What makes volcanoes erupt? | Steven Anderson
In February of 1942, Mexican farmer Dionisio Pulido thought he heard thunder coming from his cornfield. However, the sound wasn't coming from the sky. The source was a large, smoking crack emitting ga...
13 Jul 20205min
What happened when the United States tried to ban alcohol | Rod Phillips
On January 17, 1920, less than one hour after spirits had become illegal throughout the United States, armed men robbed a Chicago freight train and made off with thousands of dollars worth of whiskey....
9 Jul 20204min
The tale of the boy who tricked the Devil | Iseult Gillespie
In a small town, a proud mother showed off her newborn son. Upon noticing his lucky birthmark, townsfolk predicted he would marry a princess. But soon, these rumors reached the wicked king. Enraged, t...
7 Jul 20205min
The greatest mathematician that never lived | Pratik Aghor
When Nicolas Bourbaki applied to the American Mathematical Society in the 1950s, he was already one of the most influential mathematicians of his time. He'd published articles in international journal...
6 Jul 20204min
What is phantom traffic and why is it ruining your life? | Benjamin Seibold
You're cruising down the highway when all of a sudden endless rows of brake lights appear ahead. There's no accident, no stoplight, no change in speed limit, or narrowing of the road. So why is there ...
28 Mai 20204min
Why should you read "Moby Dick"? | Sascha Morrell
A mountain separating two lakes. A room papered floor to ceiling with bridal satins. The lid of an immense snuffbox. These seemingly unrelated images take us on a tour of a sperm whale's head in Herma...
26 Mai 20205min
How do ventilators work? | Alex Gendler
In the 16th century, physician Andreas Vesalius described how a suffocating animal could be kept alive by inserting a tube into its trachea and blowing air to inflate its lungs. Today, Vesalius's trea...
21 Mai 20205min
Can you solve the world's most evil wizard riddle? | Dan Finkel
The evil wizard MoldeVort has been trying to kill you for years, and today it looks like he's going to succeed. But your friends are on their way, and if you can survive until they arrive, they should...
19 Mai 20204min
