Smartest Year Ever

Blowing out birthday candles might be the germiest part of your celebration—bacteria levels on a cake can increase by 1,400% when someone makes a wish. But where did this bizarre tradition even come from? Turns out, ancient Greeks, 18th-century Germans, and soul-stealing spirits all played a role in the evolution of the birthday cake ritual. From offering moonlit cakes to Artemis to Kinderfest can...

2/20/25 - Light vs. Dark Roast: Who Wins the Caffeine War? Does dark roast have more caffeine because it's “stronger,” or does light roast pack more punch because it’s roasted less? Coffee debates get steamy , but here’s the real answer: it depends on how you measure it . If you measure by volume (a scoop of grounds), light roast wins —the beans are denser, so you get more caffeine per scoop....

Why does male pattern baldness target your scalp but leave your beard untouched ? The answer lies in DHT (dihydrotestosterone) —a byproduct of testosterone that miniaturizes hair follicles on your head while supercharging beard growth . Today, Gordy dives into: Why DHT causes balding but boosts facial hair The genetic lottery that determines who loses hair Why arm and leg hair stay intact while yo...

Why do we clap instead of, say, snorting like a pig? 🤔 Applause is so universal that even babies do it without being taught —but where did it start? Turns out, clapping has a deep history , from Roman toga waves to professional clappers hired to make performances seem like a bigger hit. Ancient Rome had elite squads of applauders , and in 18th-century France, claqueurs were literally paid to clap...

Is today Presidents' Day or Washington’s Birthday? The federal government still calls it Washington’s Birthday , but thanks to confusion, marketing, and retail sales , the name “Presidents’ Day” took over. It all started with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act (1968) —a law meant to give Americans more three-day weekends by shifting certain holidays to Mondays. But this change had an unintended effect...

2/16/25 - The Rise and Fall of Holidomes Once upon a time, you didn’t need to book a flight to escape the cold—you just needed a Holiday Inn Holidome . These indoor vacation hubs promised a year-round paradise , complete with pools, putt-putt courses, and an arcade— all under one giant dome . For kids in the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, Holidomes were the ultimate getaway . So why did they disappear? And...

Pink lemonade—just a fancy version of regular lemonade, right? Not exactly. Its origins are as messy as a circus act gone wrong . In today’s episode, Gordy uncovers two competing (and equally absurd) stories about how pink lemonade was born. Was it a circus worker’s desperate attempt to make lemonade with sock water ? Or was it a lucky mistake involving cinnamon candy ? Either way, the drink quick...

Valentine’s Day—a holiday of love, romance, and… brutal execution records ? 💀 If you think modern Valentine's is a mystery wrapped in chocolate, try figuring out why it’s named after a beheaded saint who also happens to be the patron of epilepsy and beekeepers . Gordy breaks down the tangled history of St. Valentine— or possibly multiple St. Valentines —and how a third-century execution date turn...

Valentine’s Day cards weren’t always about love and romance. The earliest known Valentine came from a prisoner in the Tower of London —because nothing says "Be mine" like medieval incarceration. Today, Gordy uncovers the surprising history of Valentine’s Day cards —from the poetic musings of a lovesick French duke in 1415 to the rise of Esther Howland, the “Mother of the American Valentine” , and...

2/12/25 - Abraham Lincoln: Wrestling Champion? Everyone knows Abraham Lincoln as a towering historical figure , but did you know he was also a literal giant in the wrestling ring ? With a 300-1 record , an honorary induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame , and a famous brawl that solidified his street cred , Lincoln might just be the most dominant fighter in presidential history . Gordy...

Ever wondered why we say “take it with a grain of salt” ? This phrase traces back to Pliny the Elder , an ancient Roman historian who recorded a poison antidote recipe that included—you guessed it—a single grain of salt . Over centuries, this idea evolved into its modern meaning: a skeptical approach to questionable claims . Join Gordy as he digs into the surprising history of this saying, from Ro...

What if you could hit the reset button on life —same body, same memories, just… younger? Well, one tiny jellyfish has already cracked the code. Meet Turritopsis dohrnii , better known as the immortal jellyfish —because it refuses to die like a normal organism . Instead of aging, it de-ages , turning back into a baby version of itself and starting life all over again. Scientists are still trying to...

Every year, millions of dollars are wagered on one of the weirdest bets in sports: What color Gatorade will be dumped on the winning Super Bowl coach? Orange, blue, yellow, purple— but never red. In over 40 years of Super Bowl Gatorade showers, red Gatorade has never won. And it’s not random— there’s a reason. From the staining problem , to players avoiding it, to superstition, to terrible sportsb...

Ever wondered why cola is a household favorite, yet you never hear about the kola nut anymore? 🔹 What is the kola nut , and why was it historically used?🔹 How did Coca-Cola and other brands replace real kola nut extract ?🔹 Why do we call it cola instead of kola today? Find out how marketing, chemistry, and cultural shifts shaped one of the world’s most famous drinks! 👍 Like, Subscribe & Hi...

Not all space rocks are created equal. Some burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere, while others could spell doom for civilization. But how do astronomers rank the danger of an incoming asteroid? Enter The Torino Scale —a color-coded system that rates impact threats from 0 (harmless) to 10 ( extinction-level ). Back in 2004, an asteroid named Apophis briefly hit a Level 4, sparking fears of a 2029 c...

In 1908, an explosion larger than 1,000 atomic bombs flattened an area bigger than Los Angeles —but no crater was ever found. The Tunguska Event remains one of Earth’s biggest mysteries, and today, Gordy breaks down what happened, why it matters, and whether we should be worried about the next one. 🔥 Topics Covered: What was the Tunguska Event? Why was there no crater? The wildest theories (alien...

There’s a myth that rivers always flow south , but here’s the truth: rivers flow in whatever direction gravity pulls them. The Nile River flows north—not because it’s defying the rules, but because it’s following the land’s natural slope. And it’s not alone. At least 48 rivers in the U.S. flow north, and plenty more around the world. Today, Gordy clears up this geographical misconception and break...

In 1997, scientists recorded a mysterious deep-sea sound so loud it could be heard across the ocean. The Bloop baffled experts—it was louder than a blue whale, seemingly organic, and no one could explain it. Some believed it was a giant sea monster , an alien spacecraft , or even the awakening of Cthulhu himself. But the real answer? It’s still weird. This episode of Smartest Year Ever dives deep...

A 25-foot tsunami of molasses barreling through Boston at 35 mph ? Sounds like something out of a fever dream—but in 1919, it actually happened . The Great Molasses Flood was one of the most bizarre and tragic industrial disasters in U.S. history, leaving 21 dead, 150 injured , and a city covered in sticky chaos. Gordy takes you through the explosive failure of a poorly built molasses tank , how i...

Before Pepsi was Pepsi… it was Brad’s Drink . Yes, that’s what North Carolina pharmacist Caleb Bradham originally called his soda fountain creation in 1893. A mix of sugar, lemon oil, nutmeg, and other ingredients, it was meant to aid digestion and boost energy. But in 1898, a name change to Pepsi-Cola gave it a modern edge—though ironically, it never contained pepsin. From near-bankruptcy in the...

Why does February have only 28 days ? And why is it named after an ancient Roman cleansing ritual ? This month used to sit at the end of the calendar , acting as a reset button before the Romans moved the new year to January. Then, in a bizarre turn of numerical superstition , February got stuck as the runt of the litter —and even Julius Caesar’s reforms didn’t help. 🔹 The 10-month calendar that...

Before Lady Liberty, there was the Colossus of Rhodes , a towering 108-foot statue that once stood as a symbol of strength and victory. Though it fell centuries ago, its influence lived on in Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi’s design of the Statue of Liberty —from her torch to her crown of rays . But their meanings couldn’t be more different. Today, Gordy explores how an ancient Greek wonder helped insp...

Can LED lights prevent shark attacks? Gordy explores a cutting-edge solution using LED-lit surfboards to confuse sharks and protect humans. Learn how this tech benefits both people and marine wildlife by offering a humane alternative to traditional shark deterrents. Follow Smartest Year Ever on YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram for daily insights! Sources: Current Biology - LED Lights and Shark Dete...

Gordy uncovers the bizarre history of Dancing Cat Fever , where convulsing cats warned humans of deadly mercury poisoning. How did superstition meet science to solve this mystery? Learn about these feline sentinels, the dangers of mercury exposure, and its lasting impact on environmental health. Follow Smartest Year Ever on YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram for more daily insights! Sources: Toxicolo...

Canaries in coal mines were no metaphor—they were lifesavers. Gordy explains how miners relied on these birds to detect toxic gases and the extraordinary biology that made it possible. But it doesn’t end there: from bees monitoring pollution to dogs sniffing out cancer, we’re still relying on animals to warn us of unseen dangers. Explore the science and history behind sentinel species in today’s e...