Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More

Every country has its own system of government. Even when systems are quite similar, there are usually idiosyncrasies about each system, making them different.  Canada is no exception.  However, many people outside of Canada, especially those in the immediate south, have no clue how the Canadian system works or how it came about.  Learn more about the Canadian Parliament, how it works, and its his...

During the 14th century, the world saw one of its most traumatic episodes.  A plague spread through Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa that was unlike anything the world had ever seen.  In some locations, over half of the population died. Those who survived found themselves in a whole new world where the social and economic rules had been totally changed.  Learn more about the Black D...

In 1908, the United States did something unprecedented in its history: It created a general-purpose investigative police branch for the Department of Justice.  The federal government had enforcement organizations before, but they had very narrow missions.  From its humble beginnings, the FBI radically changed over the next several decades and became one of the most powerful federal agencies. Learn...

One of the most feared groups of people from the 8th to the 11th centuries was the Vikings.  The Vikings stuck fear into the hearts of people all around coastal Europe. They could appear like a bolt out of the blue to raid and pillage villages.  Yet the Vikings were more than mindless pillagers. They were also explorers and traders and had a much more vibrant culture than how they appeared in popu...

Lions are one of the most respected animals in the animal kingdom.  They are called the king of the jungle, they are used on the crests of royal houses, and the ancients made a lion one of the signs of the zodiac. They have been the subject of fables and some of the world’s most popular movies. But how did an animal that is today found in Sub-Saharan Africa manage to become a cultural reference fo...

You’ve seen it in your science classroom, and there was probably a copy of it on the inside cover of your chemistry book. Maybe if you are a real nerd, you might even have your own personal copy.  Yet its very creation was a revolutionary breakthrough that helped scientists and generations of students understand the very things that make up our world.  Learn more about the Periodic Table of the El...

January is the first month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. Its name derives from Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions. Janus symbolizes new opportunities and looks both forward and backward.  It is often associated with new resolutions, fresh starts, and winter in the Northern Hemisphere, while it marks the peak of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. January also represents som...

Every year, people around the world ring in the New Year.  How they do this, however, can differ radically from place to place. New Year’s traditions tend to be even more varied than Christmas celebrations. As with Christmas, traditions involve drinks, food, and rituals, but usually with a lot more noise and staying up later.  Learn more about traditions surrounding how we ring in the New Year on...

Tokyo, Japan, is currently the largest city in the world, with a total metropolitan population of over 37 million people. However, it wasn’t always the case. In fact, unlike many great cities of the world, Tokyo’s roots do not go back to ancient times. Its importance as a city is relatively recent, historically speaking.  During the war, it was almost completely destroyed yet has come back to be a...

Ever since the advent of broadcast television, one of the staples of television programming has been game shows.  Game shows have been around for almost 90 years, and during that time, contestants have won everything from a goat to millions of dollars.  Some game shows require an incredible amount of skill, and others require nothing but dumb luck.  However, it hasn’t been all fun and games. They...

In 1941, in the midst of the North Africa Campaign, the British found themselves on the ropes.  Under General Erwin Rommel's leadership, the German advance threatened Cairo and the Suez Canal.  The one thing that was stopping the Germans was that the British still held the strategic port city of Tobruk in Libya.  For over half a year, the Germans laid siege to the city, and the British tried to re...

Canada is a really big country—the second largest in the world, in fact.  Its size can hide the fact that it is a country with enormous geographical diversity. It has a geography that is unlike any other country in terms of its landscape and population distribution. It isn’t all just a cold wasteland…..although much of it is. Learn more about the geography of Canada and how it has shaped the count...

Every year, primarily in Commonwealth countries, the day after Christmas is a legal holiday.  It is a rather odd holiday in that it doesn’t celebrate anything or anyone in particular. Most people who celebrate the day have no clue what the origins of the holiday are, and many of the people who think they know the origins of the day are wrong. Learn more about Boxing Day and how the day after Chris...

In the winter of 1776, things did not look good for the Continental Army.  Everything got off to a great start in 1775, but this year saw a series of defeats at the hands of the British.  Things were looking so bad that many Americans thought that the revolution was effectually over.  If Washington was to keep the revolution going, he needed a miracle.  He needed a Christmas miracle.  Learn about...

The United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, is one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the United States.  Their motto of “Duty, Honor, Country” is something for every cadet that attends the academy to aspire to.  However, things haven’t always been that way. There was a period when West Point was downright rowdy and rambunctious.  Learn more about the 1826 West Point...

Christmas is the time of year for getting together with loved ones, celebrating, and giving gifts.  As a song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Nobody could possibly dislike Christmas, right? Well, some people don’t like Christmas, and historically, some people really don’t like Christmas. In fact, in 17th century England, they actually banned Christmas….and that did not go over we...

In the 19th century, the British and the Chinese went to war on two separate occasions—the reasons why they went to war are both simple and complicated.  The more complicated reason has to do with the trade policies of the British Empire and centuries-old entrenched attitudes on the part of the Qing dynasty.  The simple reason had to do with pushing drugs as a matter of national policy.  Learn mor...

Ever since the beginning of the Space Age, some have envisioned landing humans on Mars. There are a few who have taken things a step further. They envision not just landing on Mars but having a population of humans who live there permanently.  But how realistic is that dream? Could we actually do this, and if we can’t, what would we need to do? Learn more about building a colony on Mars and what i...

Approximately 3,200 years ago, one of the most momentous events in human history took place. Multiple major civilizations during the Bronze Age collapsed within a generation. International trade ground to a halt, almost every major city around the Mediterranean was destroyed, and much of the world entered a dark age. Despite its significance, this event is one of the least known and understood per...

One of the most common things in the world are superstitions.  Superstitions can be found everywhere and in everyone. Some of them are cultural, and some of them are unique to the person. Some of the most successful people in the world have superstitions, which they observe with rigid dedication. Learn more about superstitions and where they come from on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily...

The First World War was one of the most devastating conflicts in human history.  When the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, the fighting might have stopped, but the impact of the war continued.  Today, over a century after the war concluded, it can still be felt. Not in the third or fourth-order geopolitical ramifications but in the literal ground where the people of Belgium and France li...

Situated on a rocky hill overlooking the city of Athens is a former religious center, military fortress, and cultural hub known as the Acropolis.  The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most iconic landmarks of ancient Greece and a symbol of Western civilization. Situated on top of the Acropolis is the Parthenon, a masterpiece of ancient Greek architecture and one of the most recognizable landmarks...

One of the world’s most popular snack foods is peanuts.  Peanuts are consumed by themselves as a snack, processed in the form of peanut butter, and can be made into peanut oil.  Hundreds of different products, including plastics, dyes, cosmetics, paper, and soap, have all been derived from peanut plants. However, unlike other popular foods, for some people, the consumption of peanuts can actually...

One of the most common substances on Earth is sand.  Most people don’t think very much about sand, but sand is an extremely important part of our world.  It isn’t just for building sand castles and going to the beach. Sand is the second most consumed resource in the world after water.  There is an entire science to sand, what different types consist of, how it is made, and even how it moves.  Lear...

Located on the island of Java in Indonesia, just 100 kilometers from the capital of Jakarta, lies what might be one of the most important archeology sites in the world.  While it has been known to locals for centuries and to professional archeologists for over 100 years, it has only been seriously studied in the last several decades.  Some of the estimates of the age of this site, if true, would r...