Afleveringen

  • Can You Actually Film Light Moving? (Femto-Photography Explained) | Smartest Year Ever (May 3, 2025)

    Can You Actually Film Light Moving? (Femto-Photography Explained) | Smartest Year Ever (May 3, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    In today’s episode, Gordy explores a mind-bending innovation in modern physics: filming light itself in motion—at a trillion frames per second. Sound impossible? Welcome to femto-photography, where researchers at MIT figured out how to capture a single pulse of light as it travels through a Coke bottle, scatters off an apple, and even starts forming shadows in real time.

    This isn’t slow motion. It’s slow-light—and it has game-changing implications: from seeing around corners, to autonomous navigation, to non-line-of-sight medical imaging.

    Gordy walks through the tech behind the scenes—streak imaging, femtosecond pulses, and how hundreds of repeated experiments get stitched into one real-time light show. Whether you’re into photography, physics, or just want to know what light looks like as it moves, this one’s for you.

    So what does light actually look like in motion? This episode has the answer. And yes—it’s as wild as it sounds.

    Sources:

    MIT Media Lab. (n.d.). Femto-Photography Project Overview. https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/femto-photography/overview/

    Nature. (2011). Picosecond photography. https://www.nature.com/articles/480044a

    Raskar, R. (2012). Imaging at a trillion frames per second [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/ramesh_raskar_imaging_at_a_trillion_frames_per_second

    Smithsonian Magazine. (2013). What Does Light Look Like in Ultraslow Motion? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-does-light-look-like-in-ultraslow-motion-180947577/

    MIT News. (2011). Trillion-frame-per-second camera. https://news.mit.edu/2011/trillion-fps-camera-1213

    Music thanks to Zapsplat.

    #LightSpeed #FemtoPhotography #MIT #DailyFacts #ScienceIsAwesome #DidYouKnow #PhysicsFacts #HighSpeedCamera #TrillionFPS #SmartestYearEver

  • The Cat That Survived Three Shipwrecks | Smartest Year Ever (May 2, 2025)

    The Cat That Survived Three Shipwrecks | Smartest Year Ever (May 2, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    During WWII, one cat allegedly survived the sinking of three different warships—switching sides from Nazi Germany to Britain in the process. His name? Unsinkable Sam.

    In this episode, Gordy uncovers the unbelievable story of a black-and-white ship cat who may have had more than nine lives. From the doomed Bismarck, to the HMS Cossack, to the Ark Royal, Sam survived it all—often rescued from floating wreckage by stunned sailors.

    But was it just legend? We dig into the eyewitness accounts, museum records, and the mystery surrounding naval mascots. Because even if parts of the tale were embellished... it’s still a hell of a story.

    Plus: a shoutout to Mrs. Chippy, Shackleton’s own ill-fated ship cat. (RIP, legend.)

    Sources:

    Imperial War Museums. (n.d.). The Cat That Survived the Bismarck. https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-cat-that-survived-the-bismarck

    Historic UK. (n.d.). Unsinkable Sam. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Unsinkable-Sam/

    Royal Museums Greenwich. (n.d.). Animal mascots in naval folklore. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/animal-mascots-naval-folklore

    Music thanks to Zapsplat.

    #WWIIHistory #ShipCats #UnsinkableSam #FunFacts #HistoryNerd #AnimalHistory #SmartestYearEver #LearnSomethingNew #CatFacts #MaritimeHistory #WeirdHistory #DailyFacts

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  • What’s the Rarest Birthday? (And Why It Happens Less Often) | Smartest Year Ever (May 1, 2025)

    What’s the Rarest Birthday? (And Why It Happens Less Often) | Smartest Year Ever (May 1, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    Ever wondered what the rarest birthday is — and why some dates barely get any love? 🎂 In today's episode, Gordy breaks down real U.S. birth data to reveal why holidays like Christmas and New Year’s have far fewer births — and why September is a birthday traffic jam. Turns out, culture, scheduling, and simple timing all shape the calendar more than you’d think.

    Stay curious, stay clever — and keep sharpening your skills on the quest to become the World’s Greatest Conversationalists.

    Sources:

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). National Vital Statistics Reports. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/nvsr.htm

    Miller, C. (2021, September 17). What Are the Most and Least Common Birthdays in the U.S.? The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/09/17/upshot/common-birthdays.html

    Time and Date. (n.d.). Most Common Birthdays. Retrieved from https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/birthdays.html

    Statista Research Department. (2023, October). Most and least common birthdays in the U.S. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/758564/number-of-births-in-the-us-by-day/

    Music thanks to Zapsplat.

    #SmartestYearEver #DailyFacts #FunFacts #DidYouKnow #BirthdayFacts #HistoryNerd #LearnSomethingNew #QuickFacts #MindBlown #WeirdFacts #CleverFacts

  • How the First Transatlantic Cable Changed the World (Then Immediately Broke) | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 30, 2025)

    How the First Transatlantic Cable Changed the World (Then Immediately Broke) | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 30, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    In 1858, a cable was laid across the Atlantic Ocean—a 2,500-mile-long copper wire connecting Europe and North America for the first time. It was a technological marvel, a symbol of progress, and the "eighth wonder of the world"... for three weeks.

    This episode dives into how the first transatlantic telegraph cable changed global communication—before it was fried by a man named Wildman Whitehouse. Gordy explores the wild story of Victorian ambition, why we still rely on undersea cables today, and what became of all that copper.

    The first message took 17 hours to transmit. The first cable didn’t last much longer. But it was just enough to change the world forever.

    Music thanks to Zapsplat.

    Sources:

    Standage, T. (1998). The Victorian Internet. Walker & Company.

    Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). The Transatlantic Cable. National Museum of American History. https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_713478

    PBS. (n.d.). Transatlantic Cable Timeline. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/cable-timeline/

    #HistoryNerd #TelegraphHistory #SmartestYearEver #DailyFacts #OceanCable #FunFacts #DidYouKnow #QuickFacts #LearnSomethingNew #MindBlown #WeirdHistory #TechHistory #ConversationStarters

  • What’s the Oldest Joke Ever Recorded? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 29, 2025)

    What’s the Oldest Joke Ever Recorded? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 29, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    The oldest joke in human history was written over 4,000 years ago, and yes, it’s about a fart. Gordy explores this ancient gag from Sumer, how humor has evolved (or hasn’t), and dives into the roots of comedy from Egyptian, Greek, and Roman times. Turns out, the formula for laughs—taboo, absurdity, and relatability—hasn’t changed much. What’s different? Just the platform.

    Join Smartest Year Ever and discover how farts, insults, and dumb-guy jokes are timeless.

    Stay curious, stay clever.

    Sources:

    Wiseman, R. (2007). Quirkology: The curious science of everyday lives. Pan Macmillan.

    BBC News. (2010). World's oldest joke traced back to 1900 BC. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-10855857

    Kington, T. (2008). Fart joke is oldest gag in world. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jul/31/iraq

    Beard, M. (2014). Laughter in Ancient Rome: On joking, tickling, and cracking up. University of California Press.

    #SmartestYearEver #AncientHistory #FunFacts #HistoryNerd #AncientJokes #FartJokes #ComedyHistory #WeirdFacts #DidYouKnow #MindBlown

    Music thanks to Zapsplat

  • Why Are There So Many Pigeons in Cities? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 28, 2025)

    Why Are There So Many Pigeons in Cities? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 28, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    Pigeons are everywhere—but why? In this episode, Gordy uncovers how these birds went from ancient messengers and status symbols to the feathered freeloaders of modern cities. Turns out, today's city pigeons are descendants of the rock dove, one of the earliest domesticated animals. Once prized by Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and Persians, they thrived alongside humans for thousands of years—before going feral. Cities became the perfect stand-in for their natural cliffside homes, and they never left.

    Why do pigeons love cities? Because we built them a concrete paradise.

    From ancient air mail to sidewalk strutters, this is how pigeons became permanent residents.

    Stay curious, stay clever.

    Sources:

    Haag-Wackernagel, D. (1990). Human–pigeon interaction in urban areas. Anthrozoös, 3(3), 163–174.

    Johnston, R. F., & Janiga, M. (1995). Feral Pigeons. Oxford University Press.

    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Rock Pigeon (Columba livia). Retrieved from https://www.fws.gov/species/rock-pigeon-columba-livia

    Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Pigeon: Bird. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/animal/pigeon-bird

    Music thanks to Zapsplat.

  • Why Is It Called Bluetooth? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 27, 2025)

    Why Is It Called Bluetooth? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 27, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    Bluetooth: one of the most common wireless technologies today—but why is it named after a Viking king with a dead tooth? Gordy explores the quirky origin of the name, diving into the story of Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson, the 10th-century ruler who united Denmark and Norway... and inspired the name of a 1990s tech revolution.

    Find out why engineers at Intel, Ericsson, and Nokia almost went with a bland name like PAN ("Personal Area Networking"), but instead left us with Viking runes in every wireless device we own.

    And yes—that Bluetooth logo? It's a bind rune. You're literally pairing your devices with Viking letters.

    So next time your headphones sync, thank a medieval warlord with questionable dental hygiene.

    Sources

    Kardach, J. (2008). The Name Bluetooth. Intel Technology Journal. Retrieved from https://www.kardach.com/bluetooth/naming-bluetooth

    BBC News. (2015). Bluetooth: How a Viking king inspired wireless tech. BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30935850

    Norse Mythology for Smart People. (n.d.). Bind Runes and Bluetooth Logo. Retrieved from https://norse-mythology.org/

    Music thanks to Zapsplat.

    #HistoryFacts #TechHistory #Bluetooth #Vikings #SmartFacts #DailyFacts #ScienceFacts #FunFacts #LearnSomethingNew #BrainFood #WirelessTech #HaraldBluetooth #RuneSymbols #TechTrivia

  • Do You Own the Land All the Way to the Earth’s Core? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 26, 2025)

    Do You Own the Land All the Way to the Earth’s Core? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 26, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    Ever wondered how deep your property really goes? Gordy takes you on a deep dive—literally—into subsurface property rights. From ancient laws like the ad coelum doctrine to modern mineral rights and airspace ownership, this episode explores what you actually own beneath your feet... and what belongs to someone else.

    You might own your house, your yard, even a nice basement—but the Earth’s core? That’s where the line is drawn. Find out why you can’t just dig your way to the center of the Earth, and how oil companies, air rights, and geothermal laws shape what’s yours—and what’s not.

    Stay curious, stay clever.

    Sources:

    Bender, S. D. (2019). Subsurface Property Rights: Who Owns the Earth Below? Property and Law Journal, 45.

    American Bar Association. (n.d.). Mineral Rights: Surface Rights vs. Subsurface Rights. Retrieved from https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/publications/teaching-legal-docs/mineral-rights/

    Cornell Legal Information Institute. (n.d.). Ad Coelum Doctrine. Retrieved from https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/ad_coelum

    NYC Planning. (n.d.). Air Rights and the Zoning Resolution. Retrieved from https://www.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/about/city-planning-history/zoning-resolution.pdf

    U.S. Geological Survey. (n.d.). Subsurface Ownership in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.usgs.gov/programs/energy-resources-program/science/subsurface-ownership-united-states

    Music thanks to Zapsplat.

    #SmartestYearEver #LearnEveryDay #PropertyRights #WeirdLaws #HistoryFacts #FunFacts #GeologyFacts #DailyLearning #MindBlown #StayCurious #WorldsGreatestConversationalists

  • Could a Neanderthal Outrun You? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 25, 2025)

    Could a Neanderthal Outrun You? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 25, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    Neanderthals weren’t just strong—they were fast. Built like linebackers, not marathoners. Gordy breaks down how fast a Neanderthal could sprint, using modern biomechanics, anthropology, and evolutionary science.

    With shorter limbs but massive muscle attachments, Neanderthals could hit estimated speeds of 20–25 mph in short bursts—almost matching elite modern athletes. So, could they beat you in a 40-yard dash? The answer might surprise you.

    Explore the science of speed, the evolutionary split between Neanderthals and modern humans, and what it means to be built for burst, not distance.

    Follow Smartest Year Ever for more daily facts that make you a better conversationalist.

    Sources:

    Payne, R.C., & Crompton, R.H. (2014). Biomechanical consequences of shorter lower limbs in Neanderthals. Journal of Human Evolution, 76, 98–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2014.03.002

    Raichlen, D.A., & Lieberman, D.E. (2009). Running, endurance, and Homo evolution. Journal of Human Evolution, 56, 403–410.

    University College London. (2019). Neanderthals sprinted through Ice Age woodlands. UCL News. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2019/jan/neanderthals-sprinted-ice-age-woodlands

    Churchill, S.E. (2014). Thin on the Ground: Neandertal Biology, Archeology and Ecology. Wiley-Blackwell.

    #NeanderthalSpeed #HumanEvolution #SprintVsEndurance #Anthropology #Biomechanics #SmartestYearEver #StayCurious #StayClever #DailyKnowledge

    Music thanks to Zapsplat.

  • LA’s Palm Trees Are Dying—and They’re Not Coming Back | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 24, 2025)

    LA’s Palm Trees Are Dying—and They’re Not Coming Back | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 24, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    Palm trees and Los Angeles feel like they go hand in hand—but they’re not even from here. Most were imported in the early 20th century to help sell a dream, and now that dream is fading. These trees are aging out, not being replaced, and within a few decades, they’ll disappear from LA’s skyline. Gordy breaks down the history of LA’s palm obsession, why they were planted in the first place, and what’s replacing them as the city shifts away from its iconic—but artificial—look.

    Follow Gordy on his daily quest to become the world’s greatest conversationalist.

    Sources:

    Los Angeles Times. (2022). L.A. is iconic for its palm trees. But they're on the way out. https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-06-23/l-a-iconic-palm-trees-are-disappearing

    KCET. (n.d.). Are palm trees native to L.A.? Where did they come from? https://www.kcet.org/history-society/are-palm-trees-native-to-l-a

    Smithsonian Magazine. (2017). Why are there so many palm trees in Los Angeles? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/why-are-there-so-many-palm-trees-los-angeles-180962374/

    Los Angeles Department of City Planning. (n.d.). Urban Forestry: Street Trees. https://planning.lacity.org/odocument/42a4e8c2-df5e-42b0-8724-b27557d8db9a/StreetTrees.pdf

    Music thanks to Zapsplat. #PalmTrees #LosAngeles #SmartestYearEver #UrbanForestry #CityPlanning #DailyFacts #NatureFacts #FunFacts #DidYouKnow #TreeFacts #Environment #HistoryFacts

  • Why Zebras Were Never Domesticated | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 23, 2025)

    Why Zebras Were Never Domesticated | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 23, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    Why don’t we ride zebras? They look like designer horses, but they’ve never joined the lineup of domesticated animals. In this episode, Gordy dives into the wild nature of zebras, why they’ve resisted human control, and how their biology and behavior made them impossible to tame—even in Africa where people lived beside them for thousands of years.

    From Lord Walter Rothschild’s zebra carriage to modern genetics, we explore why these striped beasts remain untouchable. Learn how temperament, social structure, and evolution left zebras on the sidelines while horses took center stage in human history.

    Stay curious, stay clever.

    Follow @SmartestYearEver for more daily facts on the journey to become the world’s greatest conversationalists.

    Sources:

    Clutton-Brock, J. (1992). Horse Power: A History of the Horse and Donkey in Human Societies. Harvard University Press.

    Diamond, J. (1997). Guns, Germs, and Steel. W. W. Norton & Company.

    ZME Science. (n.d.). Why Zebras Were Never Domesticated. Retrieved from https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/natural-sciences/animals/mammals/why-zebras-were-never-domesticated

    Rare Historical Photos. (n.d.). Riding Zebras: Historical Photographs. Retrieved from https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/riding-zebras-photographs

    University College London. (2019). Neanderthals sprinted through Ice Age woodlands. Retrieved from https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2019/jan/neanderthals-sprinted-ice-age-woodlands

    Music thanks to Zapsplat.

    #Zebras #AnimalFacts #WhyZebrasArentRidden #SmartestYearEver #DailyFacts #FunFacts #HistoryFacts #Domestication #DidYouKnow #Evolution #ScienceFacts #CuriousMinds #AnimalBehavior #StayCurious

  • Who Invented the Recycling Symbol? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 22, 2025)

    Who Invented the Recycling Symbol? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 22, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    On Earth Day 1970, a college student submitted a simple, elegant design to a contest. That design became the now-iconic recycling symbol—a triangle of arrows chasing each other endlessly. But does it really mean something is recyclable?

    In today’s episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy dives into the surprising history and modern misuse of the recycling symbol, also known as the Mobius loop. From Gary Anderson’s winning design to the unregulated use of the triangle-on-plastics today, this story is a perfect example of how good intentions can get muddied by marketing.

    You’ll learn:

    Who actually invented the recycling symbol—and why

    What those little numbers inside the triangle really mean

    Why most plastics with the symbol still end up in the landfill

    And how “circular reasoning” might be the most honest description of all

    Whether you care about the environment or just love a good origin story, this one’s for you.

    ‱ California Attorney General. (2022). Attorney General Bonta launches investigation into role of fossil fuel and petrochemical industries in causing global plastic pollution. https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-launches-investigation-role-fossil-fuel-and

    ‱ American Institute of Graphic Arts. (2020). Recycling symbol turns 50. https://www.aiga.org/aiga/content/tools-and-resources/recycling-symbol-turns-50/

    ‱ Stanford Magazine. (2020). Symbolically green: The story behind the recycling symbol. https://stanfordmag.org/contents/symbolically-green

    ‱ Federal Trade Commission. (2012). Guides for the use of environmental marketing claims (Green Guides). https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/complying-green-guides

    #RecyclingFacts #EarthDay #PlasticWaste #DesignHistory #Greenwashing #MobiusLoop #Sustainability #EnvironmentalEducation #SmartestYearEver

    Music thanks to Zapsplat.

  • The Craziest Olympic Marathon Ever | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 21, 2025)

    The Craziest Olympic Marathon Ever | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 21, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    In today’s Smartest Year Ever, Gordy dives into the wildest Olympic race of all time—the 1904 Olympic Marathon in St. Louis, Missouri, a chaotic, dusty disaster full of cars, poison, and unbelievable cheating.

    From runners collapsing in 90-degree heat with no water, to a guy literally riding in a car for part of the race
 and still almost winning—this event was absolute madness.

    Even the official winner, Thomas Hicks, was dosed with strychnine—yes, the poison used to kill rats—mixed with brandy and egg whites to keep him going. He was hallucinating, carried across the finish line, and still declared the gold medalist.

    This episode reveals the bizarre early history of performance-enhancing drugs, Olympic rule chaos, and why this race almost killed people—including its winner.

    Was this the most ridiculous race in Olympic history? You decide.

    Sources:

    Lennartz, K., & Teutenberg, W. (2004). The 1904 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary. McFarland.

    Wallechinsky, D., & Loucky, J. (2012). The Complete Book of the Olympics. Aurum Press.

    The Guardian. (2012, July 30). Olympic scandal: the 1904 marathon was pure mayhem. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/jul/30/olympics-2012-1904-marathon

    Smithsonian Magazine. (n.d.). The 1904 Olympic Marathon May Have Been the Strangest Ever. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1904-olympic-marathon-may-have-been-strangest-ever-180952747/

    International Olympic Committee. (n.d.). History of Doping Control. https://olympics.com/ioc/medical-and-scientific-commission

    #Olympics #OlympicHistory #StrangeButTrue #1904Marathon #WeirdHistory #SmartestYearEver #DailyFacts #MarathonMonday #HistoryNerd #LearnEveryDay #PodcastFacts #RunningHistory #bostonmarathon #olympics #olympichistory #athletic #runners Music thanks to Zapsplat.

  • Why Do We Say “Going Cold Turkey”? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 20, 2025)

    Why Do We Say “Going Cold Turkey”? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 20, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    Why do we say someone quit “cold turkey” when they stop something abruptly? Gordy breaks down the two top theories behind this odd phrase—and neither involves leftovers.

    One theory ties the phrase to the physical symptoms of withdrawal, where pale skin and goosebumps were said to resemble uncooked turkey. The other traces it back to the older phrase “talking turkey,” meaning to speak plainly—with “cold turkey” evolving into a metaphor for doing something bluntly and without ceremony.

    So which theory is right? Honestly, both could be. Language is rarely as tidy as we want it to be.

    Sources:

    Ayto, J. (2010). Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford University Press.

    Etymonline. (n.d.). Cold turkey. Retrieved from https://www.etymonline.com/word/cold%20turkey

    Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). The origin of "cold turkey." Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/what-does-cold-turkey-mean

    #SmartestYearEver #ColdTurkey #WordOrigins #LanguageFacts #FunFacts #CuriousMinds #HistoryNerd #EverydayPhrases #DidYouKnow #LearnEveryDay Music thanks to Zapsplat.

  • How Did They Measure Everest Before Computers? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 19, 2025)

    How Did They Measure Everest Before Computers? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 19, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    How did they measure Mount Everest before satellites, drones, or even calculators? In today’s episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy explores how 19th-century surveyors pulled off one of the most impressive feats of pre-digital science — calculating the height of the world’s tallest mountain with stunning precision.

    Long before GPS, the British-led Great Trigonometrical Survey of India used trigonometry, angle measurements, and a whole lot of patience to determine that Peak XV — later renamed Mount Everest — was the highest point on Earth. And the number they came up with? Just 29 feet off from what modern tech says today.

    You’ll learn about:

    The math behind the original height calculation

    Why they couldn’t just climb it

    The forgotten local names of Everest

    And how this entire project rewrote what we knew about the Earth’s surface

    This is a story of math, ambition, and colonial geography — and one of the most mind-blowing scientific estimates in human history.

    Sources:

    Waugh, A. (1856). The Survey of Mount Everest. Royal Geographical Society.

    Green, C. S. (1999). Surveying Techniques and Early Geographical Discoveries. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 33(4).

    Royal Geographical Society. (n.d.). History of Mount Everest’s Surveying. Retrieved from www.rgs.org

    Headrick, D. R. (2009). Technology: A World History. Oxford University Press.

    #MountEverest #EverestFacts #HistoryNerd #SmartestYearEver #DailyLearning #GeoHistory #MountainTrivia #TrigonometricalSurvey #ScienceFacts #WorldGeography #GTSIndia #SurveyingHistory #intothinair #Everest #math Music thanks to Zapsplat.

  • Why Do We Have a Uvula? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 18, 2025)

    Why Do We Have a Uvula? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 18, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    You know that little dangly thing at the back of your throat? It’s called the uvula, and it’s not just hanging out for decoration. In today’s episode, Gordy dives into why we have a uvula, what it does, and how it quietly helps us speak, swallow, and stay healthy.

    Turns out, this squishy little grape-shaped structure is involved in everything from making certain consonants possible to preventing food from going up your nose. It even contributes to your immune defense — and yes, it can swell up and cause trouble if you treat it wrong (ask College Gordy).

    Plus, where did the name “uvula” even come from? And why would anyone want it removed?

    This episode is all about small things that punch above their weight — and the uvula is a surprisingly mighty MVP.

    🧠 Smart conversations start with smart curiosity. This one’s juicy.

    Sources

    Jones, K., et al. (2011). The role of the uvula in speech and swallowing. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 20(1), 13–20.

    Hunter, W. (1995). The anatomy and function of the uvula. Journal of Medical History.

    Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.). Uvula. oed.com.

    Brodsky, L. (2014). Surgical management of the uvula and its role in sleep apnea. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 35.

    #Uvula #AnatomyFacts #SpeechScience #SmartestYearEver #FunFacts #DidYouKnow #WeirdBiology #DailyFacts #LearnSomethingNewEveryDay

    Music thanks to Zapsplat.

  • Why Didn’t the Industrial Revolution Happen in Ancient Rome? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 17, 2025)

    Why Didn’t the Industrial Revolution Happen in Ancient Rome? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 17, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    If Ancient Rome was so brilliant, why didn’t they invent trains? Or steam engines? Or, you know
 industrialize?

    In this episode, Gordy explores why one of history’s most advanced civilizations never sparked an industrial revolution, even though they had brilliant engineers, sprawling cities, and even a proto-steam engine over a thousand years before James Watt.

    From the invention of Hero’s aeolipile to Rome’s heavy reliance on slave labor and rigid social hierarchies, this episode breaks down the real reasons why the Romans paved the roads, but never built the trains. Spoiler: It’s not because they weren’t smart.

    Perfect for history nerds, science fans, and anyone who’s ever asked: “What if Rome had railroads?”

    Sources:

    Wilson, A. (2002). Machines, Power and the Ancient Economy. The Journal of Roman Studies, 92, 1–32.

    Landels, J. G. (2000). Engineering in the Ancient World. University of California Press.

    Oleson, J. P. (Ed.). (2008). The Oxford Handbook of Engineering and Technology in the Classical World. Oxford University Press.

    Greene, K. (1990). The Archaeology of the Roman Economy. University of California Press.

    Headrick, D. R. (2009). Technology: A World History. Oxford University Press.

    Hashtags: #AncientRome #IndustrialRevolution #HistoryNerds #SmartestYearEver #DidYouKnow #WhyRomeHadNoTrains #EverydayHistoryFacts

    Music thanks to Zapsplat.

  • Where Do Food Idioms Come From? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 16, 2025)

    Where Do Food Idioms Come From? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 16, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    Why do we call someone the “salt of the earth”? Or say someone’s “all that and a bag of chips”? In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy breaks down the surprising, strange, and sometimes murky origins of common food idioms. From medieval soup to colonial slang, we’re digging into five of the most popular phrases — including one submitted by a listener on TikTok.

    Language is messy, and idiom histories aren’t always crystal clear — but these stories give you the best-supported theories we’ve got. Tune in for a tasty batch of etymological brain snacks you can drop at your next dinner party.

    🧂 Phrases covered in this episode:

    Salt of the earth

    Have your cake and eat it too

    Make no bones about it

    All that and a bag of chips

    Big cheese

    Follow @SmartestYearEver on your favorite platforms for daily wit, wisdom, and conversational gold.

    Sources:

    Ayto, J. (2010). Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford University Press.

    Green, J. (2010). Green’s Dictionary of Slang. Chambers.

    Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.oed.com

    Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Dictionary and Thesaurus. https://www.merriam-webster.com

    Smithsonian Magazine. (n.d.). The mysterious origins of everyday phrases. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-mysterious-origins-of-everyday-phrases-180974609/

    Music thanks to Zapsplat. #languagefacts #etymology #FoodPhrases #SmartestYearEver #IdiomsExplained #LearnEveryDay #WittyWisdom #FunFacts #WordOrigins #EverydayEnglish

  • Why You Can’t Sell Your Oscar | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 15, 2025)

    Why You Can’t Sell Your Oscar | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 15, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    Since 1951, Oscar winners have been legally blocked from selling their statuettes. Why? Because the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences wants to keep the Oscars about artistic merit—not money.

    Gordy breaks down the unusual contract every winner enters: they must offer the Oscar back to the Academy for one dollar before trying to sell, gift, or even bequeath it. That dollar isn’t random—it’s a legal requirement called “consideration.” Without it, the agreement wouldn’t hold up in court.

    So while Oscar winners can cherish their awards forever, they’re not allowed to cash them in. Even their heirs can’t sell them—unless it’s a pre-1951 statuette, like the one Michael Jackson bought for $1.54 million.

    And yes—the Academy enforces it. Heirs have been sued. Auctions have been shut down. And the courts have backed the Academy every time.

    This is the rare award you can win
 but never truly own.

    Sources:

    Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. (n.d.). Regulations. Oscars.org. https://www.oscars.org/legal/regulations

    CBS News. (n.d.). How much is an Oscar statue worth? The resale value of Academy Awards. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-oscar-statue-worth

    TIME. (2014). If You Sell Your Oscar, You're Going to Get Sued. https://time.com/2948153/oscar-sold-sued-joseph-wright-briarbrook-auctions

    #Oscars #FilmFacts #HollywoodHistory #DailyFacts #SmartestYearEver Music thanks to Zapsplat.

  • Why Do Cicadas Sleep for 17 Years? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 14, 2025)

    Why Do Cicadas Sleep for 17 Years? | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 14, 2025)

    · Smartest Year Ever

    Why Do Cicadas Wait 17 Years to Emerge? The Evolutionary Secret Behind Prime Number Broods

    Cicadas don’t hibernate for 17 years—they strategically wait underground, avoiding predators with one of the most fascinating evolutionary timelines on Earth.

    In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy dives into Brood XIV, the massive group of cicadas emerging in 2025 across 13 U.S. states. Why do they come out every 13 or 17 years? And why those weird prime numbers?

    Turns out, it’s a brilliant move called predator satiation—and the prime-number timing may help them avoid syncing up with predator life cycles entirely. Gordy breaks it all down with vivid, weirdly satisfying logic. You'll also learn how cicadas live as root-sucking nymphs underground for nearly two decades before emerging in a synchronized, noisy, reproductive flash mob.

    If you're in the eastern U.S., get ready: the ground’s about to hum.

    Sources:

    U.S. Forest Service. (n.d.). Here come the cicadas!. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/features/here-come-cicadas

    Live Science. (2011, May 13). Why Southern Cicadas Emerge In Exact Prime Number Cycles. https://www.livescience.com/14238-southern-cicadas-emerge-exact-prime-number-cycles.html

    NBC Chicago. (2024, April). Which cicada broods you will see in different parts of Illinois. https://www.nbcchicago.com/cicadas-illinois-chicago-2024/which-cicada-broods-see-different-parts-illinois-historic-emergence-begins/3428725/

    #Cicadas #NatureFacts #Evolution #BroodXIV #17Years #Entomology #FunFacts #PrimeNumbers #SmartestYearEver

    Music thanks to Zapsplat.

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