The Things Around Us

The Things Around Us

By Kessler McLaughlinEducation
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The Things Around Us episodes

  • The Post Office

    Join Host Kessler McLaughlin on a brief overview of how the post office came to be and to learn what individual objects you can ship without envelopes or packages.


    Sources and Further Reading:

    History Channel | Post Office

    Britannica | Postal System History

    Britannica | Cursus Publicus

    Smithsonian Postal Museum | Ben Franklin

    The Week Magazine | Post Office Innovations

    US Postal Service | History

    US Postal Service | An American History (ebook)

    US Postal Service | Facts

    US Postal Service | Decoding the Zip Code

    US Postal Service | Mailing Potatoes


    8 min
  • The Microwave

    We all use microwaves, but how do they work? Where did they come from? We'll explore the origins of these common household appliances and some fun ways to use them that you might not have explored (no explosions required).


    Sources and Further Reading

    Smithsonian | Microwave Oven

    MIT | Percy Spencer

    Brittannica | How Microwaves Work

    Reader's Digest | Microwave Mistakes

    Taste of Home | Microwave Popcorn

    FDA | Microwave Ovens


    Music by ⁠lvymusic⁠ from ⁠Pixabay⁠.

    6 min
  • The Mile Marker

    Where did mile markers come from? How do you read them? In this episode we travel back in time for a brief study on the signs that move us forward.


    Sources and Further Reading:

    The Lower Merion Historical Society

    National Park Service - The Odometer

    Britannica - Vitruvius

    The History Channel - The Roman Forum

    The Historical Marker Database

    The United States Department of Transportation: Read Your Road

    Ranger Brian Reedy, Historian, U.S. National Park Service

    8 min
  • The History of the Paperclip

    Few things are as ubiquitous in one's desk as a paper clip. But where did the paper clip come from who invented it and why did they do it? Join host Kessler McLaughlin for an explanation of the history of the paper clip.


    For further reading, here are some sources from the episode:

    University of Houston

    Slate

    Follow us on Twitter @AroundUsShow

    7 min
  • Trailer

    Welcome to The Things Around Us, the podcast that will help you learn at least one thing per day. Hosted by Kessler McLaughlin



    Music by lvymusic from Pixabay.

    1 min

About The Things Around Us

From the publisher's feed

The podcast that helps you learn at least one new thing with each episode, hosted by Kessler McLaughlin.