That yellow pencil on your desk looks simple enough - just wood, graphite, metal, and rubber. But economist Leonard Read's famous 1958 essay "I, Pencil" revealed a startling truth: no single person on Earth actually knows how to make one from scratch. Tonight, we explore Read's influential essay about the miraculous complexity hidden in everyday ob…

Why does a piano sound different from a violin playing the same note? How do we decide what sounds "right" and what sounds "wrong"? Tonight, we explore the fascinating world of tuning systems—the mathematical compromises that shape every piece of music you've ever heard. Journey back 2,500 years to Pythagoras, who discovered that simple mathematica…

Journey into the fascinating world of Shakespeare's history plays, where medieval English kings come alive through political intrigue and timeless human drama. Discover how William Shakespeare transformed dry historical chronicles into compelling theatrical masterpieces featuring unforgettable characters like the villainous Richard III, the heroic …

Why does your TV screen have those exact proportions? Why do old movies sometimes look slightly "off" when you're watching them? Tonight, Deb explores the fascinating invisible infrastructure that shapes every single thing you see on any screen—the secret world of television broadcast standards. Discover the surprising political drama behind NTSC, …

Tonight on Dormant Knowledge, we explore one of history's most iconic inventions. But the story of Edison's light bulb is far more complex than the simple myth suggests. Join host Deb as we illuminate the fascinating truth behind Thomas Edison's greatest triumph. Discover why Edison tested over 3,000 different materials, from platinum to bamboo, in…

In 1930, a 24-year-old farm boy from Kansas made one of astronomy's most captivating discoveries—a tiny, distant world at the edge of our solar system. For 76 years, Pluto held the title of our ninth planet, capturing imaginations and inspiring wonder about the cosmic frontier. Tonight's episode follows the remarkable story of Clyde Tombaugh's meth…

The Great Calculus War Who really invented calculus? Tonight, we explore one of mathematics' most fascinating controversies—the bitter rivalry between Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz over credit for developing calculus. Discover how a brilliant young Newton developed his "method of fluxions" in secret, why Leibniz's approach was actually more el…

Welcome to Dormant Knowledge, the podcast where learning meets relaxation. I'm your host Deb, and I'm here to share fascinating topics in a way that's perfect for winding down at the end of the day. Ever wished you could absorb interesting knowledge while drifting off to sleep? That's exactly what Dormant Knowledge is designed for. Whether you're s…