Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More

When computers were first created, they were enormous. They would often take up the better part of a building, and they consumed large amounts of energy.  Despite the size of these early computers, some people saw a future where computers would shrink down small enough that they could fit inside a person’s home.  Some thought that idea was ridiculous. Not only was that prediction true, but it chan...

In the midst of the Great Depression, the City of St. Louis wanted to create a monument to the city’s role in the westward expansion of the United States and general waterfront improvement. It took thirty years, but they eventually created their monument with the assistance of the Federal Government. When it was completed, it was a structure like no other on Earth.  It was a 660-foot-tall freestan...

Bhutan is a small country sitting in the heart of the Himalayas. Best known for its stunning location and its connection to Buddhism, Bhutan was one of the most isolated and undeveloped countries in the world.  However, over the last 20 years, it has experienced rapid development and has taken steps to integrate itself into the global community. In the process, they have introduced several policie...

Every day, everyone who uses the internet uses the Domain Name System. The key to the domain name system lies in the highest level of the system, the top-level domains. These are the domains such as .com, .org, and .net. While you are probably very familiar with a few of these, there are actually a lot more. A whole lot more.  A lucky few top-level domain name holders actually managed to hit the j...

For thousands of years, humans all around the world have coveted gemstones.  Gemstones have been used as symbols of authority by kings, queens, and emperors, have been central to religious ceremonies, and have served as adornments for the wealthy.  While you may have heard of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, what exactly are they, and where do they come from? Learn more about gemstones,...

The rise of civilization is one of the most remarkable and important moments in human history.  However, it didn’t happen one time in one place. It occurred multiple times in multiple locations.   Historians and archaeologists have identified six distinct civilizations that developed independently of one another, all of which have, in one way or another, contributed to the civilization we live in...

In 1803, one of the most significant real estate transactions in world history occurred.  France, under Napoleon Bonepart, sold approximately 530 million acres of territory in the middle of North America to the newly founded United States. The reasons for France's selling and the United States' buying were varied, and they attracted considerable controversy on both sides of the Atlantic. In the en...

On January 20, 1942, one of the most infamous meetings in human history took place. Fifteen of the top-ranking Nazi officials gathered in the Berlin Suburb of Wannsee to come up with the “Final Solution of the Jewish Question.” They discussed who would be eliminated and how, without the slightest hint of emotion.  In around ninety minutes, the fate of millions was decided. Learn about the Wannsee...

October is here. Up here in the northern hemisphere, the leaves are changing color, the air is cooler, and suddenly, pumpkin spice is appearing in everything.  Retailers are putting up Halloween decorations way too early. Desiccated stalks of corn and pumpkins are showing up in places where they have no reason to be. However, one thing that makes sense this month is your questions and my answers. ...

Even if you are not a fan, you are likely familiar with classical music to some extent.  You’ve heard it in movies, television commercials, and sometimes in concerts.  It has been around for centuries and can still be heard today, but it has been surpassed in popularity by many different types of music.  However, many people are intimidated by it because it is so different from the music they are...

Over the last several centuries, one of the weapons that has defined warfare has been artillery.  It was used in the conquest of Constantinople by ships on the high seas, reached its apex during the First World War, and is still being used today.  What has allowed this weapon to remain in use for so long is technological advancements, which have made artillery more accurate, powerful, and deadly. ...

In the decades prior to the outbreak of the US Civil War, abolitionists had been ratcheting up their efforts to end the institution of slavery.  The battle was fought mainly through politics and persuasion, but some were not satisfied with a peaceful approach and felt that more active means were necessary. One abolitionist stands above others in his willingness to use violence to end the instituti...

The world as we know it is made up of 193 countries, Antarctica, and a host of territories. However, between all of those places are the high seas or international waters, which are not controlled by anyone.  But where do international waters begin? What can you do in international waters? And how close can you actually sail to another country? Learn more about the Law of the Sea, how it was creat...

Sometime in the last 24 hours, most of you have used soap or detergent, either directly or indirectly.  Soap, like many other things, was most likely discovered by accident thousands of years ago.  Fast forward to today, and these products are used for cleaning almost everything, from our bodies to cars to dishes.  Soaps and detergents, despite being similar products that serve similar purposes, a...

In the late 19th century, during the scramble for Africa, King Leopold II of Belgium seized a large landmass in Central Africa.  By doing this, he created the Congo Free State, but this name was a misnomer as it was anything but free.  King Leopold’s rule over the Congo Free State was defined by tales of brutality, horrific conditions, and massive amounts of death.  Learn about King Leopold’s Cong...

Prisoners of war or POWs during the 20th century were a part of war. Beligerant nations had to develop systems to guard, house, and feed their prisoners, and before the war, in 1929, most countries had agreed on how prisoners would be treated in captivity. In reality, conditions for POWs differed dramatically, particularly for captured German soldiers. Those captured by the Soviets faced a far dif...

Almost immediately after the death of George Washington in 1799, the United States began to think of ways to commemorate and honor the father of the country.  The process of creating a monument took decades. There were multiple aborted designs and one idea that was built but never fully implemented.  What ended up being constructed became the world’s tallest structure at the time and became the ic...

The country of Czechoslovakia was born and died in the 20th century.  It was created after a war, suffered through another war, was occupied during the Cold War, and was finally liberated in 1989.  Once it did become free of Soviet Rule, they decided that maybe they should never have been made into a country in the first place.  Unlike almost every country that came before it, it managed to dissol...

On May 31, 1970, one of the most devastating disasters in Peruvian history occurred.  A magnitude 7.9 earthquake hit just off the coast of Peru, creating the most catastrophic natural disaster in the country's history.   The “Ancash” or “Great Peruvian Earthquake” not only caused disastrous short-term loss of life, but also had long-term impacts that shaped multiple spheres of Peruvian life for ye...

Sometime around 11,000 years ago, somewhere in the Middle East or Central Asia, someone figured out how they could keep wild sheep and breed them.  This simple act had enormous consequences for humanity. It improved food production, revolutionized the production of clothing, and even influenced the development of writing.  Fast forward over 10,000 years, and sheep are still a significant part of t...

The Vietnam War was perhaps the most significant event that took place in the last half of the 20th century.  It had profound impacts on the United States and, of course, Vietnam. However, many people have a very simplistic view of the causes of the war. They assume it was just a result of Cold War politics. While that was certainly a cause, the root causes go back much further.  Learn more about...

The year 1900 was a pivotal year in world history. It was the end of the 19th century and on the cusp of the 20th century.  Many of the technical advances that would come to define the next 100 years were just being unleashed.  Social and economic changes were unfolding that would revolutionize the world. The changes that the world had seen in the 19th century were only a taste of what would come...

On January 15, 1947, a young woman was found dead in Los Angeles, California.  She was found naked, cut in half, and drained of blood.  When the crime was reported in the newspaper, the woman received a nickname, the Black Dahlia.  Though the case has been cold for the better part of a century, the murder of the Black Dahlia has remained one of the most well-known true crime cases in America and s...

One of the most essential aspects of archeology is dating objects found in the past, and one of the most critical tools in dating historic objects is dendochronology.  Dendrochronology, also called tree-ring dating, is a scientific method used to determine the age of wood and reconstruct past environmental conditions by analyzing growth rings in trees. However, it isn’t just a matter of counting t...

A long time ago in a city far, far away…. A young director with several films under his belt had an idea for a movie. His idea was to create a modern version of an old space adventure film like Flash Gordon.  He wrote a story that would cover several films, negotiated a groundbreaking contract, and in the process, completely changed the film industry.  Learn more about Star Wars and how this movie...