Five Minute Trivia

The name Mercury has gotten attached to a lot of things--an element, a car company, a WNBA team--but the OG is the planet closest to the sun, named after the Roman god. This hot, barren, lifeless (or so we think) world may not seem like it' has much going for it, but it's secretly fascinating. CONTENT WARNING: If you're a planetary scientist who had something to do with booting Pluto, this will be an uncomfortable five minutes for you.

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The Odyssey has been called the greatest work of literature ever written. Which is pretty remarkable because we know nothing about the guy who wrote it. Or even if he exists. Also, it's the rare sequel that's better remembered than the original. The Odyssey has everything: adventure, conquest, hubris, revenge, romance...wait, did you say romance? Yeah. Like we said. Everything.

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Area 51 is likely the most famous place in the world that you're not supposed to know about. It's part of countless alien movies, conspiracy theories, and often some combination of both. So what is it? Where is it? What really goes on there? And why doesn't it just have a normal name (hint: it does)? We're taking all that on in this show.

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In 1907, Albert Einstein had a thought experiment involving an unlucky window cleaner. It led to a scientific breakthrough that finally gave us an understanding of gravity, space, time, and the fabric that holds it all together. This was his theory of general relativity. Together with special relativity, which we covered a couple of shows back, it covers the whole universe and everything in it.

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A hundred years ago, Congress authorized the creation of an uninterrupted highway that stretched for 2400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. And for 100 years, Americans have hit Route 66 in search of adventure, romance, and even the hope of a better life. As we mark its centennial this year, we look back at how this road came to be so much more than just a road.

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82 years ago this week, the Allied forces of World War II launched the largest seaborne invasion in history. Code-named Operation Neptune, it would mark the turning point of the war in Europe. How did it happen? Why did they choose the beaches of Normandy? And, most importantly, what does the D in D-Day mean? We're answering all that and more on this week's show.

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In 1905, a Swiss patent clerknamed Albert Einstein published a paper that upended our entire understanding of the universe. It explained supernovas, black holes, and even time travel. It also gave us E=mc2, probably the most famous equation ever. And the math was simple enough that a high-schooler could work it out. After spending five minutes with us, you'll know it all, too.

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The early twentieth century was a time of massive upheaval. Between World War 1, the Soviet Revolution, and Albert Einstein, everything we thought we knew about the world was suddenly gone. Into that swirling chaos came an art movement made for the era: Dadaism. Intentionally nonsensical and absurd, it was as much a reaction to the changing times as it was a product of them. This week, we're learning about it and how Dada continues to influence art produced to this day.

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Mother's Day is one of the most important holidays in America, and not just because we love our moms. Billions of dollars in flowers, greeting cards, and restaurant brunches make Mother's Day an economic powerhouse. But it wasn't always this way, and when it transformed rom a day of remembrance to a commercial industry, its founder tried to have it abolished. This week, we're talking about Anna Jarvis and the holiday she made.

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Imagine building an entire society around the idea of fighting people. That, in a nutshell, was Sparta. For over three millenia, the Spartans have been source of fascination for their military prowess, their massive slave population, and their seeming willingness to fight anyone over anything. This week's show explores the history behind their enduring legend.

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