Jul 10

Sixdegrees.com: A Social Media Origin Story

Before Facebook and MySpace, before even Friendster, there was SixDegrees. Dive in today to learn about the first social media site, that was a few years too early.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

42m 43s

Jul 9

Short Stuff: 8 Track Cartridges

8 tracks were during vinyl, but preceded cassettes. Why? So people could listen to their music on the go. Check out this antiquated medium today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13m 47s

Jul 8

Sherlock Holmes: The Man, The Myth

Sherlock Holmes is perhaps the most famous fictional character in the world, and for good reason. More than a hundred years on, Arthur Conan Doyle’s 60 Holmes stories are still in print and he is the most portrayed human literary character in history.See omnystudio.com/listener f ... Show More

51m 57s

Aug 2023

Archimedes and the Siege of Syracuse

Dan tells the story of Archimedes, the ancient Greek inventor whose weapons of war protected the town of Syracuse from a Roman army. The Romans laid siege to Syracuse between 213 and 212 BC, attacking by sea and land, but were repelled by the city's defences. The story goes that ... Show More

44m 4s

Jan 2019

The Death Ray, Part 1

From ancient myth and the inventions of Archimedes to the work of Tesla and countless sci-fi authors, the concept of a death ray is a powerful expression of technological might. But here’s the catch: they don’t quite exist. Join Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick as they explore the v ... Show More

1h 18m

Dec 2016

Did Sheldon Gosline Discover a Lost Civilization?

For centuries self-assured academics believed Troy was a mythological city -- until, that is, the ruins were discovered. Over the span of history, the human species has lost people, cities and entire civilizations. Occasionally, governments don't want these lost empires to be fou ... Show More

30m 41s

Feb 2020

Rerun: Eureka! Archimedes!

Who was Archimedes, and what did he actually invent? Join Jonathan as he revisits this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

32m 33s

Nov 2009

Why did Angkor fall?

At its height, the city of Angkor was larger than Rhode Island. Replete with ornate architecture, the metropolis also served as a religious center. Yet by the time Europeans discovered the site, it was ruined. What happened? Listen in and learn more. Learn more about your ad-choi ... Show More

22 m

Aug 2019

William Maclure and New Harmony’s Boatload of Knowledge

When Robert Owen founded his utopian community, he wanted to have the best minds he could find running the educational system. He recruited William Maclure, who in turn brought many great minds with him. Their boat was nicknamed the Boatload of Knowledge. Learn more about your ad ... Show More

30m 12s

Dec 2018

(Some of) History's Dumbest Military Prototypes

It's true that the world's militaries often pioneer technological innovation -- but don't let all those great successes fool you! The world's militaries have at least as many failures as they do breakthroughs. Join Ben, Noel and special guest Christopher Hassiotis as they explore ... Show More

54 m

Jun 2020

The Lost City of Ubar: The True Story of "The Atlantis of the Sands"

You've probably heard of the Atlantis before, but have you heard the legends of another lost city, somewhere out in the endless sands of the Arabian Peninsula's Rub' al Khali (or "Empty Quarter")? Tales of this city, known as Ubar or Iram of the Pillars, surface in countries thro ... Show More

1h 4m

Jan 2019

How a Broken Toilet Foiled a German Sub

Toward the end of World War II, the German Type VIIC submarine was acknowledged to be one of the most advanced -- and deadliest -- predators on the seas. Yet, in at least one case, some of the same technological breakthroughs that made these subs astonishing also led to their dem ... Show More

23m 22s

Did Archimedes build a death ray?