Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More

Following the conclusion of World War II, decisions needed to be made about how to handle the defeated Axis Powers. Due to the vast scale of atrocities committed, it was not feasible to punish everyone involved. Instead, the Allied victors chose to put key members of the leadership on trial. For aggressors in the Eastern Theater, it was decided that the Tokyo Trials would be held to try political...

One of the first mathematical concepts that most of us grasp when we are children is that there is no such thing as the biggest number. No matter what number you pick, you can always add one to it. You might think that such a simple idea wouldn’t have any profound impact in mathematics, but it does. In fact, mathematicians have come up with numbers so mind-bogglingly large that it is difficult to...

The Abbasid Caliphate stood as a vibrant center of commerce, technology, and learning from the 8th to the 13th centuries.  At the heart of this Islamic dynasty was the House of Wisdom. It was an extraordinary institute that drew scholars from across the known world, which made Baghdad an unrivaled center of learning. It also preserved much of the knowledge of the ancient world when Europe was in d...

Sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine is the nation of Moldova. As with many landlocked countries in Central and Eastern Europe, it has a long history as a crossroads for armies and people. In addition to serving as a crossroads of civilizations, it has also served as a buffer between states.  All of which has made for a very interesting history.  Learn more about Moldova on this episode of Every...

Communism is an ideology that millions of people had to live under during the 20th century.  Despite the communist label many nations adhered to, there were often vast differences in how they practiced communism or even what they considered communism to be.  In fact, Karl Marx would have probably been shocked to see where Communist governments were established.  Learn about the differences between...

The Sundarbans is the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage site spanning the border of India and Bangladesh.  This landscape is home to nearly ten million people who live alongside some of Earth’s deadliest predators. Driven by chronic poverty, residents of the region are forced to extreme lengths to survive and are forced to take risks that few others would dare contemplate...

Area 51 is a place where secrecy became legend and speculation turned into modern mythology.  Tucked away in the Nevada desert, it has been the alleged site for alien autopsies, hidden spacecraft, and technologies decades ahead of their time, all while the US government insisted it barely existed at all. The reality is far less dramatic or conspiratorial.  Learn about the creation, secrecy, and th...

In 1908, a two-year-old boy named Puyi was installed as the 11th Emperor of the Qing Dynasty in China. His life would prove to be radically different from that of any other Chinese emperor who came before him. He would see the end of Imperial China, become a puppet ruler for those who wished legitimacy, wind up in prison, and finally live out his final days as a commoner.  His personal story can b...

In the dark skies over the Eastern Front of World War II, the Soviet Union deployed one of the most unusual and effective combat units of the war: the Night Witches.  Officially the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, this unit flew outdated, fragile biplanes on nighttime harassment missions against German forces, cutting their engines to glide silently toward their targets before dropping bombs.  More n...

Approximately 55 times a day, or 20,000 times a year, an earthquake occurs somewhere on Earth.   Of those, the vast majority go unnoticed and cause no damage whatsoever. Nonetheless, earthquakes are commonly considered among the most feared natural disasters due to their sudden, unpredictable nature and their potential to unleash incredible devastation.  Learn about earthquakes, how they are measu...

When you think of countries in Africa, it is unlikely that Gabon will be one of the first to cross your mind.  It is entirely possible that some of you might never ever heard of Gabon.  Considered “Earth’s last Eden,” Gabon is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, yet very little is known about it because not much has ever happened there to make it into the news. In fact, one of the b...

Modern fairy tales often conclude with a protagonist achieving their dreams and a simple "happily ever after."  This popular image, often promoted by studios like Disney for family-friendly consumption, only scratches the surface of these classic narratives.  In reality, many of these beloved stories boast far darker origins, featuring unsettling themes and grim endings that would be entirely unsu...

Alphonse Gabriel Capone, aka Al Capone, aka Scarface, is one of the most notorious gangsters in American history.  Known for dominating Chicago’s underworld during prohibition, his criminal operation had a reach that extended throughout the United States. Capone cultivated a celebrity image while participating in violent criminal activity. Despite his wealth and fame, in the end, he died in prison...

One of the most significant and long-lasting outcomes of World War I didn’t take place in Europe. It was a reshuffling of the political order in the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant.  During the war, various Arab tribes joined together to free themselves from centuries of Ottoman Rule.  The legacy of the rebellion can still be seen in the map of the Middle East today.  Learn more about the Great A...

In 1943, one of the most notable acts of Jewish resistance during World War II took place. For nearly one month, residents of the Warsaw Ghetto fought against Nazi soldiers who were attempting to transport the residents to concentration camps.  The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the largest single Jewish Revolt during the war, was well-organized, hard-fought, and a symbol of Jewish resilience.  Learn abo...

Prague is one of the truly great cities of Central Europe.  Prague is noted for its preserved medieval and Baroque architecture, the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Astronomical Clock, and its Gothic Old Town. In addition, it has one of the world’s greatest beer and brewing cultures. They also happen to like to throw people out of windows.  Learn more about the defenestrations of Prague, why th...

January is upon us, the month that honors the Roman god Janus, the god of two faces.  One face looked forward, and the other looked back. Janus was the god of beginning and ending wars. He was also the god of doors and bridges.…and while I have absolutely no proof of this whatsoever, I also think that his two faces would have provided both questions and answers.  Stay tuned for Questions and Answe...

From 1899 to 1900, China underwent a widespread and violent uprising. The revolt, a reaction against China’s exploitation by foreign powers, was decades in the making. In response to the revolt, a group of eight nations joined together to put down the rebellion and ultimately subjected China to yet another humiliating treaty. The rebellion wasn’t successful, but it laid the groundwork for the seis...

You may have heard of many of the largest empires in world history. The Romans, the Mongols, the British, the Persians, the Ottomans, the Incas, and the Byzantines. That last empire, however, the Byzantines, never actually existed. How can one of the world’s greatest empires not have existed? Learn more about the Byzantine Empire and why no one ever called it that during its existence on this epis...

In 1890, an obscure professor at the US Naval War College published a book that at first seemed fairly innocuous. However, it turned out his book found an audience. An extremely powerful audience.  Its success led to further research, which in turn ushered in a revolution in naval warfare, which influenced the world’s great powers for over a century. Learn more about the Mahan Doctrine and how it...

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The year 2000 was a milestone year. It was the end of a century and of a millennium.  It was one of the rare years that was divisible by 100 and was a leap year. In the previous 25 years, the world had radically changed. Empires fell, superpowers emerged, and technology had changed civilization.  …and that year, a whole lot of people thought the world would end due to a computer bug.  Learn more a...

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...

Perhaps the preeminent symbol of Christmas is the Christmas tree.  Christmas trees aren’t just a symbol of Christmas; the act of setting up a tree is an event, and the adornment of a tree often uses ornaments that have been passed down for generations. But why is cutting down an evergreen tree and draping it with doodads a Christmas tradition? Learn more about the history of Christmas trees and ho...

Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is one of the best-known theories in psychology.  First introduced in 1943, the theory posits that people have an innate desire to reach their maximum potential, but to achieve this goal, they must first have their basic needs met.  These needs can be both physical and psychological, but they play a major role in understanding people’s motivations.  Learn more a...