logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2025
39m 30s

The Ridiculous Origin of the Modern Cale...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

The calendar is... ridiculous. Since the earliest days of civilization, humanity has tried to measure the passage of time on Earth through any number of systems. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max discover how millennia of trial and error led to the modern Gregorian calendar, which we all still just pretend is a normal thing in the modern day.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
Mata Hari: Courtesan Turned WWI Double Agent?
By any measure, Margaretha Zelle led a fascinating life. As a Dutch dancer, socialite and courtesan called Mata Hari, her globe-trotting lifestyle caught the attention of both German and French intelligence agencies. And she happily took money from both sides. Yet, as Ben, Noel, ... Show More
36m 54s
Sep 15
That Time We Made Backpack Nukes
Nowadays, pretty much everyone knows that nuclear weapons are incredibly dangerous -- but, not too long ago, military leaders saw these things as shiny new toys. Sure, they spent a lot of time trying to make bombs bigger. But they also spent a lot of time trying to make bombs sma ... Show More
31m 28s
Sep 12
CLASSIC: Bug Wars: When We Tried to Turn Insects into Soldiers
Let's be honest: Bugs aren't everyone's cup of tea, but they're fascinating, crucial parts of the ecosystem. They're also, according to a few eggheads, the perfect weapons of war. Join the guys as they explore the bizarre experiments governments conducted in the field of entomolo ... Show More
31m 58s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2021
Nateland | Ep #28 - Calendars
This episode, we go in-depth on a controversial topic most podcasts are afraid to tackle - the history of calendars. We look at previous calendars throughout history, proposed calendars of the future, and what we would change about our calendar of today. Co-hosts: Brian Bates ( h ... Show More
1h 41m
Aug 2022
The History of Timekeeping
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr David Rooney and Desiree Burch at the literal beginning of time to explore the history of timekeeping. Covering everything from the origins of timekeeping to time in space, we even learn how you can smell the time! Above all, we finally find out who yo ... Show More
57m 24s
Feb 2022
S1E135 - Kapow's Power of Invention: The Calendar
A calendar is a tool used to measure the passing of time. Now, the people in ancient times based their calendars on the most obvious, and consistent things they could find - the movement of the Sun, Moon, and stars. These first calendars helped people figure out when to plant and ... Show More
10m 10s
Sep 2023
OFH Throwback- Episode #43- What is Phantom Time?
In the world of pseudo-historical theories there are few more radical than the Phantom Time Hypothesis and the New Chronology. These theories propose that hundreds of years of human history never actually occurred. Our current chronology has been inflated with fake events and “ph ... Show More
1h 3m
May 2020
History of the Calendar
Liz Waid and Joshua Leo tell the history of the most popular way people organize time - the Gregorian calendar.Check out more Spotlight English content at: www.SpotlightEnglish.com 
15m 1s
Jul 2023
The History of Timekeeping (Radio Edit)
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr David Rooney and Desiree Burch at the literal beginning of time to explore the history of timekeeping. Covering everything from the origins of timekeeping to time in space, we even learn how you can smell the time! Above all, we finally find out who yo ... Show More
28m 20s
Jan 2024
Leap Year Vibes
<p>Everything is completely insane, so, in other words, it's business as usual. Everyone seems to feel certain that we're in for a year of madness, and it's hard to disagree. But it's also hard to remember that human life is <em>always</em> madness, playing out against the backdr ... Show More
1h 5m
Aug 2019
Curious About Time
<p>In episode 44, we learn about time and how hours, minutes, and days were created.  Join us as we explore how people measured time throughout history and how we ended up with the calendar we have today.</p> <p>Send Us An E-mail - curiouskidpodcast@gmail.com<br /> Support Us On ... Show More
13m 18s
Sep 2021
About time, part 1: Newton's exploding clock
Most of us think of time as something that divides neatly into seconds, minutes and hours, in a way that’s as regular and predictable at the farthest reaches of the cosmos as it is in our kitchens. But scientists and philosophers have discovered that time has some weird tricks up ... Show More
28m 27s
Feb 2023
From the Vault: The Seven Day Week, Part 1
Our modern world is bound to the seven day week, but why is this the case? Is there anything in the cosmos or the inner workings of the human body that dictate this arrangement? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the history and invention of the se ... Show More
46m 18s