Oldest Message in a Bottle Found After 132 Years (Lost at Sea and Found) | Smartest Year Ever (June 1, 2025)

What’s the oldest confirmed message in a bottle ever found? And what story did it carry across time, tides, and oceans?

In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy dives into the real-life discovery that stunned maritime historians, scientists, and Guinness record-keepers alike. From the windswept shores of Western Australia to the decks of a 19th-century German barque, this story spans centuries of ocean drift, scientific ambition, and the strange human urge to connect through glass and ink.

Whether you’re into maritime mysteries, forgotten experiments, or just love a story that starts buried in the sand and ends in the history books, this one’s for you.

👇 Sources below, and don’t forget to stay curious.

Sources:

• Western Australian Museum. (n.d.). Messages in bottles database. https://museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/messages-bottles
  

• Guinness World Records. (n.d.). Oldest message in a bottle. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com
  

• Smithsonian Magazine. (2018). The Science of Messages in Bottles. https://www.smithsonianmag.com
  

• Poe, E. A. (1833). MS. Found in a Bottle.
  

#messageinabottle #worldrecord #oceans #funfacts #dailyfacts  #MaritimeHistory #BottleMessage #WeirdHistory #OceanMysteries Music thanks to Zapsplat.

What’s the most isolated place on Earth? Somewhere so far from land, the closest humans… are in space?

In today’s episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy dives into Point Nemo — a remote patch of the Pacific Ocean with no islands, no people, and almost no marine life. But here’s the twist: this watery void has become the final resting place for over a hundred decommissioned spacecraft. There’s a reason it’s earned the nickname "spacecraft graveyard."

Why is this particular spot used? What else has happened near Point Nemo that left scientists scratching their heads? And what’s the connection to a giant mysterious underwater sound that sparked wild theories?

This episode explores the science, the history, and the strange lore behind a spot so far from civilization, it might as well be another planet.

Sources:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Oceanic pole of inaccessibility: Point Nemo. Retrieved from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/
  

• NASA. (n.d.). Spacecraft Cemetery in the South Pacific. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/
  

• Verne, J. (1870). 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
  

• Scientific American. (2018). The Bloop Revisited. Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/
  

• Wired. (2019). Point Nemo: The Most Remote Place on Earth. Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/
  

#SmartestYearEver #PointNemo #SpacecraftGraveyard #OceanFacts #MysteryOfTheSea #SciencePodcast #WeirdScience #DailyKnowledge #HiddenHistory #SpaceJunk #FunFacts #geography

Music thanks to Zapsplat.

In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy unpacks one of humanity’s boldest space broadcasts — the Arecibo Message. In 1974, a powerful radio telescope in Puerto Rico fired off a burst of binary data aimed at the stars. But what was in that message? Who was it meant for? And why do some scientists now think we might've made a cosmic mistake?

Explore how Frank Drake, Carl Sagan, and others condensed humanity into 1,679 bits. Dive into the incredible story of the Arecibo Observatory, the science behind interstellar messaging, and the ongoing debate about alien contact and space signals. This episode also follows up on yesterday’s topic — the Dark Forest Theory — with an even deeper look at how we’ve announced ourselves to the cosmos.

What happens when you send a postcard to the stars? What if nobody’s home?

Sources:

• Drake, F. (n.d.). The Arecibo Message. Cornell University.
  

• Sagan, C. (1978). Murmurs of Earth: The Voyager Interstellar Record. Random House.
  

• National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center. (n.d.). Arecibo Observatory History.
  

• SETI Institute. (n.d.). The Arecibo Message: What Did We Say to the Stars? https://www.seti.org/arecibo-message
  

• Smithsonian Magazine. (n.d.). Sending Messages to Aliens — What Could Go Wrong? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/sending-messages-to-aliens
  

#AreciboMessage #SETI #SpaceCommunication #AlienContact #DarkForestTheory #SmartestYearEver Music thanks to Zapsplat.

 Why haven’t we heard from aliens? Maybe the real question is: why would they want to be heard?

In this episode, Gordy explores the Dark Forest Theory—a chilling thought experiment that flips the Fermi Paradox on its head. What if space isn’t quiet because we’re alone, but because everyone’s hiding? Drawing from Liu Cixin’s sci-fi masterpiece The Three-Body Problem, this concept offers a gripping alternative to our optimistic search for extraterrestrial life.

Plus, we explore why some scientists, including Stephen Hawking, warned against broadcasting our existence—and why our most powerful space message is already out there.

If the universe is a dark forest… are we the only ones making noise?

Follow for more stories that make you a smarter, sharper conversationalist—every single day.

Sources:

• Liu, C. (2015). The Dark Forest. Tor Books.
  

• Britannica. (n.d.). Fermi paradox. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/science/Fermi-paradox
  

• SETI Institute. (n.d.). Humankind just beamed a signal at space aliens. Was that a bad idea? Retrieved from https://www.seti.org/humankind-just-beamed-signal-space-aliens-was-bad-idea
  

• Jha, A. (2010, April 30). Is Stephen Hawking right about aliens? The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/apr/30/stephen-hawking-right-aliens
  

#FermiParadox #SpaceMysteries #DarkForestTheory #ExtraterrestrialLife #SciFiPhilosophy #DidYouKnow #FermiParadox #StephenHawking #aliens #DarkForestTheory 

Music thanks to Zapsplat.

The Drake Passage is one of the most notorious stretches of ocean on Earth — a 600-mile-wide maritime gauntlet between Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula, where rogue waves, cyclonic winds, and the full force of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current converge.

Gordy explores why sailors, scientists, and adventurers have feared and respected this extreme environment for centuries. From its critical role in global ocean circulation to the legendary 1916 crossing by Ernest Shackleton, this episode dives into the history, science, and danger of the roughest sea route on the planet.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to face hurricane-force winds and 60-foot waves in the middle of nowhere — or why the Drake Passage remains a rite of passage for Antarctic expeditions — this episode’s for you.

Would you survive the Drake Passage?

— Sources:

• National Geographic. (n.d.). Drake Passage: The World’s Most Dangerous Waterway. National Geographic Society.
  

• Smithsonian Magazine. (n.d.). How Francis Drake Became the Passage’s Namesake. Smithsonian Institution. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/francis-drake-drake-passage
  

• NOAA. (n.d.). Antarctic Circumpolar Current. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/antarctic-circumpolar-current
  

• British Antarctic Survey. (n.d.). Wildlife in the Drake Passage. https://www.bas.ac.uk/data/our-data/publication/wildlife-drake-passage
  

• Royal Museums Greenwich. (n.d.). Shackleton’s Voyage in the James Caird. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/shackleton-voyage
  

Music thanks to Zapsplat.

#DrakePassage #AntarcticExpedition #ExtremeWeather #OceanCurrents #SailingDanger #MarineLife #ErnestShackleton #MaritimeHistory #SmartestYearEver

Did everyday slang come from ship decks and cannon fire? Turns out, phrases like “under the weather”, “turn a blind eye”, and “scuttlebutt” aren’t just colorful language—they’re the echo of real nautical life.

In this episode, Gordy uncovers the surprising maritime origins behind 5 popular English idioms. From the British Royal Navy to sailing ships in the Age of Exploration, these expressions tell stories of survival, rebellion, and rigging. If you love etymology, language trivia, or hidden history, this one’s packed with conversational gold.

Follow along every day as we explore how history hides in plain sight—right in our everyday words.

Sources:

• Oxford University Press. (n.d.). Under the Weather. Oxford English Dictionary.
  

• Royal Museums Greenwich. (n.d.). Admiral Nelson and the Battle of Copenhagen.
  

• Grammarist. (n.d.). Hand Over Fist—Idiom, Origin & Meaning. https://grammarist.com/idiom/hand-over-fist/
  

• Grammar Monster. (n.d.). Hand Over Fist | Origin and Meaning. https://www.grammar-monster.com/sayings_proverbs/hand_over_fist.htm
  

• Harbour Guides. (n.d.). Hand Over Fist Origin. https://www.harbourguides.com/nautical-sayings/HAND-OVER-FIST-ORIGIN
  

• Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). Scuttlebutt: The Naval Gossip.
  

• Historic Naval Terms. (n.d.). Learn the Ropes Explained.
  

Music thanks to Zapsplat.

#NauticalIdioms #WordOrigins #HistoryPodcast #MaritimeHistory #EnglishLanguage #SailingTerms #EtymologyNerd #SmartestYearEver #DailyFacts #HistoricalLinguistics #LanguageTrivia #SeaSayings #NoDaysOff #idioms

Mary Mallon was just a cook. But history remembers her as Typhoid Mary — the woman who unknowingly spread a deadly disease to dozens without ever showing symptoms.

In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy uncovers the true story behind one of public health’s most infamous cases. It’s a tale of germs, denial, quarantine, and one very stubborn scoop of peach ice cream. But beneath the headlines lies a deeper story — one that questions how we treat disease carriers, what rights we give up in the name of safety, and how quickly a person can become a symbol.

She didn’t believe she was contagious. She never felt sick. And yet, people kept dying.

From luxury kitchens to forced quarantine on North Brother Island, the story of Typhoid Mary is as chilling as it is thought-provoking. Who decides what's fair when one person becomes a public threat? And what happens when the science outpaces the public’s understanding?

Sources:

• Soper, G. A. (1907). The Curious Career of Typhoid Mary. Journal of the American Medical Association.
  

• Leavitt, J. W. (1996). Typhoid Mary: Captive to the Public’s Health. Beacon Press.
  

• Marineli, F., Tsoucalas, G., Karamanou, M., & Androutsos, G. (2013). Mary Mallon (1869–1938) and the history of typhoid fever. Annals of Gastroenterology, 26(2), 132–134.
  

• National Institutes of Health. (2020). Typhoid Fever and Public Health.
  

• New York City Department of Health. (2017). The Legacy of Typhoid Mary: Infectious Disease Control in the Early 20th Century.
  

• New York Times Archives (1915). Typhoid Mary Caught Again.
  

📌 Music thanks to Zapsplat. #HistoryFacts #Epidemiology #PublicHealth #SmartestYearEver #DiseaseOutbreak #MedicalHistory #Quarantine #TyphoidMary #GermTheory #DailyLearning #EducationalPodcast #ScienceExplained #PeachIceCream #NYHistory #SalmonellaTyphi #AsymptomaticCarrier #NoDaysOff

Why do people say “bless you” when someone sneezes—but not when they cough, hiccup, or burp? In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy explores the origins of this curious cultural reflex, which blends superstition, religion, health, and linguistic tradition. From medieval plague outbreaks to modern etiquette, the sneeze has had a strange journey through human history.

Gordy breaks down some of the most widely believed theories, including a 6th-century papal blessing during a deadly illness, ancient fears of sneezing out your soul, and the idea that sneezing was a harbinger of death. But that’s just one part of the story. Around the world, the sneeze response varies wildly—from “Gesundheit” in Germany to “Guð hjálpi þér” in Iceland.

You’ll also learn about the photic sneeze reflex (a.k.a. ACHOO syndrome), and why some people sneeze when they see bright light. Plus: does your heart really stop when you sneeze? (Spoiler: no. But something interesting does happen.)

Whether you’re interested in weird body facts, global language customs, cultural etiquette, or just want to know why people bless your sinuses, this episode delivers the sneeze-size truth in under 10 minutes.

Music thanks to Zapsplat.

Sources:

• NBC New York. (n.d.). Why do we say 'bless you' when we hear someone sneeze? Retrieved from https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/why-do-we-say-bless-you-when-we-hear-someone-sneeze/4974655/
  

• Library of Congress. (n.d.). Does your heart stop when you sneeze? Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/biology-and-human-anatomy/item/does-your-heart-stop-when-you-sneeze/
  

• Babbel Magazine. (2022, November 17). How To Respond To A Sneeze In 6 Different Languages. Retrieved from https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/how-to-respond-to-sneeze-in-6-different-languages
  

• Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Response to sneezing. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Response_to_sneezing
  

• Lingopie. (n.d.). How To Say 'Bless You' In 75 Different Languages. Retrieved from https://lingopie.com/blog/how-to-say-bless-you-in-different-languages/
  

• HowStuffWorks. (n.d.). Why do we say 'bless you' or 'gesundheit' when people sneeze? Retrieved from https://people.howstuffworks.com/sneezing.htm
  

• Southern Living. (2018, May 18). Why We Say "Bless You" When Someone Sneezes. Retrieved from https://www.southernliving.com/news/why-we-say-bless-you-after-a-sneeze
  

#BlessYou #WhyWeSayBlessYou #SneezingTraditions #CulturalCustoms #ACHOOSyndrome #PhoticSneezeReflex #WeirdBodyFacts #LinguisticHistory #FunFactsPodcast #SmartestYearEver #DailyFacts #DidYouKnow #EtymologyExplained #MedicalMyths #PlagueHistory #HumanBehaviorExplained #sneezing

In life-or-death situations, some people report the same eerie sensation: someone else is with them. But when they look around... no one’s there.

From Antarctic explorers to 9/11 survivors, these stories defy explanation — and reveal something astonishing about the human brain under extreme stress.

Join Gordy in this gripping episode of Smartest Year Ever as he dives into the science and mystery behind the Third Man Factor — the phenomenon where a phantom companion appears to guide people through near-death experiences.

Whether it’s Ernest Shackleton’s harrowing trek across South Georgia Island, Frank Smythe’s solo Everest climb, or Beck Weathers’ resurrection in the 1996 Everest disaster, the question remains:

Can your mind create a guardian when survival is on the line?

🔍 Topics include:

• Illusory companions and felt presence
  

• Temporoparietal junction and brain misfiring under duress
  

• Real survivor stories from Antarctica, Mount Everest, and 9/11
  

• T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land and the origin of the term
  

• The boundary between psychology, neurology, and the unknown
  

Music thanks to Zapsplat. Follow @SmartestYearEver for daily episodes that make you the most interesting person in the room.

Sources:

• Geiger, J. (2009). The Third Man Factor: Surviving the Impossible. Weinstein Books.
  

• Eliot, T. S. (1922). The Waste Land. New York: Boni and Liveright.
  

• Smythe, F. S. (1937). Camp Six: An Account of the 1933 Mount Everest Expedition. Hodder & Stoughton.
  

• Blanke, O., & Arzy, S. (2005). The out-of-body experience: Disturbed self-processing at the temporo-parietal junction. The Neuroscientist, 11(1), 16–24.
  

• Saxe, R., & Kanwisher, N. (2003). People thinking about thinking people: The role of the temporo-parietal junction in “theory of mind”. NeuroImage, 19(4), 1835–1842.
  

• Young, L., Cushman, F., Hauser, M., & Saxe, R. (2007). The neural basis of the interaction between theory of mind and moral judgment. PNAS, 104(20), 8235–8240.
  

• Abu-Akel, A., & Shamay-Tsoory, S. (2011). Neuroanatomical and neurochemical bases of theory of mind. Neuropsychologia, 49(11), 2971–2984.
  

• Geiger, J. (2009, September 13). Guardian angels or the ‘Third Man Factor’? NPR.
  

• Fraga, K. (2024, December 10). Third Man Syndrome: 9 Shocking Stories of Survival. All That's Interesting.
  

• The Strange World of Felt Presences. (2015, March 5). The Guardian.
  

#ThirdManFactor #SurvivalStories #Shackleton #EverestDisaster #FeltPresence #HumanBrain #NeuroscienceFacts #PhantomCompanion #ExtremeSurvival #SmartestYearEver #MindAndBody #PsychologyFacts #StayCurious

Where did emojis come from—and which one did the entire world forget?

Today on Smartest Year Ever, Gordy breaks down the unexpected origin story of emojis, starting with a pixelated red heart in 1999 Tokyo. It’s the story of how Shigetaka Kurita and NTT Docomo created the world’s first emoji set, why they were only 12x12 pixels, and how Apple secretly introduced an emoji keyboard to the world years later.

Plus: how the Unicode Consortium helped emojis go global, why the most popular emoji ever was named Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year, and which weird, dusty icons no one uses anymore—including one you’ve probably never even seen.

This is the story of how a tiny picture character evolved into a global language.

Follow Smartest Year Ever for a daily dose of facts you'll actually want to bring up at dinner.

Sources:

• Kurita, S. (1999). Emoji. NTT DOCOMO. Museum of Modern Art Collection. https://www.moma.org/collection/works/196070
  

• Unicode Consortium. (2010). Unicode Technical Standard #51: Unicode Emoji. https://www.unicode.org/reports/tr51/
  

• Oxford University Press. (2015). Word of the Year 2015: 😂. https://languages.oup.com/word-of-the-year/2015/
  

• Doofinder. (2024). What is the most used emoji? https://www.doofinder.com/en/statistics/most-used-emoji
  

• Unicode Consortium. (2019). Emoji Frequency. https://home.unicode.org/emoji/emoji-frequency/
  

• JOE.ie. (2018). The two least used emojis have been revealed. https://www.joe.ie/tech/least-used-emojis-648123
  

• The Verge. (2017). How the iPhone won over Japan and gave the world emoji. https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/29/15892640/iphone-anniversary-japan-success-emoji-history
  

• Emojipedia. (n.d.). The Original iPhone Emoji Keyboard. https://blog.emojipedia.org/the-original-iphone-emoji-keyboard/
  

#EmojiHistory #Emojis #Unicode #EmojiFacts #ForgottenEmoji #EmojiTrivia #InternetCulture #SmartestYearEver #TechHistory #DailyFacts #DidYouKnow #DigitalLanguage #ShigetakaKurita #EmojiOrigins #EducationalContent #aerialtramwayemoji

Music thanks to Zapsplat.