Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More

Modern society is completely dependent on a set of technologies that include computer chips, fiber optic cables, lasers, video screens, electric motors, and batteries.  All of those things are dependent on a small category of chemicals called rare earth elements.  Their importance in technology has made them a focal point of international trade and politics.  Learn more about rare earth elements a...

The modern world runs on metal wires.  These thin metal strands literally circle the globe and are responsible for much of the world’s electrical power and communications.  It is something so basic that most people never bother to stop and think about how wires are made.  It turns out wire has been made for thousands of years, although its uses have changed dramatically.  Learn more about wire, ho...

Of all the cities that experienced the Second World War, one of the most interesting stories is that of Paris.  Paris was not the scene of major fighting like Warsaw, which was all but destroyed. It was occupied for over four years, during which time it saw acts of resistance and collaboration.  When the city was liberated after the invasion of Normandy, it was supposed to be destroyed, but it sur...

When I say precious metals, most of you probably immediately think of gold and silver.  Historically, they have indeed been precious metals. However, they are not the only ones.  There are elemental metals that are rarer and more expensive than gold. They have important industrial uses….and in some cases, they are much more expensive. Learn more about platinum, palladium, and rhodium, the other pr...

On June 22, 1941, German forces crossed into the Soviet Union. It was, and remains, the largest military operation in human history. The force that the Germans assembled for the invasion was staggering, consisting of over 3 million men. However, the decision to go to war with the Soviets and break the alliance Germany had with them has puzzled historians for decades.  It ultimately was an extremel...

Located in the South Pacific is the nation of Fiji.  Fiji is an archipelago of 330 islands located about 1,100 nautical miles north of New Zealand.  It is a unique mix of Pacific cultures with both Melanesian and Polynesian influences, with a dash of Indian influence as well.  Given its size and population, it is also one of the most important countries in the region.  Learn more about Fiji, its h...

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience. Sponsors Mint Mobile Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Stitch Fix Go to stitchfix.com/everywhere to have a stylist help you look your best Tourist Office of Spain Plan your next adventure at Spain.info  Stash Go to get.stash.com/...

As of the recording of this episode, 1,012 people have been awarded Nobel Prizes across every category.  This episode is not about any of them. This episode is about the people who didn’t win a Nobel Prize but arguably should have.  Whether they were the victims of personal petty politics, geopolitics, or sexism, there have been many people who were deserving of Nobel Prizes who never got one. Lea...

Sometime around eight to nine thousand years ago, ancient people in Asia Minor found a very dull grey metal that turned out to be easy to manipulate when it was heated. For thousands of years, it was used for a variety of purposes, including as a food additive.  4 With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, even more uses were found for this unique metal.  However, by the 20th century, scientist...

The Solar System is a pretty big place. When most people think of our Solar System, they probably think of the Sun, the planets, and all their moons. However, the solar system is much larger than most people realize. In fact, it is vastly larger than the model they have in their heads. Only in the last few years, with the advent of larger telescopes and better techniques, have we been able to lear...

One of the most popular instruments in the world is the guitar.  The guitar is the primary instrument in many popular forms of music today.  Yet, this wasn’t always the case. The guitar is related to multiple stringed instruments and has a lineage that goes back thousands of years.  However, the guitar that you are familiar with is a rather recent invention.  Learn more about the history of the gu...

For a 10-month period from September 1793 to July 1794, the nation of France went through a period which could only be called insanity.  In the aftermath of the French Revolution, a small group of radicals took control of the Revolutionary French government and began eliminating all enemies of the revolution, both real and perceived.  Tens of thousands of people were imprisoned, and thousands met...

Computer software seems to be everywhere. No matter what kind of computer you use or where you use it, all computers use software.  That is the entire point of a computer.  However, not all software is the same. There are actually enormous differences between software applications. Not just what they do, but how they were written, the business models behind them, the legal licenses that cover them...

There is a very good chance that many of you listening have had pasta, maybe within the last week.  Pasta is a simple, affordable food that comes in a wide variety of forms. It can be served with almost anything and in a wide variety of styles.  Despite its current global nature, pasta is a food that originated in Italy……or did it? Learn more about pasta, how it originated, and how it spread aroun...

We like to think of the Earth as a very stable place. While there might be seasonal variation in the weather, things don’t really change that much within our lifetimes.  However, if you take a longer perspective, a much longer perspective, things can change a lot.  In fact, there have been five times in the history of the Earth when life on Eath completely changed. When over half of the species on...

If you happen to live in the Northern Hemisphere, April is a time when days get longer, the temperature gets warmer, and things start to become green again. It is also the month of National Unicorn Day, National Superhero Day, National Take A Wild Guess Day, and, of course, National Hairball Awareness Day. More important than any of these august holidays, it is the month where I answer your questi...

In the mid-19th century, Europe saw what was perhaps its largest war since the end of the Napoleonic Wars.  The war was ultimately fought over who would pick up the pieces of the failing Ottoman Empire. However, every country that fought in the conflict had its own unique reasons for doing so.  What no one could know at the time is that the war would usher in changes that would affect the future o...

During the 5th century, one name struck fear into the hearts of almost every European: Attila, leader of the Huns.  For a period of almost 20 years, Attila ravaged Europe, conquering various tribes and causing one of the largest migrations ever seen on the continent. Then, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, the conquests of Attila stopped, and the Huns were no longer a major power. Learn more about...

In the game of baseball, it might not seem at first glance that there is much strategy involved in the game.  However, there is an enormous amount of strategy that goes into every pitch in the game.  Pitchers have different pitches in their repertoire, which can rise, fall, and curve on their way to the batter in an attempt to fool the batter.  However, there is one pitch which is unlike any other...

The modern world is built on science. Today, millions of scientists all over the world are doing research in thousands of different fields and specializations.  All of these researchers are, to some degree, using a system that was developed over the course of centuries. A methodology that allows for the discovery of scientific truth.  It isn’t perfect, but it ushered in a scientific revolution and...

Located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea is its largest island: Sicily.  Given its size and location, Sicily has been the key for any empire, kingdom, or civilization that wanted to control the Mediterranean. As a result, Sicily has been one of the most contested pieces of land in the history of the world. For over three thousand years, one army after another invaded and occupied the island...

Every military in the world is a hierarchical organization. There are people at the top who make decisions, people down below who follow those orders, and people in between who make it happen.  Today, most militaries have an elaborate rank structure with multiple ranks in the chain of command.  However, it wasn’t always like that. The modern system of ranks evolved over time, and the ranks that ex...

On July 31, 1944, one of the greatest naval exploits in history took place in the Western Pacific Ocean.  Two American submarines led by Commander Lawson "Red" Ramage found themselves in the middle of a Japanese merchant fleet.  Over the course of 46 minutes, they managed to achieve something that had never been done by so few submarines in so short of time.  Learn more about Ramage’s Rampage and...

Over a thousand years ago, a wealthy family in Germany gave birth to their tenth child, a daughter.  They gave their child to the church, as was the custom in those days. She grew to become the leader of her monastic community.  More than that, she became one of the leading thinkers of her era. She composed music, wrote about medicine and theology, revolutionized brewing, and corresponded with kin...

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