<![CDATA[No Character Limit]]>c5a6ed42-eb8b-5de1-9ef8-b7da12907c8eMon, 28 Apr 2025 09:30:14 +0000Captivate.fmRobert Thuerckhttps://artwork.captivate.fm/719cac5c-83cf-48fd-9b68-95b670579164/olTSo5ftVmGvga8QcUbmgAiU.jpgNo Character LimitRobert ThuerckRobert ThuerckNo Character Limit is a podcast to thoughtfully explore interesting and diverse topics without the constraints of character limits or the need to always be right. In an age where nuance is lost, anger and outrage are monetized, and entertainment supersedes knowledge, No Character Limit embraces the lost art of research-based longform discussion. An escape from specialization, compartmentalization, and quantification, join host Robert Thuerck as he dares give voice to thoughts across a spectrum of interests, holistic perspectives, and qualitative measures - without sacrificing expert and professional guidance. Are we as a species addicted to fire? Did the moon actually stop a war? Who wins when a magician goes up against a fortune teller? What caused the greatest mass extinction of all time? Find out all of this and more while learning something new - not only about the greater world around us - but hopefully about yourself... when you join in and listen to No Character Limit.https://nocharacterlimit.captivate.fmfalseepisodicnopodcastDonateHiding From Ourselves: Muzzling Science In The Age Of Misinformation (Part 5)Hiding From Ourselves: Muzzling Science In The Age Of Misinformation (Part 5)We can be so focused on the details of the battle over science that sometimes we forget to pull back and look at the story that it has really painted for us. In this last episode of the Hiding From Ourselves series we take an honest look at what the scientific evidence is showing us about our impact on the world - and this goes far beyond mere climate change. The main source used for this episode is the book The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert where she truly took the time to listen to experts from a variety of areas to paint a picture on the true impact of humans on the planet. In this episode we explore the Earth's five previous mass extinctions and compare the current 6th mass extinction and look at what makes them similar and different. The purpose of this episode is to acknowledge a reality that is so often avoided, downplayed, and obscured that many people don't even realize how far we've already changed the planet.

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]]>We can be so focused on the details of the battle over science that sometimes we forget to pull back and look at the story that it has really painted for us. In this last episode of the Hiding From Ourselves series we take an honest look at what the scientific evidence is showing us about our impact on the world - and this goes far beyond mere climate change. The main source used for this episode is the book The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert where she truly took the time to listen to experts from a variety of areas to paint a picture on the true impact of humans on the planet. In this episode we explore the Earth's five previous mass extinctions and compare the current 6th mass extinction and look at what makes them similar and different. The purpose of this episode is to acknowledge a reality that is so often avoided, downplayed, and obscured that many people don't even realize how far we've already changed the planet.

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]]>a33b8c10-c06c-4902-b619-f1e70ceaf6e9Mon, 28 Apr 2025 05:30:00 -040002:59:33falsefull4848Robert ThuerckHiding From Ourselves: Muzzling Science In The Age Of Misinformation (Part 4)Hiding From Ourselves: Muzzling Science In The Age Of Misinformation (Part 4)In this third episode on exploring how to determine what is quality information we continue explore the climate change debate and the origins of why such a seemingly lopsided debate never won in favor of the fact-finders. How long have we known about climate change really? How far back was it known to be a problem? Were climate scientists really believing there was going to be "global cooling" in the past or is that mostly a made-up story? How can we prove that humans are the cause of it really? How did we end up with the International Panel on Climate Change? Were accusations that it was corrupt founded or was the corruption that of those making the accusations? Just as in the last episode, we will be using the book Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway to help guide us through where the climate debate came from and why we are here today.

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]]>In this third episode on exploring how to determine what is quality information we continue explore the climate change debate and the origins of why such a seemingly lopsided debate never won in favor of the fact-finders. How long have we known about climate change really? How far back was it known to be a problem? Were climate scientists really believing there was going to be "global cooling" in the past or is that mostly a made-up story? How can we prove that humans are the cause of it really? How did we end up with the International Panel on Climate Change? Were accusations that it was corrupt founded or was the corruption that of those making the accusations? Just as in the last episode, we will be using the book Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway to help guide us through where the climate debate came from and why we are here today.

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]]>cbe2c2c6-8dbe-45cc-a995-b1920194314eMon, 10 Feb 2025 05:30:00 -040002:24:34falsefull4747Robert ThuerckHiding From Ourselves: Muzzling Science In The Age Of Misinformation (Part 3)Hiding From Ourselves: Muzzling Science In The Age Of Misinformation (Part 3)In this second episode on exploring how to determine what is quality information we continue following the ongoing debate on the purpose of science in a post-nuclear era into the 1980s. Do scientists have a moral and ethical responsibility to protect the planet or should they remain amoral stewards of policy-makers, leaving moral judgment to them? Legacy scientists from the Manhattan project, as well as popular astronomers Carl Sagan and Robert Jastrow, finally come to a head over what would happen if a nuclear war were to occur by using climate modeling. As a large bloc of America's most important scientists take a stand against further nuclear escalation a small handful of powerful and well-connected scientists begin to attack not only climate models for the first time, but all of science itself. Just as in the last episode, we will be using the book Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway to help guide us through this cultural shift in the American psyche away from scientific guidance and towards an ideological one.

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]]>In this second episode on exploring how to determine what is quality information we continue following the ongoing debate on the purpose of science in a post-nuclear era into the 1980s. Do scientists have a moral and ethical responsibility to protect the planet or should they remain amoral stewards of policy-makers, leaving moral judgment to them? Legacy scientists from the Manhattan project, as well as popular astronomers Carl Sagan and Robert Jastrow, finally come to a head over what would happen if a nuclear war were to occur by using climate modeling. As a large bloc of America's most important scientists take a stand against further nuclear escalation a small handful of powerful and well-connected scientists begin to attack not only climate models for the first time, but all of science itself. Just as in the last episode, we will be using the book Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway to help guide us through this cultural shift in the American psyche away from scientific guidance and towards an ideological one.

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]]>36ccf697-52e2-4866-ba72-c48c449b17c4Tue, 21 Jan 2025 11:15:00 -040001:17:50falsefull4646Robert ThuerckHiding From Ourselves: Muzzling Science In The Age Of Misinformation (Parts 1 & 2)Hiding From Ourselves: Muzzling Science In The Age Of Misinformation (Parts 1 & 2)How do we know what information to trust and what to stay away from? Whether you find yourself wanting to question the science or prove the skeptics wrong, this episode is for you. In this episode you can find multiple stories where experts were proven wrong by those outside of their field, where once established fact was upended forever, as well as plenty of individuals, scientists, and industries that prey upon the uninformed solely for personal profit. Who to trust and how do we know? Today, there is no greater place to explore this idea than with the topic of climate science and in this episode we begin to explore that story with the help of the book Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway. But before we get to how to know who to trust with climate science we need to dive in to the story of the top secret Manhattan Project, the Cold War's impact on the American psyche, the tobacco industry's research funding, and the infamous Love Canal - America's first superfund site.

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]]>How do we know what information to trust and what to stay away from? Whether you find yourself wanting to question the science or prove the skeptics wrong, this episode is for you. In this episode you can find multiple stories where experts were proven wrong by those outside of their field, where once established fact was upended forever, as well as plenty of individuals, scientists, and industries that prey upon the uninformed solely for personal profit. Who to trust and how do we know? Today, there is no greater place to explore this idea than with the topic of climate science and in this episode we begin to explore that story with the help of the book Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway. But before we get to how to know who to trust with climate science we need to dive in to the story of the top secret Manhattan Project, the Cold War's impact on the American psyche, the tobacco industry's research funding, and the infamous Love Canal - America's first superfund site.

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]]>eed3f150-584a-42c0-9851-731e7d1e9123Mon, 06 Jan 2025 05:30:00 -040001:33:01falsefull4545Robert ThuerckUltima Thule - Bonus Episode 1Ultima Thule - Bonus Episode 1In this long awaited first bonus episode dedicated to Ultima Thule we take a look at some associated documentaries, research findings, and related information that has come up since Ultima Thule was first written in 2022. Consider the motivations of a Nazi that wanted to send people into space, learn about the long-lost sibling of the Sun, whether dark energy is speeding up or slowing down, and what the most recent missions to asteroids has revealed about our solar system. Come and listen to a celebration of space and time as well as the science that got us there and continues to uncover Ultima Thule today.

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]]>In this long awaited first bonus episode dedicated to Ultima Thule we take a look at some associated documentaries, research findings, and related information that has come up since Ultima Thule was first written in 2022. Consider the motivations of a Nazi that wanted to send people into space, learn about the long-lost sibling of the Sun, whether dark energy is speeding up or slowing down, and what the most recent missions to asteroids has revealed about our solar system. Come and listen to a celebration of space and time as well as the science that got us there and continues to uncover Ultima Thule today.

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]]>d439d8af-511f-478d-a6fd-ea7ae0029f9bWed, 04 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -040001:25:08falsefull4444Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 29) - The Great Beyond (Part 3)Ultima Thule (Episode 29) - The Great Beyond (Part 3)In this final episode of Ultima Thule we return to ancient Greece, where the term Thule first originated, and learn about their origin story of the Universe and how it compares to what we know about the Universe today. We then consider the concept of Ultima Thule through time and how people viewed the existence of the Earth, Moon, Sun, and stars from ancient Egypt to the Catholic Church. We make sure to pay homage to quality science and how it helped us reach our modern view of the Universe and give a final warning of the pseudoscience constantly attempting to creep in around the edges. What do we do with the knowledge that we have now that we are sitting upon the shoulders of giants upon giants? What if we don't like what we know? How do we try and grapple with what the science implies about the future of the Universe? I end this book with a little-known quote from The Christian Remembrancer about time and space.(29/29)

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]]>In this final episode of Ultima Thule we return to ancient Greece, where the term Thule first originated, and learn about their origin story of the Universe and how it compares to what we know about the Universe today. We then consider the concept of Ultima Thule through time and how people viewed the existence of the Earth, Moon, Sun, and stars from ancient Egypt to the Catholic Church. We make sure to pay homage to quality science and how it helped us reach our modern view of the Universe and give a final warning of the pseudoscience constantly attempting to creep in around the edges. What do we do with the knowledge that we have now that we are sitting upon the shoulders of giants upon giants? What if we don't like what we know? How do we try and grapple with what the science implies about the future of the Universe? I end this book with a little-known quote from The Christian Remembrancer about time and space.(29/29)

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]]>b78bb945-1089-4129-82be-7b784fb7d08eTue, 02 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -040001:38:13falsefull4343Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 28) - The Great Beyond (Parts 1 & 2)Ultima Thule (Episode 28) - The Great Beyond (Parts 1 & 2)We have finally reached the final chapter of Ultima Thule: Unraveling the Unknown. In the penultimate episode we see how humans have come to view Earth by looking back at it from space, known as the overview effect. But the primary focus of this episode is to try and understand what is both the most abundant and vacant thing in the universe - empty space. We look at first-hand accounts of what space is like from the likes of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, as well as those who have flown to the other side of the Moon and lost sight of Earth all together. We also explore the substance of space - what is the vacuum comprised of? Does it have a smell? What does physics say is happening in any given square meter of empty space? Can any life survive in it? If so, for how long? How deep can we peer into it? What is dark matter and dark energy? How did the Universe begin? What does the future of the Universe look like based on current knowledge? (28/29)

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]]>We have finally reached the final chapter of Ultima Thule: Unraveling the Unknown. In the penultimate episode we see how humans have come to view Earth by looking back at it from space, known as the overview effect. But the primary focus of this episode is to try and understand what is both the most abundant and vacant thing in the universe - empty space. We look at first-hand accounts of what space is like from the likes of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, as well as those who have flown to the other side of the Moon and lost sight of Earth all together. We also explore the substance of space - what is the vacuum comprised of? Does it have a smell? What does physics say is happening in any given square meter of empty space? Can any life survive in it? If so, for how long? How deep can we peer into it? What is dark matter and dark energy? How did the Universe begin? What does the future of the Universe look like based on current knowledge? (28/29)

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]]>b04f6f34-1157-47b9-af97-4a43a8fa5441Tue, 18 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -040001:16:29falsefull4242Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 27) - The Big Ones (Part 7)Ultima Thule (Episode 27) - The Big Ones (Part 7)In this final episode of the largest meteorites to have ever hit Earth we focus on the most famous impact of them all - the Chicxulub impact that killed the dinosaurs. We explore what living at the time of impact must have been like and learn about the science behind how we know that it happened. Despite the most accepted theory by mainstream science we also learn about how the story of Walter and Luis Alvarez demonstrates that different branches of science can come in to conflict with one another. What other theories for the mass extinction of life 66 million years ago are out there and how valid are they? (27/29)

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]]>In this final episode of the largest meteorites to have ever hit Earth we focus on the most famous impact of them all - the Chicxulub impact that killed the dinosaurs. We explore what living at the time of impact must have been like and learn about the science behind how we know that it happened. Despite the most accepted theory by mainstream science we also learn about how the story of Walter and Luis Alvarez demonstrates that different branches of science can come in to conflict with one another. What other theories for the mass extinction of life 66 million years ago are out there and how valid are they? (27/29)

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]]>bec9732e-d35b-4d29-8b05-ee5a05158e5aTue, 04 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -040001:05:13falsefull4141Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 26) - The Big Ones (Parts 3 - 6)Ultima Thule (Episode 26) - The Big Ones (Parts 3 - 6)In the third installment on some of the largest meteorites to have ever hit Earth we explore some of the larger but lesser-known impacts on the planet. These include the impact sites of Chesapeake, Popigai, Manicouagan, Sudbury, and the largest of them all - Vredefort. We explore which may have been possible multiple-impact events, how they would've affected the world at the time, and how they continue to affect the world today. We go into the crater of one impact site deep underground to one of the most expensive scientific laboratories in the world which we use to study... outer space? (26/29)

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]]>In the third installment on some of the largest meteorites to have ever hit Earth we explore some of the larger but lesser-known impacts on the planet. These include the impact sites of Chesapeake, Popigai, Manicouagan, Sudbury, and the largest of them all - Vredefort. We explore which may have been possible multiple-impact events, how they would've affected the world at the time, and how they continue to affect the world today. We go into the crater of one impact site deep underground to one of the most expensive scientific laboratories in the world which we use to study... outer space? (26/29)

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]]>e68eceb2-592c-48bf-860b-4f421d641211Tue, 21 May 2024 05:00:00 -040001:14:17falsefull4040Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 25) - The Big Ones (Part 2)Ultima Thule (Episode 25) - The Big Ones (Part 2)In this second episode on some of the biggest meteorites to have ever hit the planet we explore whether or not a large meteorite has ever hit a city. Currently, there are claims that this has happened twice in ancient times - at Tall el-Hammam in Jordan and Ch'ing Yang, China. But the evidence for each are very different. We uncover that the evidence for one of these is completely false and explore the evidence that proves it. We further explore how they connect to an entire network of pseudoscientific actors and their impact on the integrity of science. A must-listen for anyone interested in the importance of science in an age of misinformation and how easily a concerted effort in faking information can get a lot of media attention. (25/29)

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]]>In this second episode on some of the biggest meteorites to have ever hit the planet we explore whether or not a large meteorite has ever hit a city. Currently, there are claims that this has happened twice in ancient times - at Tall el-Hammam in Jordan and Ch'ing Yang, China. But the evidence for each are very different. We uncover that the evidence for one of these is completely false and explore the evidence that proves it. We further explore how they connect to an entire network of pseudoscientific actors and their impact on the integrity of science. A must-listen for anyone interested in the importance of science in an age of misinformation and how easily a concerted effort in faking information can get a lot of media attention. (25/29)

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]]>b5d8e793-1065-4ce8-825b-b6e52f7bfc35Tue, 07 May 2024 05:00:00 -040001:01:54falsefull4040Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 24) - The Big Ones (Part 1)Ultima Thule (Episode 24) - The Big Ones (Part 1)This is the first of four episodes dedicated to some of the biggest meteorite impacts in the history of the Earth. Today's episode is dedicated to the most mysterious - the 1908 Tunguska Event. What is actually known about what happened on that June morning in Siberia over a century ago? Where does the baseless speculation end and the evidence begin? In this episode we look at the evidence left behind by the only meteoritics expert who went to investigate - Leonid Kulik - and see what professionals today have to say about the most powerful event in recent history. (24/29)

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]]>This is the first of four episodes dedicated to some of the biggest meteorite impacts in the history of the Earth. Today's episode is dedicated to the most mysterious - the 1908 Tunguska Event. What is actually known about what happened on that June morning in Siberia over a century ago? Where does the baseless speculation end and the evidence begin? In this episode we look at the evidence left behind by the only meteoritics expert who went to investigate - Leonid Kulik - and see what professionals today have to say about the most powerful event in recent history. (24/29)

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]]>47bab118-6d01-45e8-b783-7dda309b4919Tue, 23 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -040055:18falsefull3939Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 23) - Cosmic Real Estate (Parts 5 - 7)Ultima Thule (Episode 23) - Cosmic Real Estate (Parts 5 - 7)In the last episode we explored how much people will pay to possess a meteorite and the wide ranging prices depending on the type of meteorite. But we saved the most valuable meteorites for this episode starting with the pallasite, which can go for hundreds of thousands of dollars for a slice. We learn about the first widely studied pallasite found by Peter Simon Pallas, a brilliant naturalist that does not get the recognition today that he deserves for helping the scientific community understand the natural world. The other valuable meteorites are those from other planets like Mars or even our own Moon. Then we dive into the some of the largest meteorite collections in the world that are worth millions of dollars. Finally, we explore one of the most mysterious meteorite landfalls of the modern world and the unusual situation meteorite hunters found themselves in after traveling to the remote region of Carancas, Peru. Did this meteorite truly make people sick? (23/29)

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]]>In the last episode we explored how much people will pay to possess a meteorite and the wide ranging prices depending on the type of meteorite. But we saved the most valuable meteorites for this episode starting with the pallasite, which can go for hundreds of thousands of dollars for a slice. We learn about the first widely studied pallasite found by Peter Simon Pallas, a brilliant naturalist that does not get the recognition today that he deserves for helping the scientific community understand the natural world. The other valuable meteorites are those from other planets like Mars or even our own Moon. Then we dive into the some of the largest meteorite collections in the world that are worth millions of dollars. Finally, we explore one of the most mysterious meteorite landfalls of the modern world and the unusual situation meteorite hunters found themselves in after traveling to the remote region of Carancas, Peru. Did this meteorite truly make people sick? (23/29)

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]]>7787b86c-1243-4824-850f-4fdb919c0bf1Tue, 09 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -040001:25:50falsefull3838Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 22) - Cosmic Real Estate (Parts 1 - 4)Ultima Thule (Episode 22) - Cosmic Real Estate (Parts 1 - 4)What happens when a rock from space falls onto our planet of complex property and ownership rights? Is it finders keepers? Is it owned by whose property it lands on? What if it hits you, do you own it? Welcome to the wild world of ownership rights of meteorites. In this episode we learn about some of the most well known meteorite hunters including Mike Farmer, Robert Ward, Darryl Pitt, and Robert Haag who both compete and collaborate with each other. Learn about Ann Hodges who was hit by a meteorite in the 1950s who ended up having to pay money for the meteorite while a nearby farmer sold another piece of the same meteorite for enough money to buy a house and a car. Auction houses like Bonhams and Christie's have documented what people will pay for all kinds of meteorites and in this episode we explore some of the prices different meteorites go for. Finally, can a meteorite be stolen? We follow the histories of two major meteorites - Willamette and Campo Del Cielo - and explore the ethics of claiming a meteorite for yourself. Owning a piece of the heavens is likely more complex than you originally thought. (22/29)

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]]>What happens when a rock from space falls onto our planet of complex property and ownership rights? Is it finders keepers? Is it owned by whose property it lands on? What if it hits you, do you own it? Welcome to the wild world of ownership rights of meteorites. In this episode we learn about some of the most well known meteorite hunters including Mike Farmer, Robert Ward, Darryl Pitt, and Robert Haag who both compete and collaborate with each other. Learn about Ann Hodges who was hit by a meteorite in the 1950s who ended up having to pay money for the meteorite while a nearby farmer sold another piece of the same meteorite for enough money to buy a house and a car. Auction houses like Bonhams and Christie's have documented what people will pay for all kinds of meteorites and in this episode we explore some of the prices different meteorites go for. Finally, can a meteorite be stolen? We follow the histories of two major meteorites - Willamette and Campo Del Cielo - and explore the ethics of claiming a meteorite for yourself. Owning a piece of the heavens is likely more complex than you originally thought. (22/29)

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]]>abb8450e-9706-459e-b1e3-7e59625495cfTue, 26 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -040001:26:16falsefull3737Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 21) - Cometary MeteorologyUltima Thule (Episode 21) - Cometary MeteorologyWhat is a meteor shower and how is it different from the lone fireball streaking across the sky? It turns out that meteor showers don't come from asteroids but instead comets. In fact, debris from meteor showers, unlike fireballs, very rarely ever make it to the ground, burning up on the way down. This has made it extremely difficult for scientists to study remnants from comets on Earth so instead scientists decided to leave Earth and go to them. The first mission to a comet - Giotto - was a huge international undertaking to chase down the most famous of them all - Halley's Comet. With the success of Giotto, multiple other missions have since gone to other comets around the solar system bringing back exciting results with glimpses into the Universe and even the possible origins of life. Finally, we learn about the greatest meteor storms in recorded history and how it led to people believing that they were living through the end of the world. (21/29)

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]]>What is a meteor shower and how is it different from the lone fireball streaking across the sky? It turns out that meteor showers don't come from asteroids but instead comets. In fact, debris from meteor showers, unlike fireballs, very rarely ever make it to the ground, burning up on the way down. This has made it extremely difficult for scientists to study remnants from comets on Earth so instead scientists decided to leave Earth and go to them. The first mission to a comet - Giotto - was a huge international undertaking to chase down the most famous of them all - Halley's Comet. With the success of Giotto, multiple other missions have since gone to other comets around the solar system bringing back exciting results with glimpses into the Universe and even the possible origins of life. Finally, we learn about the greatest meteor storms in recorded history and how it led to people believing that they were living through the end of the world. (21/29)

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]]>7df6e65f-8fd3-46ae-9cc8-9f600bc77d58Tue, 12 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -040001:32:55falsefull3636Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 20) - The Faith, Facts, And Pseudoscience Of Meteorites (Parts 3 &4)Ultima Thule (Episode 20) - The Faith, Facts, And Pseudoscience Of Meteorites (Parts 3 &4)In the last episode we explored how meteors and meteorites have been intertwined with faith as far back as ancient Egypt and in to the modern day. But this fascination has a dark side - it creates large quantities of misinformation - both unintentional and intentional. In this episode we explore both kinds through looking at other possible historical meteorites including an alleged Nazi Tibetan meteorite statue, the Ephesian Artemis, and the original Magna Mater statue that was brought to Rome from Anatolia. We also follow the history of the earliest recorded meteorite recovery - Ensisheim. Through following the history of the Ensisheim meteorite we see how people tried to grapple with the idea that rocks fell from the sky as well as how both science and faith can both lead to errors in thinking. It took the brilliance of one man - Ernst Chladni - to put the first true theory together and become immortalized as the Father of Meteoritics. With many parallels to the modern world this episode can also help us reflect on our own consumption of information and the conclusions we choose to make. (20/29)

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]]>In the last episode we explored how meteors and meteorites have been intertwined with faith as far back as ancient Egypt and in to the modern day. But this fascination has a dark side - it creates large quantities of misinformation - both unintentional and intentional. In this episode we explore both kinds through looking at other possible historical meteorites including an alleged Nazi Tibetan meteorite statue, the Ephesian Artemis, and the original Magna Mater statue that was brought to Rome from Anatolia. We also follow the history of the earliest recorded meteorite recovery - Ensisheim. Through following the history of the Ensisheim meteorite we see how people tried to grapple with the idea that rocks fell from the sky as well as how both science and faith can both lead to errors in thinking. It took the brilliance of one man - Ernst Chladni - to put the first true theory together and become immortalized as the Father of Meteoritics. With many parallels to the modern world this episode can also help us reflect on our own consumption of information and the conclusions we choose to make. (20/29)

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]]>ed12359d-2679-4f41-8be5-6b0f9ae5e9cbTue, 27 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -040001:04:15falsefull3535Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 19) - The Faith, Facts, And Pseudoscience Of Meteorites (Parts 1 & 2)Ultima Thule (Episode 19) - The Faith, Facts, And Pseudoscience Of Meteorites (Parts 1 & 2)As extraterrestrial visitors meteors and meteorites have always fascinated humanity, but what role have meteorites played in the realm of faith? Whether it is the ancient crater at Lonar Lake in India, fireballs that fly across the sky over the Pacific Island of Mer, and possibly even the Black Stone of Kaaba, sacred to Islam there are signs that meteors and meteorites have a special role across all faiths of the world. One of the most ancient examples of this may have possibly been the venerated Benben stone of ancient Egypt, a symbol that is still found on American money today. In this episode we explore some of the known ancient Egyptian connections to meteorites and space as well as the city that was allegedly built around a meteorite and became the most well known temple-city of the the ancient world - Heliopolis. But how much is true and how much are we rewriting history and only seeing what we want to see? When we are eager to see something it's important to pull back and consider what is speculative and what is true. (19/29)

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]]>As extraterrestrial visitors meteors and meteorites have always fascinated humanity, but what role have meteorites played in the realm of faith? Whether it is the ancient crater at Lonar Lake in India, fireballs that fly across the sky over the Pacific Island of Mer, and possibly even the Black Stone of Kaaba, sacred to Islam there are signs that meteors and meteorites have a special role across all faiths of the world. One of the most ancient examples of this may have possibly been the venerated Benben stone of ancient Egypt, a symbol that is still found on American money today. In this episode we explore some of the known ancient Egyptian connections to meteorites and space as well as the city that was allegedly built around a meteorite and became the most well known temple-city of the the ancient world - Heliopolis. But how much is true and how much are we rewriting history and only seeing what we want to see? When we are eager to see something it's important to pull back and consider what is speculative and what is true. (19/29)

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]]>75abb0e9-b03f-4af0-a14f-ef394d20f48aTue, 13 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -040001:00:19falsefull3434Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 18) - The Making Of A Meteorite: Chondrite, Achondrite, and IronUltima Thule (Episode 18) - The Making Of A Meteorite: Chondrite, Achondrite, and IronOf course, Ultima Thule was never truly on Earth but always in the heavens. Since time immemorial humans have looked up and wondered what they were looking at and what it must be made of. But every year roughly 44,000 tons of rock rain down on us in the form of meteorites. In this episode we take a crash course in the three main types of meteorites - chondrites, achondrites, and irons. Their origins are ancient with some as old as the solar system, others that were once part of the Moon or Mars, and others still from the cores of long forgotten obliterated planets. Learn about the origin of the solar system, the fascinating story of the meteorite ALH84001 that possibly tells the story of ancient Martian life billions of years ago, as well as about the remnants that have been retrieved from cataclysmic planetary collisions. (18/29)

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]]>Of course, Ultima Thule was never truly on Earth but always in the heavens. Since time immemorial humans have looked up and wondered what they were looking at and what it must be made of. But every year roughly 44,000 tons of rock rain down on us in the form of meteorites. In this episode we take a crash course in the three main types of meteorites - chondrites, achondrites, and irons. Their origins are ancient with some as old as the solar system, others that were once part of the Moon or Mars, and others still from the cores of long forgotten obliterated planets. Learn about the origin of the solar system, the fascinating story of the meteorite ALH84001 that possibly tells the story of ancient Martian life billions of years ago, as well as about the remnants that have been retrieved from cataclysmic planetary collisions. (18/29)

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]]>67f82323-0fe6-4f49-8645-0ed453f15ff6Tue, 30 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -040001:10:01falsefull3333Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 17) - Icehouses and GreenhousesUltima Thule (Episode 17) - Icehouses and GreenhousesWith humanity finally able to reach Antarctica we were able to pull out ice cores that go much deeper back in time than anything from the Arctic, giving us the ability to peer back millions of years. But ice cores are not the only way humans are able to peer into the past and rocks found all over the planet allow us to see back to nearly the creation of Earth. And just like ice cores, rock samples have shown the Milankovitch Cycles at work the entire time leading the Earth to take on truly alien landscapes. A space traveler could fly by Earth at different times and see a planet of magma, an ice-covered snowball, or an oxygen-free wet and warm water world, just to name a few of Earth's previous looks. In this episode we explore the most extreme climates the Earth has ever been through - the icehouses and greenhouses. We learn how they got that way, how they reversed course, and how the climate is intertwined with life on Earth leading to the greatest extinction event in the history of the world. (17/29)

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]]>With humanity finally able to reach Antarctica we were able to pull out ice cores that go much deeper back in time than anything from the Arctic, giving us the ability to peer back millions of years. But ice cores are not the only way humans are able to peer into the past and rocks found all over the planet allow us to see back to nearly the creation of Earth. And just like ice cores, rock samples have shown the Milankovitch Cycles at work the entire time leading the Earth to take on truly alien landscapes. A space traveler could fly by Earth at different times and see a planet of magma, an ice-covered snowball, or an oxygen-free wet and warm water world, just to name a few of Earth's previous looks. In this episode we explore the most extreme climates the Earth has ever been through - the icehouses and greenhouses. We learn how they got that way, how they reversed course, and how the climate is intertwined with life on Earth leading to the greatest extinction event in the history of the world. (17/29)

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]]>852960dc-0dc9-4191-b17b-040b0bb04f98Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -040001:32:47falsefull3232Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 16) - Antarctic AdventuresUltima Thule (Episode 16) - Antarctic Adventures The early 20th century Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration brought the whole of civilization to the last unexplored continent on Earth. Names like Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton, and Roald Amundsen became immortalized when each raced to be the first person to the South Pole. While honor and ego often butted heads during this era it can't overshadow the amount of skill required to reach this alien landscape. This was best demonstrated by the legendary captain Frank Worsley of Shackleton's Endurance expedition where Worsley's skills at navigating the sea and sky saved the entire crew. These first Antarctic adventures ultimately led to major implications for science including proof of continental drift, access to the oldest ice cores on Earth, and an open international approach to science that has transcended geopolitics to this day. But with the continent of Antarctica now under the fold of civilization Ultima Thule could no longer be found on Earth; it was only in the early 20th century when concept was firmly set in the sky. (16/29)

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]]> The early 20th century Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration brought the whole of civilization to the last unexplored continent on Earth. Names like Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton, and Roald Amundsen became immortalized when each raced to be the first person to the South Pole. While honor and ego often butted heads during this era it can't overshadow the amount of skill required to reach this alien landscape. This was best demonstrated by the legendary captain Frank Worsley of Shackleton's Endurance expedition where Worsley's skills at navigating the sea and sky saved the entire crew. These first Antarctic adventures ultimately led to major implications for science including proof of continental drift, access to the oldest ice cores on Earth, and an open international approach to science that has transcended geopolitics to this day. But with the continent of Antarctica now under the fold of civilization Ultima Thule could no longer be found on Earth; it was only in the early 20th century when concept was firmly set in the sky. (16/29)

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]]>00b705a1-fc08-4f1c-9663-7f04ed064e22Wed, 03 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -040001:35:37falsefull3131Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 15) - Climate Shaping Human EvolutionUltima Thule (Episode 15) - Climate Shaping Human EvolutionOver the last couple of episodes we explored how humans pushed out of Africa into the rest of the world including the Americas. In this episode I recap how the climate changed over the last 100,000 years and shaped human survival. Overall, the Earth continued to descend into a much colder and drier climate than humans had ever experienced creating ice sheets five times thicker than the world's tallest building. But as the Milankovitch Cycles shifted and began warming the Earth again a strange re-cooling period called the Younger Dryas occurred, but what was the cause? We also explore when the last time humans lived in a climate as warm as today - The Eemian interglacial period. How was the world similar or different than it is today? In the final part of this episode I go all the way back to the origin of hominins and their tools over 3 million years ago and glimpse on how the climate played a role in the origins of what makes us human. (15/29)

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]]>Over the last couple of episodes we explored how humans pushed out of Africa into the rest of the world including the Americas. In this episode I recap how the climate changed over the last 100,000 years and shaped human survival. Overall, the Earth continued to descend into a much colder and drier climate than humans had ever experienced creating ice sheets five times thicker than the world's tallest building. But as the Milankovitch Cycles shifted and began warming the Earth again a strange re-cooling period called the Younger Dryas occurred, but what was the cause? We also explore when the last time humans lived in a climate as warm as today - The Eemian interglacial period. How was the world similar or different than it is today? In the final part of this episode I go all the way back to the origin of hominins and their tools over 3 million years ago and glimpse on how the climate played a role in the origins of what makes us human. (15/29)

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]]>4f352b6a-2431-460e-afb7-35dfd489098bTue, 02 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -040001:39:13falsefull3030Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 14) - 100,000 Years of Diaspora (Part 3)Ultima Thule (Episode 14) - 100,000 Years of Diaspora (Part 3)In the last episode we focused on humanity's efforts to leave Africa over the last 100,000 years. In this episode we continue to see how humans went on to populate every corner of the Earth, particularly the Americas as the first Americans came over in numbers as low as a couple-dozen. These were the first humans to truly take on the Arctic and learned to call it their home... but there was a break in culture and a new younger culture embraced the warming world of a Milankovitch summer. What is known about humanity's trip to America? How early did it begin? And how did the Milankovitch Cycles continue to play a role? We dive in to all of this and more in the last episode of 100,000 Years of Diaspora. (14/29)

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]]>In the last episode we focused on humanity's efforts to leave Africa over the last 100,000 years. In this episode we continue to see how humans went on to populate every corner of the Earth, particularly the Americas as the first Americans came over in numbers as low as a couple-dozen. These were the first humans to truly take on the Arctic and learned to call it their home... but there was a break in culture and a new younger culture embraced the warming world of a Milankovitch summer. What is known about humanity's trip to America? How early did it begin? And how did the Milankovitch Cycles continue to play a role? We dive in to all of this and more in the last episode of 100,000 Years of Diaspora. (14/29)

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]]>e619a72f-8fbe-4b20-89bc-cd1a05b988f5Tue, 05 Dec 2023 19:45:00 -040046:11falsefull2929Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 13) - 100,000 Years of Diaspora (Parts 1 & 2)Ultima Thule (Episode 13) - 100,000 Years of Diaspora (Parts 1 & 2)In the last few episodes we've explore the Milankovitch Cycles and have come to understand how they impact the Humid Sahara discussed in the first episode of Ultima Thule. In this episode we go back only one eccentricity cycle ago - 100,000 years (or so) - and see what the world was like then for humans and how the Humid Sahara played an integral role to humans pushing their way out of Africa. We explore how time and again humans left Africa and died out... so what happened in order to make us successful outside of our mother continent? It turns out the the Milankovitch Cycles played an essential role to it all. We also come to understand what the L3 haplotype is and how it tells us what humans will do in order to survive... (13/29)

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]]>In the last few episodes we've explore the Milankovitch Cycles and have come to understand how they impact the Humid Sahara discussed in the first episode of Ultima Thule. In this episode we go back only one eccentricity cycle ago - 100,000 years (or so) - and see what the world was like then for humans and how the Humid Sahara played an integral role to humans pushing their way out of Africa. We explore how time and again humans left Africa and died out... so what happened in order to make us successful outside of our mother continent? It turns out the the Milankovitch Cycles played an essential role to it all. We also come to understand what the L3 haplotype is and how it tells us what humans will do in order to survive... (13/29)

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]]>3903ca74-869a-4075-bba0-5d4b5f8b57f8Tue, 21 Nov 2023 14:45:00 -040001:28:26falsefull2828Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 12) - Forgotten Seasons (Parts 4 - 6)Ultima Thule (Episode 12) - Forgotten Seasons (Parts 4 - 6)In the last episode we discussed the origins of climate science and how it came to give us insight into the climate of Earth's deep past. The climate trends discovered through science actually confirmed a mathematical theory of climate by a man who dedicated his life to the subject decades before climate science existed. Milutin Milankovitch had predicted the impact of the deep seasons of Earth - the precession, obliquity, and eccentricity - which together are now called the Milankovitch Cycles. He did this by studying the impact the Sun would have on the Earth based on its tilt, wobble, and position around the Sun. It was only after he died that Milankovitch's theory was vindicated by core and rock samples collected around the world proving his life's work was not in vain. But how was it that Milankovitch saw what no one else around the world could? In order to begin to get an idea we have to see the Earth and our place in it from a completely different perspective... (12/29)

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]]>In the last episode we discussed the origins of climate science and how it came to give us insight into the climate of Earth's deep past. The climate trends discovered through science actually confirmed a mathematical theory of climate by a man who dedicated his life to the subject decades before climate science existed. Milutin Milankovitch had predicted the impact of the deep seasons of Earth - the precession, obliquity, and eccentricity - which together are now called the Milankovitch Cycles. He did this by studying the impact the Sun would have on the Earth based on its tilt, wobble, and position around the Sun. It was only after he died that Milankovitch's theory was vindicated by core and rock samples collected around the world proving his life's work was not in vain. But how was it that Milankovitch saw what no one else around the world could? In order to begin to get an idea we have to see the Earth and our place in it from a completely different perspective... (12/29)

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]]>9bbb5c09-d144-4f3b-aa60-664d81622dd3Tue, 07 Nov 2023 19:45:00 -040001:18:09falsefull2727Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 11) - Forgotten Seasons (Parts 1 - 3)Ultima Thule (Episode 11) - Forgotten Seasons (Parts 1 - 3)How many seasons does the Earth have? If you think it's only four then this episode is for you. It turns out that the Earth has several deep seasons that span for tens-of-thousands-of-years at a time. Ultimately these deep seasons play an integral role on the Earth's climate. But how much of a role and how do we know? In this episode learn about the science used to confirm Earth's weather and climate by using the last 2,000 years of recorded history to compare human records with the natural records found in the trees, ice, and rocks of the Earth. We also dedicate some time to challenges to climate science including their origin and evolution. (11/29)

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]]>How many seasons does the Earth have? If you think it's only four then this episode is for you. It turns out that the Earth has several deep seasons that span for tens-of-thousands-of-years at a time. Ultimately these deep seasons play an integral role on the Earth's climate. But how much of a role and how do we know? In this episode learn about the science used to confirm Earth's weather and climate by using the last 2,000 years of recorded history to compare human records with the natural records found in the trees, ice, and rocks of the Earth. We also dedicate some time to challenges to climate science including their origin and evolution. (11/29)

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]]>7478c253-e9a5-40bf-b5c9-8ee5c736a40cTue, 24 Oct 2023 12:45:00 -040001:11:27falsefull2626Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 10) - To The Ends Of The Earth (Part 5)Ultima Thule (Episode 10) - To The Ends Of The Earth (Part 5)In this episode we conclude the chapter "To The Ends Of The Earth" by focusing on the island of Greenland. Greenland became a final frontier for humanity and one explorer was at the forefront of helping map and study it - Peter Freuchen. Not only would Freuchen go on to routinely defy death in one of the most lethal landscapes on Earth but he would establish a trading post there called Thule, in honor of that mythical land of Pytheas. But Thule would go on to become much more, a critical American military base for a top secret project at the height of the Cold War. Somewhere hidden in the glaciers atop the Greenland tundra was the nerve center for Project Iceworm, an effort to make a secret network of under-ice tunnels made to shuttle nuclear warheads hidden from aerial view. It was only in the 1990s that this top secret project was finally revealed to the public. (10/29)

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]]>In this episode we conclude the chapter "To The Ends Of The Earth" by focusing on the island of Greenland. Greenland became a final frontier for humanity and one explorer was at the forefront of helping map and study it - Peter Freuchen. Not only would Freuchen go on to routinely defy death in one of the most lethal landscapes on Earth but he would establish a trading post there called Thule, in honor of that mythical land of Pytheas. But Thule would go on to become much more, a critical American military base for a top secret project at the height of the Cold War. Somewhere hidden in the glaciers atop the Greenland tundra was the nerve center for Project Iceworm, an effort to make a secret network of under-ice tunnels made to shuttle nuclear warheads hidden from aerial view. It was only in the 1990s that this top secret project was finally revealed to the public. (10/29)

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]]>4b17686b-948e-44ee-a212-4fd750193504Tue, 10 Oct 2023 08:30:00 -040046:20falsefull2525Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 9) - To The Ends Of The Earth (Parts 3 & 4)Ultima Thule (Episode 9) - To The Ends Of The Earth (Parts 3 & 4)In this episode we continue to explore the global scientific effort of working together across boundaries in order to better understand our place in the Universe. While the 1760s Transit of Venus (explored in the last episode) did bring scientists together regardless of nationality that level of global collaboration didn't occur again for over 100 years. As explorers from across Europe attempted to understand the Arctic isolated missions brought home precious little data, and that was if they were lucky. Many never came home. These polar expeditions were known to have their ships stuck in the ice for years leaving the crew stranded on the ocean ice. It took the leader of one such expedition to nearly lose his entire crew in order to bring the international scientific community together again for the benefit of humanity. In this episode we explore Carl Weyprecht's vision for the world and how it came true with the International Polar Years and the International Geophysical Year. (9/29)

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]]>In this episode we continue to explore the global scientific effort of working together across boundaries in order to better understand our place in the Universe. While the 1760s Transit of Venus (explored in the last episode) did bring scientists together regardless of nationality that level of global collaboration didn't occur again for over 100 years. As explorers from across Europe attempted to understand the Arctic isolated missions brought home precious little data, and that was if they were lucky. Many never came home. These polar expeditions were known to have their ships stuck in the ice for years leaving the crew stranded on the ocean ice. It took the leader of one such expedition to nearly lose his entire crew in order to bring the international scientific community together again for the benefit of humanity. In this episode we explore Carl Weyprecht's vision for the world and how it came true with the International Polar Years and the International Geophysical Year. (9/29)

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]]>c2d54611-e17a-4098-8c50-711724b6c681Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:00:00 -040001:21:11falsefull2424Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 8) - To The Ends of the Earth (Parts 1 & 2)Ultima Thule (Episode 8) - To The Ends of the Earth (Parts 1 & 2)Today, we take what we know about the sky for granted but for most of humanity it was a mysterious black abyss. Just like an eclipse a new object appearing in the sky became associated with all sorts of good and bad omens. So when was it that we collectively began to understand the heavens? In her amazing book, Chasing Venus, Andrea Wulf makes a case that it truly began in the 1760s when scientists from all over the world came together to work together, even between warring nations, so that they could answer an age-old question - how far away is the Sun from the Earth? And the only theorized way to do this was to have eyes ready and waiting all over the planet to glimpse Venus crossing the face of the Sun. They traveled as far as Siberia, St. Helena, South Africa, California, and even Tahiti. Wulf brought this nearly forgotten story back from obscurity and I add some further insight that I found researching these historic figures. This episode is proof that astronomers can and do have an adventurous side. (8/29)

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]]>Today, we take what we know about the sky for granted but for most of humanity it was a mysterious black abyss. Just like an eclipse a new object appearing in the sky became associated with all sorts of good and bad omens. So when was it that we collectively began to understand the heavens? In her amazing book, Chasing Venus, Andrea Wulf makes a case that it truly began in the 1760s when scientists from all over the world came together to work together, even between warring nations, so that they could answer an age-old question - how far away is the Sun from the Earth? And the only theorized way to do this was to have eyes ready and waiting all over the planet to glimpse Venus crossing the face of the Sun. They traveled as far as Siberia, St. Helena, South Africa, California, and even Tahiti. Wulf brought this nearly forgotten story back from obscurity and I add some further insight that I found researching these historic figures. This episode is proof that astronomers can and do have an adventurous side. (8/29)

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]]>34cd41cd-803a-4948-88c7-5926129c1407Tue, 12 Sep 2023 21:00:00 -040001:50:04falsefull2323Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 7) - The Dynamic HeavensUltima Thule (Episode 7) - The Dynamic HeavensIn the last couple of episodes we focused on how we understood time in terms of the Sun and the Moon, using them to guide us through the annual seasons and celebrating their solstices and equinoxes. But there are other seasons as well - deep seasons - that take thousands of years for just a single cycle. In this episode we focus on the deep season of the precession, how it was discovered, and how it changes our sky. While we can trick ourselves into believing the sky above is static, one only needs to go as far back as the Roman Empire to find a powerful civilization that did not look toward Polaris as their north star - but instead a star called Kochab. How could the sky change so much that the north star wasn't even the same less than 2,000 years ago? Finally, we look at what Earth was like 26,000 years ago - the last time the Earth's precession was in its current spot pointing out toward Polaris. This is the first episode dedicated to the deep seasons of Earth and their subtle, yet powerful, impact. (7/29)

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]]>In the last couple of episodes we focused on how we understood time in terms of the Sun and the Moon, using them to guide us through the annual seasons and celebrating their solstices and equinoxes. But there are other seasons as well - deep seasons - that take thousands of years for just a single cycle. In this episode we focus on the deep season of the precession, how it was discovered, and how it changes our sky. While we can trick ourselves into believing the sky above is static, one only needs to go as far back as the Roman Empire to find a powerful civilization that did not look toward Polaris as their north star - but instead a star called Kochab. How could the sky change so much that the north star wasn't even the same less than 2,000 years ago? Finally, we look at what Earth was like 26,000 years ago - the last time the Earth's precession was in its current spot pointing out toward Polaris. This is the first episode dedicated to the deep seasons of Earth and their subtle, yet powerful, impact. (7/29)

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]]>f9e23576-7fb3-4f09-8d4e-c9b6877200e9Tue, 29 Aug 2023 17:00:00 -040001:26:13falsefull2222Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 6) - Assembly of Time (Parts 3 & 4)Ultima Thule (Episode 6) - Assembly of Time (Parts 3 & 4)In the last episode we explored how the ancients conceptualized time with the Sun and the Moon as well as how they were deified. In this episode, we explore the four most critical anchors to our year given to us by the interplay between the Sun and the Earth- the solstices and equinoxes. Despite the dizzying movement of celestial bodies through the sky four times a year humans could feel a semblance of order and balance to the Universe. We ritualized these four special days each year and held countless celebrations of them regardless of geography or culture - Midsummer, Saturnalia, Christmas, and even Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids were celebrated and built for these crucial days. Yet, despite our loyal worship and our best science we could not keep precise track of the year for millennia... until one man, virtually unknown to history, came and fixed it for us - Aloysius Lilius. (6/29)

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]]>In the last episode we explored how the ancients conceptualized time with the Sun and the Moon as well as how they were deified. In this episode, we explore the four most critical anchors to our year given to us by the interplay between the Sun and the Earth- the solstices and equinoxes. Despite the dizzying movement of celestial bodies through the sky four times a year humans could feel a semblance of order and balance to the Universe. We ritualized these four special days each year and held countless celebrations of them regardless of geography or culture - Midsummer, Saturnalia, Christmas, and even Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids were celebrated and built for these crucial days. Yet, despite our loyal worship and our best science we could not keep precise track of the year for millennia... until one man, virtually unknown to history, came and fixed it for us - Aloysius Lilius. (6/29)

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]]>6d2aff1c-8938-4ce4-b10c-e4e602298c7eTue, 15 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -040001:26:00falsefull2121Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 5) - Assembly of Time (Parts 1 & 2)Ultima Thule (Episode 5) - Assembly of Time (Parts 1 & 2)Today, most of us barely pay attention to how time is derived from space, and yet they are inextricably intertwined. Time - what it is, how to measure it, and how we relate to it - has perpetually baffled humanity as the ultimate puzzle. Even today we have difficulty understanding what time truly is. In this episode we explore how humans came to understand time using an ancient number system that has persisted through the rise and fall of countless civilizations, a familiar yet foreign relic of the Babylonians. But this number system, as well as all of our ideas on time, originated from those two brightest celestial objects in our sky - the Sun and the Moon. Our dependence on these foreign objects to bring order to our chaotic world is the cornerstone to civilization as we know it. We studied them intensely and came to know them intimately. We personified them, giving them our human qualities and characteristics, and we even went as far as to deify them the world over, becoming the original human gods. (5/29)

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]]>Today, most of us barely pay attention to how time is derived from space, and yet they are inextricably intertwined. Time - what it is, how to measure it, and how we relate to it - has perpetually baffled humanity as the ultimate puzzle. Even today we have difficulty understanding what time truly is. In this episode we explore how humans came to understand time using an ancient number system that has persisted through the rise and fall of countless civilizations, a familiar yet foreign relic of the Babylonians. But this number system, as well as all of our ideas on time, originated from those two brightest celestial objects in our sky - the Sun and the Moon. Our dependence on these foreign objects to bring order to our chaotic world is the cornerstone to civilization as we know it. We studied them intensely and came to know them intimately. We personified them, giving them our human qualities and characteristics, and we even went as far as to deify them the world over, becoming the original human gods. (5/29)

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]]>083f54f2-0d3c-415a-9f2d-42dbf7bc2148Wed, 09 Aug 2023 01:00:00 -040001:09:00falsefull2020Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 4) - Thales: The Man, The Legend (Part 4)Ultima Thule (Episode 4) - Thales: The Man, The Legend (Part 4)In this episode we finish talking about the legend of Thales of Miletus and explore other ways that he may have possibly predicted the famous 585 BCE eclipse by focusing on the most commonly cited possibility - the Saros Cycle. The Saros Cycle is a predictable method in order to determine the next eclipse, but was it even possible for the ancient world to know about it? Edmund Halley thought so but one of the most renowned scientific historians of the 20th century firmly disagrees. One clue might be found in the ancient practice of Substitute Kings, where royalty attempted to thwart cosmic destiny. (4/29)

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]]>In this episode we finish talking about the legend of Thales of Miletus and explore other ways that he may have possibly predicted the famous 585 BCE eclipse by focusing on the most commonly cited possibility - the Saros Cycle. The Saros Cycle is a predictable method in order to determine the next eclipse, but was it even possible for the ancient world to know about it? Edmund Halley thought so but one of the most renowned scientific historians of the 20th century firmly disagrees. One clue might be found in the ancient practice of Substitute Kings, where royalty attempted to thwart cosmic destiny. (4/29)

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]]>fc1d37c3-3f2c-492e-8e6b-4eae07a1d645Tue, 01 Aug 2023 13:00:00 -040048:02falsefull1919Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 3) - Thales: The Man, The Legend (Parts 1 - 3)Ultima Thule (Episode 3) - Thales: The Man, The Legend (Parts 1 - 3)In the last episode we learned about the historic Battle of the Eclipse, which is widely referenced as the earliest known event in history tied to a specific date. While neither the leaders of Lydia or Media knew what to make of the unusual eclipse that occurred over the final battle of the Lydo-Median War apparently one man had predicted the eclipse, centuries before the ability to predict eclipses was known. Dive in and learn about the OG sage of ancient Greece - Thales of Miletus - and whether he truly had the ability to predict eclipses or whether his prediction is an exaggeration of persona that was already larger than life. (3/29)

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]]>In the last episode we learned about the historic Battle of the Eclipse, which is widely referenced as the earliest known event in history tied to a specific date. While neither the leaders of Lydia or Media knew what to make of the unusual eclipse that occurred over the final battle of the Lydo-Median War apparently one man had predicted the eclipse, centuries before the ability to predict eclipses was known. Dive in and learn about the OG sage of ancient Greece - Thales of Miletus - and whether he truly had the ability to predict eclipses or whether his prediction is an exaggeration of persona that was already larger than life. (3/29)

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]]>03f62c16-722e-4132-9725-94f644055addTue, 18 Jul 2023 17:00:00 -040001:03:24falsefull1818Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 2) - Secrets of Antiquity (Part 4)Ultima Thule (Episode 2) - Secrets of Antiquity (Part 4)In this episode we leave the Sahara and move north to Anatolia and learn about the ancient empires of Lydia and Media over 2,500 years ago. Lydia was a kingdom that was centuries old by the time the Medes overthrew the powerful empire of Assyria and took control for themselves. An established and wealthy kingdom faces off against an upstart that now controls the largest empire ever known to the ancient world. At the time the war began no one knew that it would end by nothing less than divine intervention... (2/29)

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]]>In this episode we leave the Sahara and move north to Anatolia and learn about the ancient empires of Lydia and Media over 2,500 years ago. Lydia was a kingdom that was centuries old by the time the Medes overthrew the powerful empire of Assyria and took control for themselves. An established and wealthy kingdom faces off against an upstart that now controls the largest empire ever known to the ancient world. At the time the war began no one knew that it would end by nothing less than divine intervention... (2/29)

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]]>17127f0b-ad33-48d8-bdcb-a955d6cbafcdTue, 04 Jul 2023 09:30:00 -040001:10:50falsefull1717Robert ThuerckUltima Thule (Episode 1) - Forward & Secrets of Antiquity (Parts 1 - 3)Ultima Thule (Episode 1) - Forward & Secrets of Antiquity (Parts 1 - 3)This is the first episode of my book Ultima Thule: Unraveling the Unknown. Since the days of the ancient Greeks Ultima Thule has represented only one thing - the unknown. And while in those days the unknown lay in far-flung corners of the world the true unknown has always lay above our heads in the vast depths of the celestial ocean. What is outer space? In this 29 part series I explore a variety of ways in which our dance through the unknown has both impacted us and the planet and continues to draw us to it. In the first chapter we learn that the largest dry desert on the planet was once a wet and green landscape. Who lived in this region the size of the continental United States and what did they do when the Sahara began to change to desert? Could the Sahara's climate be the cause for the rise of civilization? Even more impactful was how the life that once thrived all over the Sahara turned to dust and now fertilizes the Amazon on the other side of the world, a perfect example of the globally interconnected nature of our planet. (1/29)

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]]>This is the first episode of my book Ultima Thule: Unraveling the Unknown. Since the days of the ancient Greeks Ultima Thule has represented only one thing - the unknown. And while in those days the unknown lay in far-flung corners of the world the true unknown has always lay above our heads in the vast depths of the celestial ocean. What is outer space? In this 29 part series I explore a variety of ways in which our dance through the unknown has both impacted us and the planet and continues to draw us to it. In the first chapter we learn that the largest dry desert on the planet was once a wet and green landscape. Who lived in this region the size of the continental United States and what did they do when the Sahara began to change to desert? Could the Sahara's climate be the cause for the rise of civilization? Even more impactful was how the life that once thrived all over the Sahara turned to dust and now fertilizes the Amazon on the other side of the world, a perfect example of the globally interconnected nature of our planet. (1/29)

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]]>339e79a9-7adf-4989-a946-a165545df36cFri, 30 Jun 2023 17:30:00 -040001:31:37falsefull1616Robert ThuerckGod in the Frontier BONUS EPISODEGod in the Frontier BONUS EPISODEI've gotten a lot of feedback and have had a few more thoughts since I finished releasing God in the Frontier and thought I would make a bonus episode to share! I discuss a variety of topics related to the 12 part God in the Frontier series and expand on them. In this episode learn about the Thomas Indian School, the Shakers, Benjamin Fish and his Fourier community, as well as a personal review of the podcast Ghost Church by Jamie Loftus, which happened to cover a lot of similar topics that I did in my chapter on Spiritualism. I also cover a bit more on the Chautauqua Institution, Benjamin Titus Roberts and the birth of Free Methodism, and explore the wider impact of Isaac and Amy Post, the elite Rochesterians who gave the Fox Sisters their start. This exploration brings me on a journey of how mid-19th century Upstate New York politics led the abolitionist and suffragist movements and steered the country to war largely at the hands of a land speculator Gerrit Smith and one of America's earliest media moguls Thurlow Weed, ultimately leading to the birth of the Republican Party. Finally, I give some reflection on Mormonism as it now becomes officially the wealthiest church in America.

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]]>I've gotten a lot of feedback and have had a few more thoughts since I finished releasing God in the Frontier and thought I would make a bonus episode to share! I discuss a variety of topics related to the 12 part God in the Frontier series and expand on them. In this episode learn about the Thomas Indian School, the Shakers, Benjamin Fish and his Fourier community, as well as a personal review of the podcast Ghost Church by Jamie Loftus, which happened to cover a lot of similar topics that I did in my chapter on Spiritualism. I also cover a bit more on the Chautauqua Institution, Benjamin Titus Roberts and the birth of Free Methodism, and explore the wider impact of Isaac and Amy Post, the elite Rochesterians who gave the Fox Sisters their start. This exploration brings me on a journey of how mid-19th century Upstate New York politics led the abolitionist and suffragist movements and steered the country to war largely at the hands of a land speculator Gerrit Smith and one of America's earliest media moguls Thurlow Weed, ultimately leading to the birth of the Republican Party. Finally, I give some reflection on Mormonism as it now becomes officially the wealthiest church in America.

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]]>2081050b-f5ff-4b7c-829f-3668b3701a38Thu, 22 Jun 2023 05:30:00 -040001:46:00falsefull1515Robert ThuerckGod in the Frontier (Episode 12) - Sifting Through The Burned-Over District (Part 4)God in the Frontier (Episode 12) - Sifting Through The Burned-Over District (Part 4)In this final episode of God in the Frontier we explore what role faith has in the future of humanity and civilization itself. How do we overcome the barrier of religious exceptionalism while still not let go of our ability to believe? Today, we know better, we know that every human we meet shared a deep ancestor with each other. What we now know to be true due to science is more beautiful than any human-created story. Ultimately, as it stands right now, the future of this Earth will be determined by people of faith as they vastly outnumber and hold far more power than the purely secular. What role will faith and inter-faith conflict play in shaping our world to come? (12/12)

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]]>In this final episode of God in the Frontier we explore what role faith has in the future of humanity and civilization itself. How do we overcome the barrier of religious exceptionalism while still not let go of our ability to believe? Today, we know better, we know that every human we meet shared a deep ancestor with each other. What we now know to be true due to science is more beautiful than any human-created story. Ultimately, as it stands right now, the future of this Earth will be determined by people of faith as they vastly outnumber and hold far more power than the purely secular. What role will faith and inter-faith conflict play in shaping our world to come? (12/12)

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]]>afae536a-1d53-46c3-b052-f59c52901203Tue, 06 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -040057:54falsefull1414Robert ThuerckGod in the Frontier (Episode 11) - Sifting Through The Burned Over District (Part 3)God in the Frontier (Episode 11) - Sifting Through The Burned Over District (Part 3)Why did new religions pop up so frequently in the Burned-Over District of New York during the 19th century? Did God decide it was special or was there something special about the area that made it prone to New Religious Movements. In this episode we describe some of the science behind New Religious Movements whether they're from the 19th century or today. We also explore in what ways faith provides advantages for individuals, particularly in the area of resiliency. Finally, we get deep inside the human brain to understand the psychology of faith. Pattern recognition and our hard-wired ability to search for meaning within those patterns has our brain pull some pretty amazing tricks on ourselves. (11/12)

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]]>Why did new religions pop up so frequently in the Burned-Over District of New York during the 19th century? Did God decide it was special or was there something special about the area that made it prone to New Religious Movements. In this episode we describe some of the science behind New Religious Movements whether they're from the 19th century or today. We also explore in what ways faith provides advantages for individuals, particularly in the area of resiliency. Finally, we get deep inside the human brain to understand the psychology of faith. Pattern recognition and our hard-wired ability to search for meaning within those patterns has our brain pull some pretty amazing tricks on ourselves. (11/12)

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]]>09c3a28c-510d-4f4c-99f5-24ddeb7883f1Tue, 30 May 2023 08:00:00 -040001:22:16falsefull1313Robert ThuerckGod in the Frontier (Episode 10) - Sifting Through The Burned Over District (Part 2)God in the Frontier (Episode 10) - Sifting Through The Burned Over District (Part 2)Is there a universal message between all religions? What exactly is an epiphany and why do so many religious movements seem to begin with one? Why do some religions flourish while others fail? Is God picking and choosing or is there something else going on here? Perhaps its worth exploring more deeply into the role of the brain and its evolution in all of this. Very well-known cognitive processes appear to play a role in religious development - but how much? Today we explore how epiphanies, projection, transference, Dunbar's number, and a good supernatural story help construct every single person's worldview, and therefore impact religious belief. (10/12)

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]]>Is there a universal message between all religions? What exactly is an epiphany and why do so many religious movements seem to begin with one? Why do some religions flourish while others fail? Is God picking and choosing or is there something else going on here? Perhaps its worth exploring more deeply into the role of the brain and its evolution in all of this. Very well-known cognitive processes appear to play a role in religious development - but how much? Today we explore how epiphanies, projection, transference, Dunbar's number, and a good supernatural story help construct every single person's worldview, and therefore impact religious belief. (10/12)

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]]>52ea50a1-0e52-4a76-afaa-aabb6d852137Tue, 23 May 2023 06:00:00 -040056:03falsefull1212Robert ThuerckGod in the Frontier (Episode 9) - Sifting Through The Burned-Over District (Part 1)God in the Frontier (Episode 9) - Sifting Through The Burned-Over District (Part 1)The final 4 episodes of God in the Frontier are about reflecting on what we learned over the first 8 episodes in the Burned-Over District. How does the Christian prism look to those who see it through the Calvinist wavelength compared to those who see it through an Evangelical one? And how does Evangelicalism impact the relationship between the United States and Israel today? Finally, what can 19th century Millerism teach us about blind faith even with the purest intentions? Religious exceptionalism, a core aspect of nearly all religions, comes under trial in this provocative episode. (9/12)

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]]>The final 4 episodes of God in the Frontier are about reflecting on what we learned over the first 8 episodes in the Burned-Over District. How does the Christian prism look to those who see it through the Calvinist wavelength compared to those who see it through an Evangelical one? And how does Evangelicalism impact the relationship between the United States and Israel today? Finally, what can 19th century Millerism teach us about blind faith even with the purest intentions? Religious exceptionalism, a core aspect of nearly all religions, comes under trial in this provocative episode. (9/12)

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]]>e2c91d9d-c853-43ef-a172-120b1d861552Tue, 16 May 2023 17:30:00 -040001:03:55falsefull1111Robert ThuerckGod in the Frontier (Episode 8) - Mormonism: An American Prophet, An American Empire (Part 2)God in the Frontier (Episode 8) - Mormonism: An American Prophet, An American Empire (Part 2)Who was Joseph Smith? How did he end up becoming the founder of an entire religion? And how does learning about Mormon history inform us about the relationship between faith and violence in all religions? In this episode we follow Joseph Smith from his origins on the outskirts of Rochester, NY and his push westward where he and his followers demonstrated a willingness to commit increasing acts of violence in the name of self-defense. Ultimately this leads to a mob murder of Smith and one of the most deadly massacres in American history - The Mountain Meadow Massacre. (Cool side note: The fictional nemesis in the Netflix series Godless, Frank Griffin, played by Jeff Dunham describes his origin as being a child survivor of the Mountain Meadow Massacre) (8/12)

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]]>Who was Joseph Smith? How did he end up becoming the founder of an entire religion? And how does learning about Mormon history inform us about the relationship between faith and violence in all religions? In this episode we follow Joseph Smith from his origins on the outskirts of Rochester, NY and his push westward where he and his followers demonstrated a willingness to commit increasing acts of violence in the name of self-defense. Ultimately this leads to a mob murder of Smith and one of the most deadly massacres in American history - The Mountain Meadow Massacre. (Cool side note: The fictional nemesis in the Netflix series Godless, Frank Griffin, played by Jeff Dunham describes his origin as being a child survivor of the Mountain Meadow Massacre) (8/12)

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]]>36ca01cd-0e17-4775-b5f0-0ff7b9e035dfTue, 09 May 2023 17:15:00 -040001:00:58falsefull1010Robert ThuerckGod in the Frontier (Episode 7) - Mormonism: An American Prophet, An American Empire (Part 1)God in the Frontier (Episode 7) - Mormonism: An American Prophet, An American Empire (Part 1)In this episode learn about the birth of the most powerful religion of the Americas - Mormonism. How do Mormons worship differently than other forms of Christianity? What was the role of Brigham Young in its development? Why is there such a strong pushback against the faith by both Christians and non-Christians alike? And how can understanding Mormonism help us understand ourselves? (7/12)

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]]>In this episode learn about the birth of the most powerful religion of the Americas - Mormonism. How do Mormons worship differently than other forms of Christianity? What was the role of Brigham Young in its development? Why is there such a strong pushback against the faith by both Christians and non-Christians alike? And how can understanding Mormonism help us understand ourselves? (7/12)

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]]>58b1047e-729f-4b7e-9442-4bca5896eca4Tue, 02 May 2023 16:30:00 -040001:11:54falsefull99Robert ThuerckGod in the Frontier (Episode 6) - Distorted Reflections of Spiritualism (Part 2) PLUS Moral Intellectualism at the Chautauqua InstitutionGod in the Frontier (Episode 6) - Distorted Reflections of Spiritualism (Part 2) PLUS Moral Intellectualism at the Chautauqua InstitutionA magician faces off against a group of fortune tellers in front of the US Congress - who wins? Harry Houdini takes on Congress to warn of the very real dangers of Spiritualism in one of the most dramatic demonstrations in American history only to be accused of being a secret Spiritualist himself. Also, the largest Spiritualist community in the world still exists in Western New York - Lily Dale - a few dozen miles from its birthplace, what is it like today? Finally, a short chapter on a very different place, one that is near polar opposite of Lily Dale - the Chautauqua Institution - where faith is used to build understanding of truth regardless of background. (6/12)

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]]>A magician faces off against a group of fortune tellers in front of the US Congress - who wins? Harry Houdini takes on Congress to warn of the very real dangers of Spiritualism in one of the most dramatic demonstrations in American history only to be accused of being a secret Spiritualist himself. Also, the largest Spiritualist community in the world still exists in Western New York - Lily Dale - a few dozen miles from its birthplace, what is it like today? Finally, a short chapter on a very different place, one that is near polar opposite of Lily Dale - the Chautauqua Institution - where faith is used to build understanding of truth regardless of background. (6/12)

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]]>a747eb69-b974-46aa-863e-96c13bed2b55Tue, 25 Apr 2023 16:00:00 -040001:16:52falsefull88Robert ThuerckGod in the Frontier (Episode 5) - Distorted Reflections of Spiritualism (Part 1)God in the Frontier (Episode 5) - Distorted Reflections of Spiritualism (Part 1)The birth and rise of Spiritualism - first in Rochester, then in New York City, then the world - giving rise to "spirit photography" and permeating the highest echelons of society, including the Lincoln White House. But what happens when scientific investigation tries to get a closer look at the phenomenon and what is the truth when one of the founders admits its all a fraud? Who is lying and what is the truth? In the first of this two part special of God in the Frontier we explore how three girls from the countryside of Rochester, NY changed the world. (5/12)

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]]>The birth and rise of Spiritualism - first in Rochester, then in New York City, then the world - giving rise to "spirit photography" and permeating the highest echelons of society, including the Lincoln White House. But what happens when scientific investigation tries to get a closer look at the phenomenon and what is the truth when one of the founders admits its all a fraud? Who is lying and what is the truth? In the first of this two part special of God in the Frontier we explore how three girls from the countryside of Rochester, NY changed the world. (5/12)

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]]>9290ed0b-9beb-4c50-8ffb-70973314b522Thu, 20 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -040001:10:17falsefull77Robert ThuerckGod in the Frontier (Episode 4) - Selfishness and Selflessness in Oneida PLUS Cosmos Crumbling: The Birth of AdventismGod in the Frontier (Episode 4) - Selfishness and Selflessness in Oneida PLUS Cosmos Crumbling: The Birth of AdventismHow do you know when you've reached peak Christian Perfectionism? When one man was confident he had found it he started a commune that led to one of the most successful businesses in American flatware. Or what do you do when you read the Bible only to discover a message of when the world was going to end hidden within its text? Would you tell the world or just keep it to yourself?... And what if you were wrong but afterwards people continued to believe it anyway? Welcome to the eccentric world of the Oneida Community and the origin of Adventism. (4/12)

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]]>How do you know when you've reached peak Christian Perfectionism? When one man was confident he had found it he started a commune that led to one of the most successful businesses in American flatware. Or what do you do when you read the Bible only to discover a message of when the world was going to end hidden within its text? Would you tell the world or just keep it to yourself?... And what if you were wrong but afterwards people continued to believe it anyway? Welcome to the eccentric world of the Oneida Community and the origin of Adventism. (4/12)

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]]>0d3f9e18-a4a3-443d-b344-c7156995a118Thu, 13 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -040001:04:50falsefull66Robert ThuerckGod in the Frontier (Episode 3) - An Awakening in the Burned-Over DistrictGod in the Frontier (Episode 3) - An Awakening in the Burned-Over DistrictWhat happened when Evangelicalism met Calvinism on the New York frontier in Rochester, NY? The little known history of the underpinnings of how the United States shaped its Christian foundation with one man seemingly behind it all - Charles Grandison Finney. Learn about Col. Nathaniel Rochester, his nemeses the Brown family, and how the influx of rootless young men from downstate made them ban together to maintain control of the burgeoning young city. And out of the murder of Capt. William Morgan grew the first true third party of the United States - the Anti-Mason Party. (3/12)

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]]>What happened when Evangelicalism met Calvinism on the New York frontier in Rochester, NY? The little known history of the underpinnings of how the United States shaped its Christian foundation with one man seemingly behind it all - Charles Grandison Finney. Learn about Col. Nathaniel Rochester, his nemeses the Brown family, and how the influx of rootless young men from downstate made them ban together to maintain control of the burgeoning young city. And out of the murder of Capt. William Morgan grew the first true third party of the United States - the Anti-Mason Party. (3/12)

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]]>858c19f1-7ff8-4d36-a690-a1f6c950d675Sat, 08 Apr 2023 08:30:00 -040001:26:26falsefull55Robert ThuerckGod in the Frontier (Episode 2) - New York: An Old Land, A New FrontierGod in the Frontier (Episode 2) - New York: An Old Land, A New FrontierHow did one of the most powerful Native American confederations of the Americas give way to European and US encroachment? And how did Christians feel about this shift of power? In this episode we are introduced to the New York frontier and how a little remembered campaign of total destruction - the Sullivan Expedition - led to the fall of Haudenosaunee land. Using local history books we discover how the land companies of the early New York frontier cheated local tribes for their land, what role Christianity played, and native feelings on the encroaching religion. And we are also introduced to one of the earliest upstate religious leaders of New York - the eccentric Public Universal Friend. (2/12)

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]]>How did one of the most powerful Native American confederations of the Americas give way to European and US encroachment? And how did Christians feel about this shift of power? In this episode we are introduced to the New York frontier and how a little remembered campaign of total destruction - the Sullivan Expedition - led to the fall of Haudenosaunee land. Using local history books we discover how the land companies of the early New York frontier cheated local tribes for their land, what role Christianity played, and native feelings on the encroaching religion. And we are also introduced to one of the earliest upstate religious leaders of New York - the eccentric Public Universal Friend. (2/12)

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]]>4a29f151-2b89-45dc-9c21-3eb1b2f0722aSat, 01 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -040056:22falsefull44Robert ThuerckGod in the Frontier (Episode 1) - Broad Strokes: Fractures in the Prism of ChristianityGod in the Frontier (Episode 1) - Broad Strokes: Fractures in the Prism of ChristianityWhat is religion? How are there so many faithful and yet at the same time so much disagreement over how to worship? In the first episode of my book God in the Frontier: The Impact of the 19th Century Burned-Over District and The Psychology of Faith I dive into a very brief history of Christianity from its inception to early 18th century America, setting the background for the rest of the book focused on the 19th century New York frontier. Why did Protestants break from Catholics? What makes a Calvinist different from an Evangelical? What Christian foundations are rooted in the foundation of the United States? And what is it that makes it so hard for two people to agree on the proper way to worship God? (1/12)

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]]>What is religion? How are there so many faithful and yet at the same time so much disagreement over how to worship? In the first episode of my book God in the Frontier: The Impact of the 19th Century Burned-Over District and The Psychology of Faith I dive into a very brief history of Christianity from its inception to early 18th century America, setting the background for the rest of the book focused on the 19th century New York frontier. Why did Protestants break from Catholics? What makes a Calvinist different from an Evangelical? What Christian foundations are rooted in the foundation of the United States? And what is it that makes it so hard for two people to agree on the proper way to worship God? (1/12)

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]]>c66a3c5a-a995-4ded-998b-3e26dcc27a8dSun, 26 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -040001:05:16falsefull33Robert ThuerckThe Forging of HumanityThe Forging of HumanityEver wonder why animals can live outside 24/7 in the middle of winter while we huddle indoors and turn up the heat? So have I! And so has Harvard Biological Anthropologist Professor Richard Wrangham whose book Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human is the main source of information for this episode. Did we outsmart the rest of the animal kingdom and conquer fire or did we make a Faustian pact with an elemental devil and become its slave? How did the human relationship with fire begin and how did it evolve? Deep down, we may just find that all of us are a bit of a pyromaniac at heart. (Solo episode)

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]]>Ever wonder why animals can live outside 24/7 in the middle of winter while we huddle indoors and turn up the heat? So have I! And so has Harvard Biological Anthropologist Professor Richard Wrangham whose book Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human is the main source of information for this episode. Did we outsmart the rest of the animal kingdom and conquer fire or did we make a Faustian pact with an elemental devil and become its slave? How did the human relationship with fire begin and how did it evolve? Deep down, we may just find that all of us are a bit of a pyromaniac at heart. (Solo episode)

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]]>37f7178d-6415-4f86-9d5d-2e1ba640bf9cFri, 24 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -040001:11:18falsefull22Robert ThuerckIntroduction to No Character LimitIntroduction to No Character LimitWant to know what No Character Limit is all about? This is the episode to check out. Find out the reason why I created this podcast and what principles guide my episodes.

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]]>Want to know what No Character Limit is all about? This is the episode to check out. Find out the reason why I created this podcast and what principles guide my episodes.

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]]>3502cb51-6405-453e-9a1f-5e4aaa8b3902Tue, 21 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -040048:03falsefull11Robert Thuerck