Listen Now

This week, we’ll explore some Missing UFOs, Any Color (So Long as It’s Black), the Shellfish Conundrum, and Art-O-Mats. But first, it’s time for a Mother and Child Reunion, presented to you by one Paul Simon. REFERENCES MOTHER AND CHILD REUNION THE MISSING UFOS ANY COLOR SO LONG AS IT’S BLACK THE SHELLFISH CONUNDRUM ART-O-MAT If you have a question, comment or recipe, please send them to jeff@collegeofcuriosity.com. Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg Additional music from bensound.com and Trent Brusky     What do these have in common? It’s not the sea…  The post Oddments 22 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

This week, we’ll take a look at drying hands, begging the questions, what it means to be a pirate, and how you can win the lottery. REFERENCES Restroom Evolution Begging the Question Pirates of the Prairie State How to Win the Lottery If you have a question, comment or recipe, please send them to jeff@collegeofcuriosity.com. Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg Additional music from bensound.com     Original photo by Alberto GottardoThe post Oddments 21 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

This week, we’ll take some of the things the TSA finds, the “Man of the Year,” Guy Fawkes masks and a cup of tea. REFERENCES The TSA Man of the Year Why Guy Fawkes? Boston Tea If you have a question, comment or recipe, please send them to jeff@collegeofcuriosity.com. Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg Additional music from bensound.com     Remember, remember, the 16th of December…The post Oddments 20 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

This week, we’ll take a look at a mystery involving dead deer, learn the deadly truth behind the word “meromictic,” shun fresh cashews, smile at hook worms, and explore the desert with some allergy sufferers. REFERENCES A Natural Death Meromictic Cashew Juice The Happy Hookworm! Arizona Therapy! If you have a question, comment or recipe, please send them to jeff@collegeofcuriosity.com. Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg Additional music from bensound.com       Deadly nightshade, also known as belladonna. (Photo by Kurt Stüber)The post Oddments 19 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

In this episode, we visit the familiar hills of Watership Down, the explosive genesis of a religion, a writer who wasn’t, and an alternative dictionary with added truth. REFERENCES The Fate of Watership Down The Unlikely Birth of a Religion The Mystery of Thomas James Bitter Bierce If you have a question, comment or recipe, please send them to jeff@collegeofcuriosity.com. Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg     The explosion felt around the world… for years.The post Oddments 18 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

In this episode, we explore an enduring mystery with plenty of clues, birds with unusual numbers of wings, the ingenuity of farmers, and a symbol that means “Good Existence.” REFERENCES The Somerton Man Wings on Things Farmer’s Folly? Good Existence If you have a question, comment or recipe, please send them to jeff@collegeofcuriosity.com. Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg   Tamam ShudThe post Oddments 17 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

Hello, and welcome to the Daily Curio Season 2. For the next 100 episodes, we’re changing the format a bit. New pieces will now feature more in-depth stories with enhanced sound production. For those that would like to listen or read in ten minute chunks, the week’s episodes will be compiled into a single episode of Oddments, which will stand alone as an entire episode. Oddments is available as a separate shows for those that wish to subscribe. Just search your podcast provider for “College of Curiosity Oddments”, or use the feed here. For Season 2, something will connect each episode on a weekly basis, that is… the week will have a theme. But it will be kept secret until it’s revealed at the beginning of the following week. See how many episodes it takes for you to figure it out. Your feedback is encouraged. If you have an idea for a topic, or you’d like to try something different, drop as a line at jeff@collegeofcuriosity.com. If you’d like to help support the show, visit our Amazon store at CollegeOfCuriosity.com/shop. A portion of each sale will go to us and help us purchase server space and items for our live performances. Our first episode concerns the continuing mystery of The Somerton Man, who you’ll learn about next time.   Season 2 starts nextThe post 2-00. Season Two first appeared on College of Curiosity.

In this episode, we learn some secrets from the tail numbers on aircraft, discover the meaning of cabotage, and meet a man who’s always drunk. But first, let’s have a listen to some miserable people… REFERENCES Les Miserables Elephant Wikipedia: Elephant of the Bastille Art of the Film: The Elephant of Les Miserables N-Numbers FAA: N-Numbers Internet Movie Plane Database: Official Site Cabotage Wikipedia: Jones Act Heritage Foundation: Sink the Jones Act Autobrewery NPR: Auto Brewery Syndrome Curious in the South Pacific College of Curiosity: Join Us! Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg   It’s a giant elephant because… yes.The post Oddments 16 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

This time, we’ll answer the age old question Paper or Plastic, explore beneath the sea, try to tongue twist a computer, and learn the real reason that the Titanic Movie happened. But first, let’s see what’s on the road with us… REFERENCES Paper or Plastic? How Stuff Works: Which is more environmentally friendly: paper or plastic? Chicago Tribune: What’s in your shopping bag? Bacteria YouTube – Tim Minchin: Canvas Bags Tongue Twisters Discovery: Why Does Repeating “Toy Boat” Twist Tongues? Uebersetzung: English Tongue Twisters Ocean Exploration Trust Nautilus Live: Official Site Ocean Exploration Trust: Official Site Argo and the Titanic Telegraph UK: Titanic Mission Was Cover for a Submarine Search HazMat UN Numbers Wikipedia: UN Numbers Half Bakery: HazMat Bingo Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg   Having a gun did not help the Robert E. Lee (Photo by Ocean Exploration Trust)The post Oddments 15 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

NATO’s alphabet and number stations, the kidnapping game, flying from an old church, the odd invention of one-way streets, and dreamers of dreams. REFERENCES NATO Alphabet and Number Stations Wikipedia: NATO Alphabet Skeptoid: Spy Radio: Numbers Stations Amazon: Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Conet Project: Recordings of Shortwave Number Stations Geoguessr Geoguessr: Lets Explore the World! Old North Church Flying North End Boston: John Child’s Flight From “Old North” Paul Revere Heritage Project: Myths and Facts of Revere’s Midnight Ride One-Way Streets and Morro Castle New Jersey History’s Mysteries: The Strange Tragedy of the Morro Castle Wikipedia: One-way Traffic Dreamers of Dreams Bartleby: Ode by Arthur O’Shaugnessy Wikipedia: Arthur O’Shaugnessy Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg   The good times did not lastThe post Oddments 14 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

The mystery of the Fool Killer, listen to a eerie waterphone, explore some unusual things about beavers, go to war with Albert Cashier, and drive like we’re in a 1980’s video game. REFERENCES Fool Killer Mysterious Chicago: The Foolkiller Submarine Straight Dope: Update on  the Fool Killer, Chicago’s Mystery Submarine Waterphone Waterphone Online: Official Site YouTube: H2O Demo (Waterphone) 00 Beaver Facts Yahoo Voices: 25 Interesting Facts About Beavers Scientific American: Once Upon A Time, The Catholic Church Decide That Beavers Were Fish Albert Cashier Wikipedia: Albert Cashier Smart Roads NPR: Dutch Test Glow-In-The-Dark Road Of The Future Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg   The Wonderful WaterphoneThe post Oddments 13 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

Lightning as navigation, castle thunder, Greenland’s problems, glowing, LOUD amorous fish and a visit from Professor Wonka. REFERENCES Lightning National Geographic: Flash Facts About Lightning Wikipedia: Lightning (not Lightening) Wikipedia: Catatumbo lightning Greenland Norden: Facts about Greenland Geography 222: The Power of Maps Wikipedia: Map Projection West Coast Hum KING 5: West Seattle hum could be fish (seriously) Wikipedia: Midshipman Fish Hilaire Belloc ala Willy Wonka Wikipedia: Hilaire Belloc Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg Scary Church Organ by FoolBoyMedia Greenlandic Singing by juskiddink Fanfare by bone666138   The post Oddments 12 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

This week finds your host under the weather, which is a perfect time to turn to Mark Twain for help. REFERENCES Newspaper Articles by Mark Twain Librivox: Newspaper Articles by Mark Twain Librivox is a project in which volunteers create audio books and place the in the public domain for all to enjoy. This is just one of thousands of such works available. Commentary by Jeff Wagg Mark Twain’s articles read by John Greenman The San Francisco Daily Morning Call, September, 1864 Theme song by Fisher Wagg Market Song by Axton Crowley Mark Twain ~ 1864The post Oddments 11 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

Richard Feynman, Paul Pena and Tuvan throat singing, Voyage 1 still listening to space sounds 35 years into its journey, the long strange trip of Peking Man, a 100 year old aquarium and dandy candy. REFERENCES Tuvan Throat Singing Wikipedia: Overtone Singing IMDB: Genghis Blues Wikipedia: Tuva or Bust! Space Noise NASA: Sounds of Interstellar Space Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Voyager Peking Man American Museum of Natural History: Peking Man Wikipedia: MV Awa Maru Belle Isle Aquarium Wikipedia: Belle Isle Aquarium Night Train Detroit: Fish Week: The Belle Isle Aquarium Ogden Nash ala Willy Wonka Wikipedia: Ogden Nash Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg Designed to give the impression that you’re under the seaThe post Oddments 10 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

A missing sea, a cryptographic puzzle, the U.S’s largest pyramid, artistic butt music, and the announcer’s test. REFERENCES The Aral Sea Wikipedia: Aral Sea The Moscow Times: Symphony for Return to the Aral Sea The Enigma Machine Wikipedia: Enigma Machine Espacenet: Enigma Patent Wikipedia: Cryptanalysis of Enigma Cohokia Cahokia: Official Site Hieronymus Bosch’s Music Guardian UK: Hidden sheet music in Hieronymus Bosch triptych recorded by blogger Tumblr chaoscontrolled123: 600 Year-old Butt Song From Hell The Announcers Test Wikipedia: Announcer’s Test Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg Additional Music by Kai Engel and Julian WinterThe post Oddments 9 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

Various velocipedes, managing mic pops, marching metronomes, forgotten space pioneer Ivan Ivanovich and the Viola Organista REFERENCES VELOCIPEDES Wikipedia: Dandy Horse Wikipedia: Penny Farthing MIC POPS Instructables: Dealing With Mic Pops MARCHING METRONOMES YouTube: 32 out of sync metronomes end up synchronizing IVAN IVANOVICH Wikipedia: Ivan Ivanovich VIOLA ORGANISTA Telegraph: The Amazing Viola Organista  FEAR OF HUNTING Bartleby: The Fairies   Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher WaggThe post Oddments 8 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

In this episode, sunset tricks, brain fun with numbers, moving a giant electromagnet, Titanic’s last song, woodworms and stuck in the Antarctic. REFERENCES SUNSET TRICKS Wikipedia: Green Flash Wikipedia: Sun Dogs FUN WITH NUMBERS Personality Cafe: Quick! Without Thinking… MOVING A GIANT ELECTROMAGNET LiveScience: Giant Electromagnet Completes Its Month-Long Move TITANIC’S LAST SONG The History Blog: Hear Titanic‘s life-saving musical pig play again WOODWORMS Vimeo: Zimoun : 25 woodworms, wood, microphone, sound system, 2009 STUCK IN THE ANTARCTIC BBC News: Science continues for trapped Australasian Antarctic expedition   Commentary by Jeff Wagg Theme song by Fisher Wagg Other music by axtoncrolley  The post Oddments 7 first appeared on College of Curiosity.

In this episode, some original recording of amazing phenomenon, oh the technical problems, and tubular messaging. REFERENCES PISTOL SHRIMP Wikipedia article on Pistol Shrimp Wikipedia article on Sonolumenescence Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge YT: Video of the Pistol Shrimp YT: Mantis Shrimp Opening a Clam HINDENBURG RECORDINGS Complete Film with Corrected Sound Chicago Tribune Article PNEUMATIC MAIL National Postal Museum Explanation London Pneumatic Despatch Company (For Packages) The post ODDMENTS 6. STRANGE SOUNDS, WARPED VOICES, AND THE CHECK IS IN THE TUBE. first appeared on College of Curiosity.

In this episode, No Business, TN, Aubrey gets un-bored in Ohio, Ethan finds Algebra, and a virtual haircut. REFERENCES No Business Map of No Business, TN Parallax Wikipedia article describing the phenomenon YT: Nice example of Parallax Aubrey’s wordmonster Project Charles Dodgson Wikipedia on Charles Dodgson Project Gutenberg books by Lewis Carroll (free) Wikipedia on Condorcet Winning Ethan’s Mathemagician Site Virtual Haircut QSound Binaural demo page Wikipedia on Binaural Recording The post Oddments 5. A ghost town, a mystery in Ohio, a queen's surprise, and a virtual haircut. first appeared on College of Curiosity.

In this episode, Jairus becomes Sargon, Euler’s disk mesmerizes, and Mark Twain comes back from the dead. REFERENCES The First Empire Wikipedia on Sargon and the First Empire Wikipedia on Cuneiform script Wikipedia on City-states Euler’s Disk YT: Euler’s Disk video. (Try it with a laser pointer!) The physics of Euler’s Disk Wikipedia on Leonhard Euler Mark Twain Speaks Complete history of the recording YT: Mark Twain ambles about his home Wikipedia on William Hooker Gillette The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras Country How the Deerstalker cap came to be associated with Holmes Special thanks to Trent Brusky for the music! Trent has a project called Dropfox and is creating music for podcasts of interest, and he can be reached at www.facebook.com/dropfox. Episode logo by Ed Newman.The post Oddments 4. The First Empire, Euler's Disk, and the Voice of Twain. first appeared on College of Curiosity.