Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchELI5 Aircraft Carriers - why are the runways at an angle?
Season 1 Episode 345
Why do modern carriers feature an angled flight deck instead of a straight full-length runway like their WWII predecessors? How fast does an aircraft have to go to take off from a carrier? Why don't …
Published on 9 hours ago
ELI5 Iron - is body iron different to construction iron?
Season 1 Episode 344
Is the Iron in our body different from the Iron used in construction? How did ancient cultures use meteoric iron without knowledge of metallurgy? What makes iron such a vital natural resource through…
Published on 1 week, 2 days ago
ELI5 Daylight Savings Time - who thought it was a good idea?
Season 1
Why do we still change clocks to Daylight Savings Time when so many people dislike it? Who came up with the idea in the first place? Why is there a movement to permanent Daylight Savings Time? Are fa…
Published on 2 weeks, 6 days ago
ELI5 Submarines - how the Titanic was a cover for a US Navy submarine mission
Season 1 Episode 343
If nuclear submarines can generate their own water and oxygen underwater, why do they need to surface at all? Why are submarine propellers always at the back, while airplane propellers are usually at…
Published on 3 weeks, 6 days ago
ELI5 The Gold Standard - how Isaac Newton helped gold win over silver
Season 1 Episode 342
What is the gold standard and how did it influence currency value historically? How did the transition from a gold standard to fiat currency shape modern economics? What led to the abolition of the g…
Published on 1 month ago
ELI5 Locks and Keys - aren't there high chances that two keys are the same?
Season 1 Episode 341
Did you know a standard lock might have thousands of combination possibilities, yet yours might open someone else's door? How does a master key work such that it can open multiple locks without compr…
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago
ELI5 Monopoly - was it invented to criticize capitalism or crush friendships?
Season 1 Episode 340
Did you know that the original Monopoly board was circular as well as made from cloth? How have Monopoly games evolved over the years to create more engaging experiences for players? Can Monopoly act…
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago
ELI5 Ferris Wheels - what inspired George Ferris to invent it?
Season 1 Episode 339
What inspired George Ferris to create the first Ferris wheel at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893? How tall was the original Ferris wheel, and what impressive structure did it aim to surpass? What uni…
Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago
ELI5 Silica Gel Desiccants - can they be reused?
Season 1 Episode 338
What exactly are desiccants, and why are they commonly used in packaging? How does silica gel effectively trap moisture in humid environments? Can you explain the nanoporous structure of silica gel t…
Published on 2 months ago
ELI5 Sleepwalking - is it dangerous to wake someone in the middle of a sleep walk?
Season 1
How does sleepwalking work exactly? Are certain people more prone to it? What types of activities can sleepwalkers get up to? Are there specific triggers that cause sleepwalking? Is it true that waki…
Published on 2 months, 1 week ago