Not So Random Facts
41 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★ - 115 ratingsRandom facts are only random because we don't know the context behind them. This podcast will fix all that by explaining the history, science, and cultural basis for every random fact you've ever wondered about.
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Episodes
The Closest Living Relative Of The T-Rex Is The Chicken
June 05, 2022 16:00 - 16 minutes - 22.8 MBLike many young kids I was fascinated by dinosaurs growing up. The idea of these massive creatures roaming the Earth filled me with wonder and excitement. Stegosaurus was always my favorite personally. But for anyone disappointed that dinosaurs are no longer around I have some good news ... they are. They have just taken a very different form these days. A form that tastes great with barbeque sauce or honey mustard. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To make a ...
The Center Of Our Galaxy Is Made of Raspberry Rum
March 29, 2022 15:53 - 13 minutes - 19.2 MBIf you enjoy a nice cocktail and astronomy, than this is the episode for you. Now before you listen I will admit, I am stretching the definition of rum a bit. But please forgive me because like most episodes of this series I'm excited for the chance to share a random fact that takes us on so many wonderful tangents from the atomic orbitals of electrons to how raspberries get their flavor. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To make a monthly contribution as a subsc...
George Washington Carver Didn't Invent Peanut Butter, but He Did Save American Agriculture
February 20, 2022 10:09 - 15 minutes - 21.9 MBThere's nothing quite as satisfying as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, no matter what your age. And as such a common treat, you might think we should spend an episode discussing the person who invented peanut butter. I thought it was invented by George Washington Carver, but I was wrong, and reading about him led me down an interesting journey about education, agriculture, and the healing powers of legumes. So take a listen to an episode about a man who cared so much about education, h...
Why Is English One of the Only Languages That Has Spelling Bees?
February 02, 2022 06:34 - 27 minutes - 38.3 MBDo you ever mix up there, their, and they're? Or perhaps like me you forget when to use its as opposed to it's. Or perhaps you've wondered why cough doesn't rhyme with rough, or though, or through. Well, English is a messy language. It is so confusing that spelling words correctly is an accomplishment, so we host spelling bees to show off that skill. But English is unique in hosting spelling bees, most cultures of other languages don't have any need to test spelling. That begs the questi...
All Human Beings Glow
June 18, 2021 18:31 - 21 minutes - 29.7 MBFireflies, sea jellies, and ... humans? Seriously, all of them can glow? It's true. But before you look down at your hands and say to yourself these aren't glowing so clearly this episode was made by a crazy person ... give his episode a listen. We take a deep dive into bioluminescence, the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, and free radicals to explain it all. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head t...
98.6 Fahrenheit (or 37 Celsius) Is NOT The Average Human Temperature
February 07, 2021 07:35 - 16 minutes - 22.9 MBFrom an early age we're taught that 98.6 degrees Farhenheit (or 37 degrees Celsius if you live a country that uses a better measurement system) is the average body temperature for a human being. But it turns out that one of the most basic facts of human anatomy is wrong. Find out how a German physician with the greatest name first decided to figure out how hot humans are and why his conclusion no longer applies. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of wha...
Adolf Hitler Was Convicted Of Treason, Then Released From Jail To Promote Unity
February 07, 2021 07:30 - 32 minutes - 45 MBThis is not a typical episode and deals with very heavy subject matter. This episodes discusses the common features of fascism, the riser of fascism in Europe and draws parallels to Trump's version of Conservativism in the United States today. It is not light-hearted and I take no offense to you deciding to skip this episode. Or disagreeing with some of the opinions I put forth. But this is an important conversation to have in the United States right now as nationalism and extremism are o...
Frankenstein Was Written As Part Of A Bet Between Bored Friends In Isolation
October 30, 2020 05:26 - 18 minutes - 24.8 MBIt is such a series of strange events that lead to Mary Shelley and her friends being cooped up for a summer with nothing better to do than tell scary stories. No one could have predicted that a volcano eruption in the South Pacific would so drastically change the weather in Europe that no one could go out that summer due to the cold. But something about the story of friends who are stuck inside trying to come up with new ways to entertain each other certainly seems apropos at the moment, a...
Handshakes Were Once Used to Prove to Enemies You Were Unarmed
October 24, 2020 01:50 - 13 minutes - 19 MBHow many hands have you shaken in your lifetime? Well after this episode, you might want to shake fewer hands in the future. From Ancient Babylon to Medieval Europe to rural America, we'll trace the history of this gesture and why its not a good idea during a pandemic. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head to our website: https://www.storytellerentertainment.co
Cats Chose To Domesticate Themselves ... And May Choose To Go Back
June 10, 2020 06:00 - 16 minutes - 22.4 MBIf dogs are man's best friend, what are cats? Our begrudging roommates? Whatever they are, they hold a unique place in the genetic experiments we call domestication. While goats and sheep looked tasty and wolves were helpful on the hunt, cats were just kind of handy to have around. But they were free to come and go as they please for most of the historical interaction between homo sapiens and felis silvestris ... and that works just fine for cats. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter...
How Similar Was The Boston Tea Party To The Protests Of Today
June 09, 2020 20:40 - 20 minutes - 28.3 MBThe Boston Tea Party was one of the founding moments of the American Revolution, and as such one of the founding moments of the United States. It was a protest against an unfair government by a people who had been pushed beyond their limits. As protests continue in the United States against police brutality, its important to look back at our history to see how this moment compares to our country's origins. If you would like to support protesters, the Black Lives Matter movement, or help al...
How Similar Was The Boston Tea Party To The Protests Of Today?
June 09, 2020 20:40 - 20 minutes - 28.3 MBThe Boston Tea Party was one of the founding moments of the American Revolution, and as such one of the founding moments of the United States. It was a protest against an unfair government by a people who had been pushed beyond their limits. As protests continue in the United States against police brutality, its important to look back at our history to see how this moment compares to our country's origins. If you would like to support protesters, the Black Lives Matter movement, or help al...
BONUS EPISODE: What Did Ancient People Use Instead of Toilet Paper?
April 21, 2020 04:20 - 11 minutes - 15.1 MBAs the pandemic of the coronavirus has lead to frequent shortages of toilet paper, it got me wondering; what did people use before toilet paper? And why, considering its a respiratory disease, are people buying toilet paper in the first place? With a look back through history at a somewhat gross and taboo subject, this episode might just help you if you run out of TP Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head...
What Did Ancient People Use Instead of Toilet Paper?
April 21, 2020 04:20 - 11 minutes - 15.1 MBAs the pandemic of the coronavirus has lead to frequent shortages of toilet paper, it got me wondering; what did people use before toilet paper? And why, considering its a respiratory disease, are people buying toilet paper in the first place? With a look back through history at a somewhat gross and taboo subject, this episode might just help you if you run out of TP Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head...
The "Spanish Flu" killed more people than World War 1 ... How Does The Coronavirus Compare?
April 21, 2020 04:15 - 19 minutes - 26.9 MBThe world was coming out of the devastation of war to find itself in the worst pandemic in centuries. And as its the misnamed Spanish Flu is the worst pandemic we have experienced in the last hundred years or so, its worth taking a look to compare and contrast it with our current situation. The greatest weapon against the disease (and panic) is information, so I hope this episode puts certain aspects of the disease into context. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv ...
In 1992, 29,000 Bathtub Toys Fell Off a Container Ship and Taught Us All About Ocean Currents
October 05, 2019 03:05 - 24 minutes - 33.8 MBIt started as an accident that happens hundreds of times a year; a shipping container fell overboard during rough weather, spilling its contents into the Pacific ocean. But this container was filled with 28,800 beavers, frogs, turtles and rubber duckies that have since then, made their way around the world. And tracking their journey has led oceanographers to discover new information about how interconnected the world's water ways really are. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/ra...
Scientists Have Crossbred Spiders With Goats To Create More Spider Webs
August 04, 2019 01:43 - 16 minutes - 22.8 MBSpiders and goats go together like peanut butter and jelly, right? RIGHT?!? Well, according to some scientists they do, as genetic manipulation has led to a truly unusual hybrid. But why would a scientist do such a thing? Well it has to do with the remarkable qualities of spider silk. It's stronger than steel, tougher than kevlar, and if used in the right applications could save lives. And goats are going to help us get more of it. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymic...
The Apollo 11 Astronauts Had To Go Through Customs To Declare Their Moon Rocks
July 17, 2019 06:30 - 21 minutes - 29.3 MBIf you're occasionally annoyed by bureaucracy, I hope its a consolation to know that even astronauts have to deal with government forms. This mundane fact about the first mission to the moon cracks me up, but there are dozens of amazing facts and incredible stories leading up to that historic mission. Join me for a very brief dive into the history of space travel and how the Apollo program slowly came together to lead mankind to where they had never traveled before. Host - Michael Rainey ...
Sunflowers Can Clean Up Nuclear Radiation After Disasters
June 14, 2019 06:28 - 22 minutes - 31.5 MBHave you been watching Chernobyl? I have, it was a great show. And as per usual, it sent me down a research rabbit hole as I learned more about the debilitating effects of radiation exposure. But it also led me to a fascinating fact about using plants to combat nuclear waste. Join me for a brief lesson on nuclear power and how sunflowers helped clean up Chernobyl after the disaster. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment...
The Biggest Organism In The World Is Either a Tree Or a Mushroom
May 30, 2019 01:10 - 23 minutes - 31.6 MBWhat's the biggest organism in the world? Depends on who you ask. This episode is a quick overview of the origins and structure of all life on Earth ... quite a large subject, but its important to understand if we're going to try to answer the question of world's biggest living thing. But even with all that context, can we we ever really know for sure? Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head to our websi...
Dogs Can Detect Cancer By Their Sense of Smell
May 01, 2019 04:22 - 17 minutes - 24.2 MBMan's best friend has been by our side for thousands of years, and many scientists believe its about time they follow us into the lab. New studies indicate that there is scientific proof that indicates dogs can detect cancer with just a few sniffs, but to understand the implications of that we need to take a deeper look at both how animals smell and what cancer really is. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer,...
The Amazon Rainforest Produces 20% Of All Of Earth's Oxygen
April 17, 2019 06:57 - 19 minutes - 27.2 MBAs Earth Day approaches we look at one of the most wonderfully diverse biomes in the world; the Amazon rainforest. There is plenty to marvel at with the millions of species that call this area their home, and unfortunately like many areas around the world, the Amazon rainforest is in danger. But as we'll discuss in this episode, that wouldn't just be detrimental for the region, but for the entire world. And unbeknownst to most people, the jungle might hold a secret that could change agricu...
Marie Curie's Notebooks Are Too Radioactive to Touch Even Today
April 08, 2019 21:41 - 20 minutes - 28.1 MBIt has been a while, but I'm back and ready to share more random facts. And where better to start than with Marie Curie, one of the greatest scientists and humanitarians of the 20th century. The first female Nobel Prize winner and the first to win in two different categories, Marie Curie had to overcome authoritarian governments and cultural prejudice in her path to scientific discovery. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainme...
Coffee Is The Second Most Valuable Commodity In The World After Oil
December 01, 2018 07:05 - 19 minutes - 26.7 MBMany of us enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning, but most of us don't put much thought into how this beverage became so common place. 2.25 billion cups are consumed every single day, and coffee is actually one of the shapers of the modern world. So if our morning cup is so important, we figured it was worth a look at whether drinking all this coffee is actually a good thing. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to off...
Zombies Are Real, They're All Over The World, And You May Already Be Infected ...
November 01, 2018 06:39 - 15 minutes - 21 MBZombies have taken over pop culture, but before you dismiss them as simply inventions of Hollywood, take a listen to this episode. As it turns out they may be more real than you think, as zombies crop up both in history and in nature. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head to our website: https://www.storytellerentertainment.co For questions, comments, or business inquiries email us at podcasts@storyteller...
October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month; Here Are Some Facts Everyone Should Know
October 02, 2018 17:00 - 21 minutes - 30.2 MBAs someone who has been through abusive relationships and has seen too many friends stuck in the cycle of abuse, I decided to devote an episode to highlight Domestic Violence Awareness month. It's a terrible problem that plagues our society, and I hope that this episode can shed some light on issues of domestic violence and abuse. Trigger warning for anyone who has suffered through this in the past. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1−800−799−7233 or find them online at https://www.theho...
Teddy Roosevelt Was Shot At a Campaign Event But Still Finished His 90 Minute Speech
September 19, 2018 05:47 - 21 minutes - 29 MBTheodore Roosevelt. Conservationist, trust buster, and bull moose. He may have started a war with Spain out of boredom and he certainly was never meant to be President, but he defined American politics for the first half of the 20th century. Here's a look back at what made this man so tough that not even a bullet could stop him from running for President. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head to our web...
The Brain Waves Of Babies Are Remarkably Similar To Being On LSD
September 05, 2018 04:22 - 16 minutes - 22.3 MBInspired by my new nephew, I decided to make an episode about babies, and I was very interested to learn that the brains of newborn infants and the brains of people tripping on acid are remarkably similar. Not only that, but all babies might experience synethsesia, a phenomenon where they can see sound and hear colors. That's pretty far out. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head to our website: https://w...
There Are Over 1500 Active Volcanoes Around The World
July 12, 2018 06:20 - 21 minutes - 29.4 MBAs I heard the news of lava flows destroying homes in Hawaii, it got me thinking ... what are the chances of a volcano erupting near me. And it turns out the answer was a bit scarier than I was anticipating. But as learn more about volcanoes the trepidation can turn to fascination as there is so much to learn about these geological features and this episode just scratches the surface. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainmen...
Duck Quacks DO Echo and Other Random Facts That Are Untrue
June 13, 2018 00:24 - 17 minutes - 23.5 MBOn this episode we review three facts that are spread around often but are totally untrue. Quacking ducks, Napoleon's height, and coins dropped from tall buildings all appear with just the right amount of science and history to disprove these myths. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head to our website: https://www.storytellerentertainment.co For questions, comments, or business inquiries email us at podca...
Sharks Are 200 Million Years Older Than the Dinosaurs
May 30, 2018 05:27 - 17 minutes - 24.2 MBPlumb the depths of the ocean as we talk about one of nature's most fascinating creatures. And while this episode will give you plenty of reasons to be scared of sharks, the goal isn't to frighten you, but rather to bring attention to an incredibly important species in the ecosystem of the world's oceans. You're gonna need a bigger boat. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head to our website: https://www.s...
There Is Only One Word Understood By Everyone On The Planet
May 15, 2018 23:37 - 16 minutes - 22.9 MBLanguage is one of the most important developments of our species, it's what set us apart from all other animals and allowed for civilization to flourish. But if it's so essential, why are there so many different languages? Doesn't that make it harder for us to work together as a species? Well it turns out that of the over 7000 different languages in the world, there is only one word, one single word understood by everyone on the planet regardless of what language they speak. Host - Micha...
We Know More About Outer Space Than We Do Our Own Oceans ... But Why?
May 01, 2018 20:40 - 21 minutes - 28.8 MBFor tens of thousands of years humans have looked up into the night sky in wonderment. Why then, do we not look into the ocean with that same wonderment? What is waiting to be discovered at the bottom of the sea, and how can that actually help us explore space? We discuss all this plus some truly ghastly risks of space travel in this episode. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head to our website: https:/...
The Industrial Revolution Almost Started During The Time of Jesus Christ
April 19, 2018 06:55 - 16 minutes - 23.1 MBModern daily life looks vastly different than daily life a few hundred years ago. Electricity, telecommunication, automobiles all define our existence, and it's all due to the industrial revolution that did away with the common agrarian lifestyle. But the scientific principles discovered and developed during this time could have been discovered at any time in human history since science doesn't change. So what if the same innovations had happened centuries earlier? Explore a theoritcal "w...
Playing Tetris Can Help Cure A Lazy-Eye
April 03, 2018 21:37 - 18 minutes - 24.9 MBThis episode is all about eyes, with a plethora of random facts about vision. And while I do go off on many tangents as I am wont to do, the one that I found most interesting is the fact that video games can treat certain vision impairments such as amblyopia, or a lazy eye. Really, any excuse to play more video games works for me. Host - Michael Rainey - https://twitter.com/raineymichaelv To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head to our website: https://www.storytel...
Scientists Are Bringing Back The Woolly Mammoth To Save The World
March 07, 2018 02:36 - 17 minutes - 24.3 MBAs our understanding of genetics grows every year we have accomplished some remarkable achievements, including bringing back extinct animals. Scientists at Harvard are now looking to do the same thing with Woolly Mammoths as these creatures might be crucial in the effort to stop global warming. To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head to our website: https://www.storytellerentertainment.co For questions, comments, or business inquiries email us at podcasts@storytell...
Canada Is At War With Denmark, But It's The Friendliest War Ever
February 21, 2018 18:00 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MBBorders have led to war as long as we have had borders and war. And while we may think that all the border disputes have been resolved at this point and maps are pretty much settled, there are actually quite a few disputes around the world. But none are quite so pleasant or polite as the "war" between Canada and Denmark over an island in the Arctic. To see more of what Storyteller Entertainment has to offer, head to our website: https://www.storytellerentertainment.co For questions, commen...
The Moon Is Leaving The Earth, Which Means No More Eclipses
February 06, 2018 21:15 - 17 minutes - 23.7 MBYou may be fascinated by solar and lunar eclipses because humans have been fascinated by these events for as long as they have occurred. But everything in the universe eventually has an end, as the moon moves further and further away from our planet, the eclipses will one day be a thing of the past. Follow Storyteller Entertainment on Twitter to follow all our podcasts: https://twitter.com/storyteller_ent For questions, comments, or business inquiries email us at podcasts@storytellerenterta...
Cavemen Only Created Civilization Because They Loved Alcohol
January 23, 2018 18:00 - 20 minutes - 28.5 MBMany of us enjoy a cold brew at the end of a long day, but did you know that alcohol is actually the cornerstone of our entire civilization. Our entire modern society would never have happened without beer ... so I hope you're enjoying that six pack. Pull up a stool and listen as I explain why liquor was so important to prehistoric mankind. Follow Storyteller Entertainment on Twitter to follow all our podcasts: https://twitter.com/storyteller_ent For questions, comments, or business inquir...
Only 8% of New Year's Resolutions Are Kept; Here's How To Beat The Odds
January 10, 2018 03:12 - 14 minutes - 20.6 MBAnother year goes by and we all try to better ourselves for the new year. But are we doomed to fail? The odds might be against you, but that's only because you haven't heard the science behind resolutions yet. Listen to this episode for advice from psychologists on how to keep your resolutions. Follow Storyteller Entertainment on Twitter to follow all our podcasts: https://twitter.com/storyteller_ent For questions, comments, or business inquiries email us at podcasts@storytellerentertainm...
Humans Are Part Fish, And That's Why We Hiccup
January 09, 2018 08:41 - 18 minutes - 26 MBHumans are part fish, and that's why we hiccup. It may sound crazy, but we explore the theories of how fish making the transition to amphibian still affect us today and the long road of human evolution that hits the occasional pothole. Follow Storyteller Entertainment on Twitter to follow all our podcasts: https://twitter.com/storyteller_ent For questions, comments, or business inquiries email us at [email protected]