Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More

One of the most widely spoken languages in the world is Chinese.  In addition to being one of the most popular languages in the world, it also has some of the oldest roots and, in many respects, is completely different from every other language spoken today.  But when we refer to the Chinese language, what exactly are we even referring to? Can we even say that there is a language called Chinese? L...

Almost every single person listening to this podcast right now is doing so on some sort of personal computing device.  Many of the things that we consider part of a modern personal computer, windows, hyperlinks, a mouse, and a text editor, all were released upon the world in a single 90-minute demo in 1968.  The ideas were so advanced it would take over two decades before most of them found themse...

In the world of sports, some things take place all the time. You will see some of the same things happen in every game or match. However, there are some things that almost never occur. Things that are so rare and unexpected that if you find yourself as a spectator to such an event, you can consider yourself lucky. Some of these events are so rare they might only happen once a decade or even once a...

The American flag is something that is recognized around the world.  The flag isn’t just flown on flag poles, but it is on clothing, lapel pins, and bumper stickers, and it is used as a backdrop for all manner of politicians.  However, there hasn’t been just one American flag. In fact, in the almost 250 years the United States has been in existence, they have switched flags, on average, almost onc...

Located in the city of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh sits the most iconic building in India, the Taj Mahal. In many ways, the Taj Mahal has become a symbol of India. You will find its image and name on Indian restaurants and businesses around the world.  But how did this building become so iconic, why was it built in the first place, and what was the purpose that it was supposed to serve? Lea...

In the 7th century, the world saw the rise of one of the most important religious and political forces in history: Islam. Springing forth from the Arabian Peninsula, within a matter of years, the Islamic Caliphate had become one of the largest empires on Earth.  Much of that growth was due to one man. He wasn’t a religious leader, and he wasn’t the head of the empire. He was one of the greatest mi...

Every July 1, the people of Canada celebrate their national holiday of Canada Day.  The day dates back over 150 years, and despite what many people think, the day isn’t exactly Canadian Independence Day.  Also, for most of the time the day has been celebrated, it wasn’t even called Canada Day, which can provide an insight as to what the day was originally celebrating.  Learn more about Canada Day,...

Of all the billions of people who have spoken English, one person has probably impacted the language more than any other.  The person who is considered the greatest playwright in the language is also responsible for adding more words and phrases than anyone else. His impact on the language is due not only to his skill and output as a writer but also to the fact that he wrote his works when modern...

Everyone knows that Neil Armstrong was the first person to step foot on the moon. But who was the last person on the moon?  And why haven’t we ever sent anyone back to the moon?  Learn more about the last person to set foot on the moon and the past, present, and future of lunar exploration, or the lack thereof, on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Expedition Unknown  Find out t...

For the last 250 years, there has been a problem in the world of mathematics.  There is a good argument to be made that we have been doing it wrong.  We have been teaching it in a way that has been unnecessarily confusing and complicated, and we have been causing generations of students unnecessary headaches.  Learn more about Tau and why it is better to use than pi on this episode of Everything E...

Most people probably don’t think of Iceland when they think of the Second World War.  They wouldn’t be wrong for doing so because Iceland wasn’t a belligerent country.  However, that doesn’t mean Iceland didn’t have a role to play. The location of the island gave it a strategic importance that made both sides of the conflict pay attention to it. Learn more about Operation Fork, Operation Ikarus, a...

74,000 years ago, the Earth suffered the greatest natural disaster that it has seen in the last several million years.  A supervolcano erupted in what is today the country of Indonesia.  In addition to completely changing the Earth’s climate for years, it may have pushed a species known as Homo Sapiens to the brink of extinction.  Learn more about the Toba Eruption and how it might have almost spe...

Sometimes the most important things are things we don’t even want to think about let alone talk about.  The issue of handling and removing human waste and dirty water is one such problem that has confronted humans since the dawn of time.  The elimination of waste and excess water was one of the fundamental things which allowed cities to grow all over the world.  Learn more about sewers…..yep, I’m...

Straddling the border of Switzerland and France is the largest scientific instrument ever created.  It sits in a tunnel 27 kilometers or 17 miles long, at points, it rests 175 meters or 574 feet below the surface, and it cost a whopping €7.5 billion. It consists of thousands of powerful magnets and a vacuum chamber and uses a great deal of energy. With it we can probe the secrets of the basic part...

In the mid-12th century, England was in chaos.  The king of England, Henry I, died without an heir. The country was divided between forces loyal to his daughter, Matilda, and his nephew, Stephen.  For almost two decades, armed conflicts resulted in a breakdown of law and order and central authority. Learn more about The Anarchy, how it began, and how it ended on this episode of Everything Everywhe...

Located roughly in the territory of the modern-day nation of Iran is the ancient region known as Persia.  Persia sat at a strategic crossroad between South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, and Asia Minor. It was influenced not only by all of the great civilizations around it but it was the source of many of the great empires of antiquity.  Learn more about the Persian Em...

In 1941, after the German invasion of the Soviet Union, a 24-year-old woman in Ukraine volunteered to join the Red Army.  She was initially pressured to become a nurse like most women who volunteered. However, that wasn’t what she wanted to do. She wanted to be on the front lines. Within a year, she was to become one of the most lethal soldiers in all of the second world war. Learn more about Lyud...

Located in the middle of the Old City of Jerusalem lies one of the most famous structures in the world.  In addition to being the visible symbol of the city, it lies on a plot of land that is one of the most historical and contested pieces of property on the planet. It has been a center of controversy for thousands of years and looks to continue to do so for at least hundreds more. Learn more abou...

In the first half of the 20th century, racial segregation was rampant across much of the United States. Perhaps nowhere was it more evident and public than in the sport of baseball.  Despite being denied a place in the major leagues for several decades, some of the greatest players of the era could play for the public on black-owned and operated teams.  Learn more about the Negro Leagues and how s...

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States Armed Forces. It is given to individuals who have displayed exceptional acts of valor in the face of enemy forces. It has been awarded 3535 times since its inception in 1861.  Of all the recipients of the Medal of Honor, only twice has it been awarded to a father and a son. In both cases, they are families that you have pro...

In the middle of the first world war, a group of artists, poets, and philosophers created an artistic and intellectual movement in response to the war.  While the movement itself didn’t last very long, its legacy of it laid the foundation for modern art in the 20th century, and can still be seen in modern art today. Learn more about Dadaism, what it was, and its legacy on this episode of Everythin...

Places all over the world are suffering from a similar ecological problem.  The specific problems are slightly different everywhere, but they all are based on the same fundamental issue: Invasive species. How each invasive species got where they are is a different story. Regardless of how they got there, some species can wreak havoc on an ecosystem once introduced. Learn more about invasive specie...

Humans and rats have lived in an uneasy relationship for millennia. Rats have spread diseases like the bubonic plague, destroyed grain harvests, and stolen our pizzas.  In return, rats have given humans……pretty much nothing.  As such, humans have waged a relentless war against rats, which for the most part has gone nowhere. However, there are some fronts where we have had amazing success. Learn mo...

In the late 13th century, the Mongol Empire was at the peak of its power.  It was at this time that the Mongol Emperor of China, Kubli Khan, set his eyes on the island of Japan.  On two separate occasions, the Mongols assembled the world’s largest amphibious fleet in world history. Both times, they found the limits of their military conquests. Learn more about the Mongol invasions of Japan on this...

Located at the 26th place on the periodic table is the element iron.  Iron is one of the most important elements in the universe. It has a vital role in almost everything, from the formation of stars to photosynthesis, the Earth’s magnetic field, and even your own health.  Iron has been responsible for the rise of civilization, and there is a good chance there is an object next to you right now th...