69: Patterns of Isolation and Continuity in the Americas Professor Meltzer notes that rapid dispersal and substantial population increase characterized the first peoples in the Americas, leading to early isolation and the emergence of subgroups through both

69: Ancestral Native American Dispersal and Admixture 3. Meltzer describes the dispersal of the first peoples into the Americas, explaining that ancestral Native Americans likely arrived first and made it south of the ice sheets, splitting into Northern and S

69: Migration Routes and Genetic Groups 2. Professor Meltzer details the migration routes of ancestral Native Americans, explaining that while they crossed the land bridge during maximum glaciation, they were initially trapped in Alaska by two vast continenta

69: DAVID MELTZER: PEOPLING OF THE AMERICAS Peopling of the Americas as Inferred from Ancient Genomics 1. Professor David Meltzer, an archaeologist, discusses how genomics provides a breakthrough over earlier methods like mitochondrial DNA by using the entir

68: Dallas the Dog Welcomes Skittish Sparrows. Jeremy details Dallas's affinity for birds, noting that usually skittish common garden sparrows are now drinking and eating from the dog's bowls. The destructive cockatoos, while still present and stripping pine

68: Ashes Cricket: Injury Risks and Unknown Opponents. Jeremy Zakis discusses the upcoming Ashes contest, noting both Australia and England are good teams with unknowns. Australia aims to match England's power but faces risks from older, injury-prone players,

68: Snakes in Pools and Magpie Attacks on Cyclists. Jeremy discusses the prevalence of snakes, noting that it is illegal to kill them, and they are frequently attracted to swimming pools, seeking water and warmth in filters or motors. He warns that even libra

68: Australian Weather: Four Seasons in a Week. Jeremy describes Australia's weather as an "eclectic cacophony," experiencing four seasons in one week, including 80°F days and brutally cold winter-like maximums. Severe storms and reported nighttime funnels hi

67: 4. When Politicians Panicked: The New Coronavirus, Expert Opinion, and a Tragic Lapse of Reason. The discussion critiques the indiscriminate government funding of the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), which subsidized well-endowed institutions and missed

67: 3. When Politicians Panicked: The New Coronavirus, Expert Opinion, and a Tragic Lapse of Reason. This excerpt examines the federal government's response, characterized as a partial command economy imposed after state lockdowns. John Tamny contends that Wa

67: 2. When Politicians Panicked: The New Coronavirus, Expert Opinion, and a Tragic Lapse of Reason. The conversation reviews the governors' initial promise of two-week lockdowns, noting that centralized power is rarely relinquished. The economic crisis deepe

67: 1. When Politicians Panicked: The New Coronavirus, Expert Opinion, and a Tragic Lapse of Reason. John Tamny discusses the severe economic contraction initiated by mandated lockdowns, such as Governor Cuomo's March 20, 2020, order in New York. Tamny argues

66: 8. The Trans Earth Injection, Lovell's Navigation Error, and the Successful Reentry. Bob Zimmerman discusses how the Trans Earth Injection (TEI) was the mission's second moment of highest risk, requiring the non-redundant SPS engine to fire on the backsid

65: 7. The Iconic Earthrise Photo and the Genesis Reading Broadcast. Bob Zimmerman discusses how while orbiting the moon, the crew captured the now-iconic "Earthrise" photographs. A dispute over who took the famous color picture was resolved by transcript ana

65: 6. The Cold War Context and the Tragedy of a Government-Controlled Space Program. Bob Zimmerman discusses how the Apollo 8 mission was embedded in the global Cold War and the extreme chaos of 1968, marked by political turmoil and assassinations. The space

65: 5. Lunar Orbit Insertion and the Disappointment of the Moon's Surface. Bob Zimmerman discusses how on Christmas Eve, Apollo 8 approached the moon. The critical moment was Lunar Orbit Injection (LOI), requiring the firing of the Service Propulsion System (

65: 4. The Failure of the Soviet Zond Program and the Decision to Gamble on Apollo 8. Bob Zimmerman discusses the fierce moon race with the Soviet Union's Roscosmos, which utilized the Zond capsule for circumlunar missions. Zond 5 and 6, launched in late 1968

65: 3. Launch Mechanics, Primitive Technology, and Trans Lunar Injection. Bob Zimmerman discusses how Apollo 8 launched on December 21, 1968, the first day of its window, following a smooth ride on the powerful Saturn 5 rocket. Engineers had mitigated the "po

65: 2. The Apollo 8 Crew, Cold War Context, and Reliance on the Saturn 5 Booster. Bob Zimmerman introduces the Apollo 8 crew—Commander Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and rookie William Anders—set against the backdrop of the intense global Cold War in late 1968. Bo

65: 1. Apollo 1 and Soyuz 1 Disasters: Rushing the Space Race. Bob Zimmerman discusses the major setbacks suffered by both nations in 1967. In January, the Apollo 1 fire occurred during a launchpad rehearsal, killing astronauts Grissom, White, and Chaffee. Th