: Mount Vesuvius erupted, freezing in time a town and its inhabitants. Nearly 2000 years on, Pompeii's story continues. In the last episode of our special m ... Show More
40m 59s
Aug 2023
Dear Diary...
Diaries have been around for a long time. There are many famous ones, and tens of millions that will never see the light of day. Learn about the history and benefits of journaling today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
47m 45s
Jul 2023
Homo Naledi: The First Burials?
Uncovered a decade ago in the Rising Star Cave system in South Africa, Homo Naledi's discovery has impacted paleoanthropology in ways nobody could expect. Upon first discovery, it was assumed this small brained hominid lived millions of years ago - yet when dating of the fossil's ... Show More
51m 46s
Dec 2020
Strange News: The Al Jazeera Hack, the Future of Aging and the Wide, Weird World of Gaming
Dozens of journalists working for Al Jazeera were hacked in an unprecedented cyber-attack. Emerging studies indicate there may, one day, be a way to not only prevent age-related cognitive decline -- but to reverse the effects of aging entirely. Ben, Matt, and Doc Holliday explore ... Show More
53m 46s
Jun 2019
The Anunnaki Pt. 1: Marduk Begins
Ancient Astronauts have become a cornerstone of science fiction storytelling, but in 1976, researcher Zechariah Sitchin of New York, introduced this concept to the world with his book, the 12th Planet. According to this work, the ancient Sumerian deities were no mere gods, but al ... Show More
45m 5s