Smartest Year Ever

Why do fingers wrinkle in water? It’s not just a bath-time oddity—it’s evolutionary genius. Gordy dives into how wrinkly fingertips act as natural rain treads to improve grip in wet conditions. Learn how this process is controlled by your autonomic nervous system and why evolution gave us this clever survival trick.

Order of Contents:

• Introduction: Why wrinkling happens.

• The evolutionary edge: Grip advantage on wet surfaces.

• The science: Nerves, blood vessels, and drainage systems.

• Why we don’t stay wrinkled all the time.

Sources:Kareklas, K., Nettle, D., & Smulders, T. V. (2013). Water-induced finger wrinkles improve handling of wet objects. Biology Letters, 9(2), 20120999. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2012.0999Changizi, M. A., Weber, R., Kotecha, R., & Palazzo, J. (2011). Are wet-induced wrinkled fingers primate rain treads? Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 77(4), 286–290. https://doi.org/10.1159/000328226

1/14/25 - A Boy, Bugs, and Pokémon

Before Pikachu or Charmander, Pokémon’s creator Satoshi Tajiri was just a boy obsessed with catching bugs. 🐞 In today’s episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy shares the story of how Tajiri’s childhood curiosity and love for discovery inspired one of the world’s most beloved franchises.

Learn about his early days as “Dr. Bug,” the challenges of creating Pokémon, and the brilliant idea sparked by a Game Boy link cable. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just curious about gaming history, this story is sure to inspire.

Sources:

• Kohler, C. (2005). Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life.

• Tajiri, S. (1999). Interview in Time Magazine: “Pokémon: The Phenomenon.”

• Nintendo. (1996). The Making of Pokémon Red and Green.

• Sugimori, K. (2016). Interview in Game Informer: “Designing the World of Pokémon.”

What’s the lowest distance an object can orbit Earth without falling back to the surface? Gordy explores the fascinating physics of Low Earth Orbits (LEO) and the razor-thin balance between gravity, drag, and propulsion. From the record-breaking ESA GOCE satellite to Japan’s TSUBAME, this episode dives into the engineering marvels pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

Order of Contents:

1. Intro: What is the lowest orbit?

2. How orbits work and what makes them stable.

3. Record-breaking satellites like GOCE and TSUBAME.

4. The challenges of atmospheric drag below 160 km.

5. Why low orbits matter for weather, GPS, and communication.

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Sources:

• European Space Agency (ESA). (2013). GOCE: The Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer.

• Hall, J. (2017). Japan’s TSUBAME Satellite Breaks Record for Lowest Orbit. SpaceNews.

• NASA. (2015). Low Earth Orbit: The Basics of Spacecraft Altitudes.

• Logsdon, J. (2011). Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in the History of the U.S. Civil Space Program.

In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy dives into the fascinating origins of the phrase “The Real McCoy”—a saying synonymous with authenticity and originality. Was it inspired by Elijah McCoy, the ingenious Black inventor whose patents revolutionized industry? Or was it Prohibition-era rum-runner Bill McCoy, famous for smuggling pure liquor? Maybe it even traces back to 19th-century Scotland with “The Real MacKay,” a nod to high-quality whiskey. Discover how this phrase blends fact, folklore, and marketing magic to cement its place in our language.

Contents:

• Who was Elijah McCoy, and how did his inventions shape history?

• The Prohibition smuggler who kept booze real.

• A Scottish toast that may have started it all.

Sources:Hill, A. G. (2008). The Inventive Life of Elijah McCoy.Standage, T. (2005). A History of the World in Six Glasses.Langer, M. (2017). “Rum-Running and the Legacy of Bill McCoy.” Smithsonian Magazine.Maclean, C. (2009). Whiskey: The Definitive World Guide.Bond, J. S. (1881). The Rise and Fall of the 'Union Club'; Or, Boy Life in Canada.Stevenson, R. L. (1883). Letters.

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Of all the New Year’s traditions around the world, few are as curious as eating grapes under a table for good luck. Gordy dives into the history of las doce uvas de la suerte, the Spanish tradition of eating twelve grapes at midnight, and how a 1909 grape surplus sparked this quirky custom. Discover how the practice spread to Latin America, and why hiding under a table adds a deeper meaning to this symbolic snack.

Sources:

• Counihan, C., & Van Esterik, P. (2012). Food and Culture: A Reader. Routledge.

• Hernández, M. A. (1998). "Grapes and Superstition in Spanish and Latin American New Year’s Traditions." Journal of Popular Culture, 32(3), 115–118.

• Picazo, P. (2015). "The Spanish New Year’s Eve Grape Tradition." El País.

• Romero, J. (2016). "Latin American New Year’s Superstitions: A Cultural Deep Dive." Smithsonian Latino Center.

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Why do wine bottles have that mysterious dimple at the bottom? Gordy dives into the fascinating history of the punt, tracing its origins to glassblowing days, its practical uses for stability and carbonation pressure, and its evolution into a symbol of craftsmanship and tradition.

Here’s what’s inside today’s episode:

1. The practical and historical origins of the punt.

2. How punts work for sparkling wines and their role in tradition.

3. Fun myths about sediment and marketing.

4. The surprising story of Cristal’s flat-bottomed bottle and Tsar Alexander II’s paranoia.

Sources:

• Johnson, H. (1989). The Story of Wine. Simon & Schuster.

• Robinson, J. (2006). The Oxford Companion to Wine. Oxford University Press.

• Brook, S. (2012). "Why Wine Bottles Have Punts." Decanter Magazine.

• Stevenson, T. (2011). Champagne and Sparkling Wines: The Definitive Guide. Christie’s.

• Kladstrup, D., & Kladstrup, P. (2005). Champagne: How the World’s Most Glamorous Wine Triumphed Over War and Hard Times. HarperCollins.

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Fresh-cut grass isn’t just a smell—it’s a cry for help. Gordy uncovers the science behind this iconic scent, showing how plants release green leaf volatiles (GLVs) to warn their neighbors, call in insect reinforcements, and even heal themselves. Plus, learn why humans associate this distress signal with happiness.

Contents:

1. The surprising truth behind the smell of freshly cut grass

2. How GLVs help plants defend themselves

3. Why humans feel good when plants are panicking

Sources:

• Karban, R., & Baldwin, I. T. (1997). Induced Responses to Herbivory.

• Paré, P. W., & Tumlinson, J. H. (1999). Plant Physiology.

• Farag, M. A., et al. (2005). Trends in Plant Science.

Follow @SmartestYearEver on Spotify, YouTube, and Instagram for your daily dose of fascinating facts. Stay curious, stay clever.

Tomatoes and Italian food feel inseparable, but their partnership is surprisingly modern! Gordy unpacks the history of this now-ubiquitous ingredient, tracing its journey from South America to the heart of Italian cuisine. Learn how tomatoes went from being feared as dangerous nightshades to becoming the foundation of cucina povera, and how Italian immigrants helped make tomato-rich dishes iconic worldwide.

Follow Smartest Year Ever for daily insights as we explore the surprising stories behind everyday knowledge.

Sources:

• Helstosky, C. (2004). Garlic and Oil: Food and Politics in Italy.

• Freedman, P. (2019). American Cuisine: And How It Got This Way.

• Montanari, M. (2006). Food Is Culture.

• McGee, H. (2004). On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen.

• Earle, P. (2013). The Body of the Conquistador: Food, Race, and the Colonial Experience in Spanish America.

Why does every movie phone number start with 555?

Gordy dives into the fascinating history of Hollywood's fake numbers, starting with the 1973 decision to reserve the 555 prefix for fiction after real-life harassment complaints became a major issue. But it’s not just movies—TV shows, songs, and even cartoons have sparked real-world chaos with fictional numbers. From the “867-5309/Jenny” phenomenon to the unintended consequences of The Far Side cartoon in Australia, this episode reveals the bizarre and hilarious history behind the most famous fake number in entertainment.

💻 Watch on YouTube: @SmartestYearEver.

🎧 Listen on Spotify and everywhere podcasts are available.

📱 Follow daily clips on TikTok and Instagram: @SmartestYearEver.

Sources:

• SmartestYear.com, Me, 2010

Stay curious. Stay clever. See you tomorrow on Smartest Year Ever.

1/6/25 - The Mona Lisa Heist

Season 1, Episode 6

In 1911, the Mona Lisa vanished from the Louvre, stolen by an Italian handyman named Vincenzo Peruggia. Gordy breaks down how a bold, low-tech plan made history and turned da Vinci’s masterpiece into a cultural icon.

Order of Contents:

1. Intro and background

2. How Peruggia stole the Mona Lisa

3. The aftermath and international uproar

4. How the heist cemented the Mona Lisa’s fame

Sources

• Hoobler, Dorothy, and Hoobler, Thomas. The Crimes of Paris: A True Story of Murder, Theft, and Detection (Little, Brown and Company, 2009).

• "Mona Lisa Theft: 1911," The Louvre Official Website.

• "How the Mona Lisa Was Stolen (Twice!)," Smithsonian Magazine.

• Jones, Jonathan. "The Italian Who Stole the Mona Lisa," The Guardian.

Follow for more: @SmartestYearEver on TikTok, Instagram, Spotify, and YouTube Shorts.Stay curious. Stay clever. This is the Smartest Year Ever.