We all know the story of the Titanic and the tragedy of lives lost. So hey, let's talk about the... more

Misophonia is a condition in which certain sounds trigger people in very negative ways that can really disrupt someone's life.... more

As if being murdering SOBs weren’t enough, the Nazis were also thieving rats. During WWII, they stole billons in gold... more

The only thing more complicated than an atomic clock is researching how they work and then figuring out how to... more

Getting the wind knocked out of you is scary, but passes quickly. Learn exactly what's happening with all that today.See... more

The Village People were a smash hit singing group that came and went in under two years. Then other people... more

If you've ever been to an international airport, you've probably seen one of the keenest spotters of illegal contraband -... more

Georgia Tann was a bad human. We feel safe in saying that because she kidnapped babies from poor families to... more

Not too much is known about Margaret Schilling. She was the kind of person whose memory might have been lost... more

You probably know wind energy projects have been around since the 90s, but did you know they now provide 10%... more

Special effects have been around since the first movies. In fact, the techniques the earliest filmmakers created are still around... more

Today we go down the road a bit, thumbs out, to explore the rich history of hitchhiking. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy... more

Few people have been more qualified to survive a plane crash alone in the Amazon for almost two weeks than... more

Arson investigation has changed a lot over the years. There is actual science available now, but the word still hasn't... more

It's common knowledge that famines are usually caused by major droughts: Rain doesn't fall, crops don't grow, and people go hungry.... more

We think of estrogen and testosterone as the female and male sex hormones and they may seem kind of gross... more

Straitjackets aren't really a thing anymore unless you're watching a movie or TV show. Or in prison. That's the sad... more

The 70s were the decade of the woman in the US. America finally was coming around to the understanding women... more

When Fort Knox was built in the 1930s to house America’s gold supply, it was billed as an impenetrable, impregnable,... more

One of America’s most important ecosystems takes up more than half the state of Florida. It’s a river of grass,... more

What's the deal with knocking on wood? It's an action one takes to ensure good luck. Which doesn't exist. Yet... more

One of the things we rely on is for the companies who make the stuff we need to not stick... more

In 2018, there's a man from a lost tribe still living deep in the jungles of Brazil who has been... more

It doesn't get much bigger than the Pulitzer Prize if you're a journalist. Or a novelist. Or really any kind... more

The strange thing about the story of the Ramree Island Crocodile Massacre is that it didn't happen. Yet the story... more

A man with an unfulfilled vision left a huge gash in the ground near Niagara Falls. Then a chemical company... more

Believe it or not, in 1985 the Philadelphia Police Department dropped a bomb from a helicopter onto a residential building... more

Today is part II of our tribute to one of the most iconic pieces of American culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy... more

Ten percent of people – in Japan at least – get the urge to poop when they visit bookstores. But... more

Today we pay tribute to one of the most iconic pieces of American culture. Listen in to hear us gush... more

For a learning disability that everyone seems to know about, dyslexia is maybe the most commonly misunderstood and controversial cognitive... more

It started with New Hampshire couple Betty and Barney Hill, who learned under hypnosis they’d been abducted and examined by... more

There’s an ingredient in Skittles and lots of other food that Dunkin Donuts stopped using it in their powdered donuts.... more

The most reviled, hated, despised, no-good, low down, dirty rotten architectural style of all time is actually just the most... more

Breaking up is hard to do. Your brain might even think you're getting over a cocaine addiction. Learn all about... more

Llamas are pretty great. They smile! They also spit and if they feel overworked will just lay down. There's a... more

Roly Poly bugs go by many names. They look like tiny armadillos. They're great for your garden. And they're crustaceans.... more

Multitasking isn't really possible, because of the way the human brain works. We know you think you're getting more done,... more

The trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, two anarchists accused of murder, was one of the first "crimes of the century."... more

You know all of those cords and cables and wires that we use to connect our stuff to the electrical... more

Smudging is the process of wafting around the smoke of burning white sage. What is it good for? Listen in... more

If you grew up outside of Africa, you might know Haile Selassie’s name from reggae music - the man who... more

In 1968, Paul Erlich published The Population Bomb, predicting coming famine and mass death. Erlich's predictions didn't pan out but... more

David Hahn was a kid who was really into science. So much that he built a nuclear reactor in his... more

One of the world’s cultural treasure troves were created in West Africa. But for over a century they’ve been held... more

Charles and Ray Eames were superstar designers who dreamed up some of the most iconic pieces of furniture ever made.... more

Sometimes a good idea doesn’t pan out in real life. Take Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome: It requires less energy to... more

Like is a very divisive word. Purists think it's like, a filler word born in the 80s that's like, destroying... more

There’s a great origin story behind snake oil salesmen, and it has to do with just one guy who singlehandedly... more

There was a brief period in America’s history – after people left the farm to work in the city and... more

The Unabomber was one of the most notorious and longest lasting cases in the history of the FBI. Just because... more

Do teachers and managers give special treatment to those who they're told have great academic or professional promise? Does this... more

Why are all school buses the same color? Because one man made it so. This is that story. See omnystudio.com/listener for... more

Whether you know it as Clue or Cluedo, the whodunnit mystery board game is one of the best of all... more

Disgust is an odd thing. It makes sense that we would feel a sense of revulsion at the thought of... more

How did the sleepy Nevada town of Las Vegas become LAS VEGAS? Well, we'll let you know over the course... more

Wainscoting is a beloved and time-tested decorative way to spruce up your walls. But what is it anyway? Listen in... more

Tune in today to listen to the story of when North Hollywood became a war zone after a brazen bank... more

We live in a time where computers can beat the best humans in the world at chess, checkers, poker and... more

One thing you could do is create your own language. Some people do and for lots of different reasons. LL... more

Jumping into a cold pool after a long sauna or hot tub can be pretty great. Saunas have proven health... more

The murder of Ken McElroy comes off like a story from a cheap paperback book you’d get to read on... more

Yogurt has been touted as a health food, but is it? Maybe. If you eat it every day. We get... more

We all know what happened at Jonestown, but who was Jim Jones before the tragedy at the People's Temple?See omnystudio.com/listener... more

Back in 1994, Nederland, Colorado found out it had a resident it hadn’t accounted for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dry cleaning is one of those things that we’re all familiar with but don’t actually know much about. That will... more

The annals of history hold a special place for people who have carried out treachery and betrayed their own. Thousands... more

You’ve probably seen cranes moving elegantly in the sky, but did you know what an important role they play in... more

What kind of black magic goes into deciding who makes the NYT Bestseller List? Well you probably don't know the... more

Tune in today to listen to the amazing story of Colorado River guide Kenton Grua's wild 277 mile record-breaking speed... more

The Seuss is loose in this episode about legendary children's book author Ted Geisel. The funny thing is, he didn't... more

When George W Bush and Al Gore ran against one another, most pundits predicted a tight race. Absolutely zero of... more

The story of why blueprints were blue is more involved than you think. It involves a chemical process and the... more

Hello, friends! Join us today for our annual live show release, recorded in beautiful Nashville. On the docket? The Biosphere... more

The nuclear waste we produce will be dangerous for a very long time. We’ve figured out how to safely store... more

It’s all fun and games to think about how backwards and misguided some things people did in the past were... more

Can you imagine a color so alluring that even though you know it’s toxic you’d still use it to your... more

They seem gross and bothersome at first, but once you get down to ground level and get to know snails,... more

They are dirty, harmful to your health, bad for the environment and utterly charming. Wood-burning fireplaces have been with us... more

Happy Holidays, friends! Tune in today to listen to our annual ad-free holiday extravaganza. There will be talk of merriment... more

Just three years after the lightbulb was invented a compadre of Thomas Edison thought to use them to decorate his... more

The world has seen a lot of weird investment bubbles in its time, but few of them rival the fever... more

Long ago, in a galaxy not so far away, George Lucas allowed the Star Wars Holiday Special to be made.... more

There are many types of dictators, from so called "benevolent" ones to the kind who rule with an iron fist.... more

The Skeleton Army was a rowdy group of folks in England who battled, sometimes violently, with the Salvation Army -... more

Josh loves pickles but hates cucumbers. Chuck loves cucumbers but hates pickles. WHO WILL WIN?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Matewan Massacre was a pivotal moment for the US mining industry and the labor movement as a whole. Learn... more

Freedom Schools were set up in Mississippi in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, with the aim of giving... more

On December 8th, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed outside his apartment building in New York City, by Mark... more

Boba tea is bubble tea. But what are the bubbles? Tapioca pearls! Listen in today to learn about the disputed... more

J.D. Salinger was a complicated and problematic human who stopped publishing soon after creating one of the great works of... more

Beavers are in fact, very busy. They're builders and solid family members, husbands and wives. Learn all about N America's... more

The story of the Oxford English Dictionary is really something. From its origin to its crowd-sourced literary quotations. Dive in... more

When you switch lanes on the highway after noticing that the lane you’re in is ending up ahead, you are... more

It’s time to get jazzed about Earth science again. It’s only been 60 or so years since we’ve known the... more

Getting the rain and melted snow from upstate NY into the taps of every NYC resident and business is one... more

It’s astounding that with the exceptional navigational equipment aboard a cruise ship can run aground in the 21st century, and... more

Everyone once in a while, say a few hundred thousand years or so, the north and south poles of Earth’s... more

If you’ve ever wanted to listen to two totally untrained, non-chemists who are fully unqualified to explain how the periodic... more

If you play video games you probably have an easy answer to worst game of all time: ET. But it... more

Diners may just be the most American establishment there is. They were born in the USA, thanks to European immigrants,... more

The story of the Liberty Bell is far more confusing than we imagined.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Natalie Wood was Hollywood royalty who tragically drowned after a long night of partying with her husband, Robert Wagner, and... more

Josh and Chuck dive into history in this classic episode to tell the story of the Buffalo Soldiers.See omnystudio.com/listener for... more

It’s a good, old fashioned how it works episode where we break down all of the nuts and bolts and... more

Petrified wood isn't just hard wood. Listen in today to learn all about this unique process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s easy to think of people in the distant past as kinda dumb for believing things like that mice could... more

Are laws that are meant to protect the sanctity of the polling place in reality designed to make it harder... more

The Harlem Globetrotters are an American entertainment institution. Their story may not be quite what you think either. Hint, they... more

If you grew up from the 70s to the 90s you know white dog poop. It’s the old, crusty –... more

As per tradition, today Josh and Chuck perform a spooky Halloween story reading to delight, amuse and FRIGHTEN YOU TO... more

A mummy is a human being whose soft tissue has been preserved after death, and there are mummies around the... more

Naked mole rats are funny looking to be sure, but neither moles nor rats. So what are they? You'll have... more

The simple bed sheet has provided countless kids and adults with an easy go-to Halloween costume. But why do we... more

Three years before the riots at Stonewall, the LGBTQ community of San Francisco's Tenderloin rose up. And the story was... more

We aren’t exactly sure who invented trick-or-treating – kids who realized they could extort adults for candy, or adults who... more

In the tradition of our episodes on forgiveness and revenge, comes the third installment in the Emotional Roller Coaster trilogy.... more

Is it vile? Is it delicious? It seems to be both! Hear all about the history of candy corn, how... more

Eugene Francois Vidocq is without a doubt one of the most interesting figures in modern history. He’s a former criminal... more

Pain is subjective; it is whatever the person experiencing it says it is. But to effectively treat pain, it helps... more

Intellectual property sounds as dry as can be, but it’s actually very interesting. It’s at the heart of the global... more

What’s better than discovering a mysterious cavern? Discovering five!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parasocial relationships are fascinating and it turns out Chuck knows what it's like from both sides. Listen in today to... more

Motion sickness is the worst and hits about 25 to 40 percent of humans when they ride in cars, boats,... more

You know Andy Warhol from his quip on being famous for 15 minutes and paintings of soup cans, but even... more

Rhodium is one of the most valuable precious metals on Earth, though it has dropped in value by about 80%... more

Grizzly bears had never killed a person in Glacier National Park until the night of August 12, 1967. That's when... more

Do you know that up until July 2011 an ambitious hacker with a good software program could deduce your social... more

Someone cuts you off in traffic or makes fun of your friend and all you can think of is how... more

The Dakota is one of New York City's great buildings. And its backstory is pretty great to boot. See omnystudio.com/listener for... more

Christine Granville was about as James Bond as it gets. Stories of her life as a spy during World War... more

What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? It's complicated and its origins are unclear. Learn everything we know about it today in... more

Kombucha is pretty popular right now. But what is it exactly and where did it come from? The answers await... more

Have you ever stopped mid-pencil mark and realized to your astonishment where the plus sign came from? Then this one’s... more

It’s easy (and kind of fun) to laugh at the misfortune of CEOs and other high up business types when... more

Floods happen when more water is introduced to an area than can be quickly removed. That's about it, but there's... more

In 1981 America suffered the worst accidental structural collapse in its history. Listen in today to the tragic story of... more

Face it, when you spill salt your life goes totally off the rails, maybe even forever. Fortunately, we humans stumbled... more

It’s a listener request! Axolotls are one of the more amazing animals roaming the planet right now – they can... more

It seems like we largely take it for granted these days, but the fact that we have humans living in... more

Today we dive into the history and current state of Native American reservations. This serves as a nice follow-up to... more

Is OK the best word? It's certainly one of the most versatile. Check the interesting history of this weird contraction.See... more

In WWII, Italy went through its own Jewish Holocaust, terrible at first then horrific as the Nazis took over the... more

Chuck and Josh end up making reduxes of past episodes on things like sweating and deodorant in this all-new episode... more

Laurens Hammond invented the Hammond organ and in the process changed music history. But he was much more than that. See... more

You've seen the evil eye. Many Middle Eastern cultures have a long history with it. Learn how to thwart this... more

Henry Ford tried to build a Midwestern American town in the Amazon rainforest in the 1920s. It's true. And yes,... more

It's every kid's dream - a job playing with toys that pays in toys. It's a real thing and has... more

Climate change is having sweeping effects on our climate and this is changing the world, not just for humans and... more

Friends, treasure Saturn’s rings while they are young. They won’t be around forever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Farmer's Almanac has a long rich history that is more than just moon phases and long-term weather patterns. Tune... more

Today music sampling is a common practice, especially in electronic or hip-hop music. But how does it work? After all,... more

One of the great Arctic mysteries was the disappearance of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition in search of a northwest passage... more

In the 19th century news spread of an unfortunate man who was born with an evil second face on the... more

If we could talk with the animals, grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals, what would we say? We’d... more

You can stick them to the fridge or use them to transpose sound to tape, whatever they are used for... more

Science is just realizing the extent of the tiny pollutants that have entered ecosystems across Earth and inside all humans.... more

Who spoke English first and what was it like? Nothing like it is today. Listen in to learn all about... more

Diaries have been around for a long time. There are many famous ones, and tens of millions that will never... more

Rainbows seem to defy nature, but they're really pretty simple when it comes down to it. Turns out it's just... more

The last meal of the executed is a longstanding tradition. Listen in today to learn about the dark history and... more

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie. This is the NATO alphabet. But where did it come from?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Borderline Personality Disorder has been described as emotional “third degree burns over ninety percent of your body.” It’s as close... more

The Strad violin is noted for its tonal qualities and superior craftsmanship. And for its price tag. There are many... more

Chuck and Josh grew up on MAD Magazine and we hope you did too. What started out as a comic... more

In the US those ubiquitous blue highway signs that tell you which direction you’ll find a Burger King have an... more

Today, Chuck and Josh dive into the ins and outs of language learning. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hinduism and Buddhism are closely related in a number of ways, including their vision of what comes after we exit... more

What became the Magic Eye illusion fad of the 1990s was born by way of the stereogram of the 1950s... more

Throwing a pie in someone’s face was groundbreaking comedy once upon a time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.