Smartest Year Ever

At the heart of the Yucatán jungle stands one of the most mathematically astonishing structures ever built: El Castillo, the towering pyramid of Chichén Itzá. But this isn’t just architecture—it’s astronomy, acoustics, and ancient cosmology in stone.

In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy dives into the mysteries of Chichén Itzá—one of the New 7 Wonders of the World—to explore how the Maya used shadows, steps, and serpent gods to turn limestone into a living calendar. From eerie snake-shaped illusions to echo chambers that may invoke the underworld, this place was designed to be more than just a city—it was a cosmic machine.

And that’s just the surface.

At Chichén Itzá, the Temple of Kukulcán isn’t just architecture. It’s a cosmic machine built to summon a serpent of shadow and light—a phenomenon that still stuns scientists and travelers alike.

Gordy explores the astronomical genius of the Maya civilization, revealing how this pyramid was engineered to align with the sun and mimic the descent of a god. From a 365-step calendar to the jaw-dropping equinox illusion, this is where myth meets math, and stone tells time.

And that’s just the beginning—because beneath the surface of Chichén Itzá, even stranger secrets await.

Like what you’re hearing? Share with a friend who still thinks the Mayan calendar only predicted the end of the world.

Sources:

• National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), Mexico
  

• Sharer, R. J. (2006). The Ancient Maya. Stanford University Press.
  

• UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Pre-Hispanic City of Chichén Itzá. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/483
  

• Aveni, A. (2001). Skywatchers: A Revised and Updated Version of Skywatchers of Ancient Mexico. University of Texas Press.
  

• Milbrath, S. (1999). Star Gods of the Maya: Astronomy in Art, Folklore, and Calendars. University of Texas Press.
  

• Coe, M. D. (2015). The Maya. Thames & Hudson.
  

• Smithsonian Magazine. (n.d.). Secrets of the Maya Calendar.
  

• American Museum of Natural History. (n.d.). https://www.amnh.org/explore/science-topics/maya
  

#ChichenItza #AncientMaya #New7Wonders #MayanCalendar #AncientAstronomy #sevenwonders #wondersoftheworld #mexicotravel #historyfacts Music thanks to Zapsplat.

How do you lose an entire city in the mountains—and then find it again centuries later? In this episode, Gordy explores Machu Picchu, the legendary Incan citadel perched high in the Andes Mountains, hidden from the outside world for over 400 years.

We’ll uncover how the Inca built this architectural wonder at 8,000 feet, without wheels, iron tools, or written records—and how a Yale professor accidentally brought it to global fame while looking for something else entirely.

From stonework that defies earthquakes to solar temples that still align with the solstice, this isn’t just a lost city—it’s a masterclass in ancient innovation, spiritual design, and altitude-fueled determination.

Gordy also shares personal stories from visiting the site—llamas, coca leaves, and old military helicopters included.

Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the world’s most breathtaking mysteries.

Sources:

• Bingham, H. (1948). Lost City of the Incas. Phoenix Press.
  

• Hemming, J. (1970). The Conquest of the Incas. Harcourt.
  

• Protzen, J.-P. (1993). Inca architecture and construction at Ollantaytambo. Latin American Antiquity, 4(4), 287–318.
  

• Reinhard, J. (2007). Machu Picchu: Exploring an Ancient Sacred Center. Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press.
  

• Salazar, L. C., & Burger, R. L. (2004). The 1912 Yale Peruvian Scientific Expedition Collections from Machu Picchu. Yale Peabody Museum.
  

• UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Machu Picchu. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/274
  

• National Geographic. (n.d.). Machu Picchu. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/machu-picchu
  

#MachuPicchu #IncaCivilization #AncientEngineering #LostCity #SouthAmericanHistory #SmartestYearEver #dailyfacts #peru #didyouknow #wondersoftheworld #sevenwonders

Why did Brazil build a 100-foot-tall statue of Jesus (Christ the Redeemer) on top of a mountain? How did they do it without helicopters or cranes—and what secret chamber is hidden inside his chest?

In today’s episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy explores Christ the Redeemer, the towering statue that has become a global icon of Brazil. From its political origins to its mind-blowing construction challenges, you’ll learn what this wonder is really made of—both physically and symbolically.

Discover how soapstone tiles, international sculptors, and a cogwheel railway came together to form one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. There’s even a surprise detail inside the statue’s heart that most people have never heard.

This is not just a story about religion—it’s a story about national identity, engineering feats, and human vision. And yes, the statue gets struck by lightning.

New episodes daily. Wonders Week continues tomorrow.

Sources

• Smithsonian Magazine. (n.d.). Inside the Making of Christ the Redeemer. Smithsonian Institution. https://www.smithsonianmag.com
  

• UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea. https://whc.unesco.org
  

• National Geographic. (n.d.). The Statue That Defines Rio. https://www.nationalgeographic.com
  

• Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Christ the Redeemer. https://www.britannica.com
  

• Bresciani, A. (2011). Histórias do Cristo Redentor. Rio Books.
  

• Schwarcz, L. (2018). Brazil: A Biography. Penguin Books.
  

#sevenwonders #wondersoftheworld #ChristTheRedeemer #BrazilTravel #HistoryFacts #DailyLearning

Music thanks to Zapsplat.

Petra wasn’t built—it was carved. Straight into rose-red cliffs in the Jordanian desert.

In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy dives into the lost city of Petra, a marvel of ancient engineering, water mastery, and architectural fusion. Once a bustling capital of the Nabataean kingdom, Petra is famous for its towering façade known as Al-Khazneh—but there’s way more hidden beneath the surface.

With temples, tombs, aqueducts, and amphitheaters all sculpted out of solid rock, Petra stands as a literal monument to human ingenuity. Gordy unpacks the history, the mystery, and the legends surrounding this New Wonder of the World—including what Indiana Jones got wrong.

Less than 20% of Petra has been excavated. What’s still buried? What secrets lie beneath the stone?

Follow along as we uncover one of the most spectacular cities ever forgotten.

Sources:

• Hammond, P. C. (1973). The Nabataeans: Their History, Culture and Archaeology. Brepols.
  

• Rababeh, S. (2005). How Petra Was Built: An Analysis of the Construction Techniques of the Nabataean Freestanding Buildings and Rock-cut Monuments in Petra, Jordan. BAR International Series 1460.
  

• Joukowsky, M. S. (1998). Petra Great Temple: Brown University Excavations. Brown University.
  

• Indiana, N. (2003). Petra Rediscovered: Lost City of the Nabataeans. Art Services International.
  

• Liddell, H. G., & Scott, R. (1996). A Greek-English Lexicon. Oxford University Press.
  

• The Holy Bible, Matthew 16:18. (Greek New Testament translation).
  

• Politis, K. D. (2007). The World of the Nabataeans. Franz Steiner Verlag.
  

• Ortloff, C. R. (2005). Water Engineering in Petra. Civil Engineering History and Heritage, ASCE Library.
  

• Rollinger, R. (2012). A Companion to the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East. Wiley-Blackwell.
  

• Burckhardt, J. L. (1822). Travels in Syria and the Holy Land. John Murray.
  

• Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Johann-Ludwig-Burckhardt
  

• UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Petra. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/326/
  

#Petra #AncientArchitecture #SmartestYearEver #WorldHistory #HiddenWonders #sevenwonders #wondersoftheworld #jordan #lostcity #ancienthistory Music thanks to Zapsplat.

Is the Great Wall of China really the only manmade structure you can see from space? Gordy kicks off Wonders Week with one of the most iconic monuments on Earth—and digs into what’s fact, what’s fiction, and what makes the Wall truly unforgettable. From its 2,000-year history to Ming Dynasty engineering feats, glutinous rice mortar, and its complicated legacy as both a defense system and a symbol of Chinese power, this episode peels back the myths and shows what the Great Wall really was... and wasn't.

All this week, Smartest Year Ever is breaking down the New 7 Wonders of the World—and what makes each one so enduring.

Follow for a new video every day this week.

Sources:

• Waldron, A. (1990). The Great Wall of China: From History to Myth. Cambridge University Press.
  

• Man, J. (2008). The Great Wall: The Extraordinary Story of China's Wonder of the World. Da Capo Press.
  

• Lu, B., et al. (2010). Sticky rice mortar: A historical adhesive for stone conservation in the Forbidden City, China. Accounts of Chemical Research, 43(4), 744–752.
  

• NASA Earth Observatory. (n.d.). Can You See the Great Wall of China from Space? https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/GreatWall
  

#GreatWallOfChina #New7Wonders #HistoryMyth #SmartestYearEver #DailyLearning #WondersWeek #AncientChina #Chinahistory #wondersoftheworld #sevenwonders #sevenwondersofthewolrd Music thanks to Zapsplat.

Why do almost-human faces make us uncomfortable? Why does a robot that looks too real feel creepier than one that doesn’t? In this episode, Gordy explores the strange psychological dip known as the Uncanny Valley — where human-likeness turns unsettling.

From lifelike robots to CGI gone wrong, we break down the evolutionary, cognitive, and emotional reasons behind this phenomenon — and why it still matters today. Whether it’s a deepfake, a dead-eyed doll, or a virtual avatar, your brain has a reason for saying “nope.” But what is it?

Get ready for robots, jump scares, and the real science behind why our instincts still override our tech.

Sources:

• Mori, M. (1970). The Uncanny Valley. Energy, 7(4), 33–35.
  

• MacDorman, K. F., & Ishiguro, H. (2006). The uncanny advantage of using androids in cognitive and social science research. Interaction Studies, 7(3), 297–337.
  

• Kätsyri, J., Förger, K., Mäkäräinen, M., & Takala, T. (2015). A review of empirical evidence on different uncanny valley hypotheses. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 390.
  

#UncannyValley #Robots #CGI #ArtificialIntelligence #Psychology #CognitiveScience #SmartestYearEver

Music thanks to Zapsplat.

What’s the deepest hole humans have ever dug? And what did we find when we got there?

In this episode, Gordy explores the mind-bending story of the Kola Superdeep Borehole, a Cold War-era Soviet project that went deeper into the Earth than any drill had ever gone before — and hasn’t been surpassed since.

While space exploration was captivating the world’s imagination, the Soviet Union decided to turn its attention downward — attempting to punch through the Earth’s crust and see what secrets might be buried beneath our feet.

What they found challenged everything we thought we knew about geology, heat, pressure, and even life itself. From underground water sealed off for millions of years to fossils where no one expected them… this wasn’t just a science experiment — it became a legend.

Why did the project get abandoned? What made it so difficult to dig that deep? And are the rumors about “sounds from hell” complete nonsense — or based in something real?

This is one of those stories that makes you feel small… and a little creeped out.

Don’t miss this one.

Sources

• Pease, M. (1990). Drilling to the Earth’s Mantle: The Kola Superdeep Borehole. Scientific American.
  

• Wright, S. (2016). How Deep Is the Deepest Hole Ever Dug? BBC Future. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160526-how-deep-can-you-dig
  

• Smith, J. (2021). What Did We Find at the Bottom of the Kola Superdeep Borehole? National Geographic.
  

• Kola Science Center. (1995). Geological Discoveries at the Kola Superdeep Borehole. Russian Academy of Sciences.
  

Music thanks to Zapsplat #EarthScience #SmartestYearEver #ColdWarHistory #GeologyFacts #KolaBorehole #DeepestHole #SovietUnion #ScienceMysteries #Underground #DidYouKnow

Gordy tackles one of the strangest legal questions on Earth: Could you actually build a house in Antarctica? It sounds absurd—but in a place with no cities, no government, and no cops, who’s stopping you?

In this icy episode, Gordy explores:

• The Antarctic Treaty System and why sovereignty is frozen in place
  

• How Argentina tried to claim land by sending pregnant women
  

• Why even scientists struggle to get construction permits
  

• And what might happen if you went rogue and built your own cabin at the bottom of the world
  

From international law to extreme climate logistics, this is a deep dive into the limits of human settlement—and the weird geopolitical games being played on the world’s coldest continent.

Like, share, and follow for daily answers to questions you didn’t know you had.

Sources:

• Antarctic Treaty System. (1959). Retrieved from https://www.ats.aq/
  

• Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. (1991). Retrieved from https://www.ats.aq/e/protocol.html
  

• Australian Antarctic Division. (n.d.). Buildings and structures - Australian Antarctic Program. https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations/amenities-and-operations/buildings-and-structures/
  

• National Science Foundation. (n.d.). U.S. Antarctic Program. https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/us-antarctic-program
  

Music thanks to Zapsplat. #Antarctica #InternationalLaw #ColdFacts #Geopolitics #TreatyTrivia #SmartestYearEver #DailyEducation #ViralFacts

 Why do so many epic stories—from Star Wars to Harry Potter to The Lion King—follow the same exact plot points? In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy unpacks The Hero’s Journey, the storytelling blueprint behind Hollywood blockbusters, ancient myths, and nearly every piece of popular fiction you’ve ever loved.

Based on the work of mythologist Joseph Campbell, and later adapted by screenwriters like Christopher Vogler, this 12-step narrative structure is the foundation for countless films, books, and TV shows. Gordy explains each phase of the journey with modern examples—from the Call to Adventure and Refusal of the Call, to the Ordeal, Resurrection, and final Return with the Elixir.

Whether you’re into screenwriting, creative writing, mythology, or just want to understand why so many movies and shows feel familiar, this episode breaks it all down. And once you know the structure… you won’t be able to unsee it.

Sources:

• Campbell, J. (1949). The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton University Press.
  

• Vogler, C. (2007). The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. Michael Wiese Productions.
  

• Seger, L. (1990). Creating Unforgettable Characters. Henry Holt & Co.
  

• Greshko, M. (2019). The Hero’s Journey: A Timeless Story Structure. National Geographic.
  

Music thanks to Zapsplat.

#HeroJourney #StoryStructure #JosephCampbell #NarrativeDesign #WritingTips #HollywoodMovies #BlockbusterFormula #Screenwriting101 #StorytellingBlueprint #Mythology #SmartestYearEver #screenwriting #filmmaking #englishmajor

In 1944, while war raged across Europe, 36 American men volunteered to be starved in Minnesota. But this wasn’t punishment. It was science.

In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy unpacks one of the most extreme human experiments ever approved: The Minnesota Starvation Experiment. Conducted by Dr. Ancel Keys, this study wasn’t about cruelty — it was designed to solve one of the biggest post-war crises facing the world: how to refeed millions of starving civilians safely.

What happened to these men during and after this infamous study? And why is their data still used in research today?

Join Gordy as he explores this intense, controversial, and deeply human story — a tale of psychological unraveling, nutritional science, and the ethical lines that science continues to walk today.

Follow Smartest Year Ever for your daily fix of curiosity, history, and clever conversation fuel. New episodes drop every single day.

Sources:

• Keys, A., Brožek, J., Henschel, A., Mickelsen, O., & Taylor, H. L. (1950). The Biology of Human Starvation. University of Minnesota Press.
  

• Tucker, T. (2006). The Great Starvation Experiment: The Heroic Men Who Starved So That Millions Could Live. Free Press.
  

• Kalm, L. M., & Semba, R. D. (2005). They Starved So That Others Be Better Fed: Remembering Ancel Keys and the Minnesota Experiment. Journal of Nutrition, 135(6), 1347–1352.
  

Music thanks to Zapsplat. #StarvationStudy #HumanExperimentation #NutritionHistory #MinnesotaHistory #EthicsInScience #WWIIHistory #historyfacts #sciencefacts