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PODCAST

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong

A podcast about exactly what it says it is: examining the bad ideas, mistakes and accidents that misshaped our world.

history natural sciences

All Episodes

30:30

Shipwreckless

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong ·

2018/02/27

In 1867, The Eliza set out to sea with a fresh crew, a full hold and fair weather. Yet no one expected her to ever make land again. This episode we look at why, and why, throughout the 19th century, hundreds of ships sank every year in entirely preventable circumstances. It's a story of high seas adventure, murder for profit and... a London coffee shop? It also happens to bear a more than passing resemblance to the gun debate happening in America today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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11:52

Tidbits and Trimmings

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong ·

2018/02/14

While we work away on season 2, here's a few extra stories related to the content from season 1 that didn't make their way into the episodes. More art hoaxes! More diligent prime number seekers! More birds on The Moon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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26:58

Way to Go, Einstein!

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong ·

2018/01/30

We could've called this show "Whoopsie!" or "Oops!" or "People Believe The Strangest Things." But instead, we called it "The Constant." On this, the season finale, we finally explain why. That means it's time to fawn about Einstein, and the thing he called "the biggest blunder of his life." It also means it's time for Mark to get a tattoo. Which... Look: let's not talk about it, okay? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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24:26

Fire-Proof Lizards, Vegetable Sheep and Ball-Biting...

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong ·

2018/01/23

Throughout time people have twisted the most humdrum of creatures until they were fantastical, bizarre, unbelievable monsters. From a logistically unfeasible hybrid to a self-castrating quarry, we're bringing you a suite of four stupefying animal myths, and then tracing them to their surprisingly humble beginnings. Plus, do you know what's in your vanilla flavoring? Do you want to? Well, listen anyway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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19:59

Take None of These and Call Me In The Morning

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong ·

2018/01/16

This week: a whirlwind history of bad medical practices, worse medical practices and medical practices that--while still pretty awful--looked fantastic by comparison. Western medical history began with a madman who threw himself into a volcano to prove he was a god, and it only went downhill from there. For our story, we look at how one man managed to change 19th century medicine for the better, and how his discovery managed to make 20th century medicine worse. Learn more about your ad choices

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16:58

We're Still Here

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong ·

2018/01/09

"Threatening the world with Famine, Plague and War: To Princes, Death! To Kingdoms, many Crosses; To all Estates, inevitable Losses! To Herdsmen, Rot; to Plowmen, hapless Seasons; To Sailors, Storms, To Cities, Civil Treasons!" -John Gadsbury, 1665. This week we get superstitious with comets, the great bearded stars that herald wishes made true. Or else fiery death. One or the other. For millennia mankind was panicked by these heavenly signs, not knowing what they were. And once we did find out what

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20:17

Art is Dead

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong ·

2018/01/02

You don't know this story. You don't know the killer. You don't know the victims. You don't know the artist and you don't know the artworks. But in 1998 Yugoslavia, a series of mutilated corpses shocked the public, rocked the art world and, maybe, changed politics forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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11:15

Three Years of Sundays

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong ·

2017/12/26

It's difficult to honor the spirit of the season when you're making a show about mistakes, foibles and failures, but we've done our best. This week, the most uplifting story about prime numbers you'll hear all season. Promise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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11:37

1% Inspiration

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong ·

2017/12/19

In the 1960's, scientists discovered a new form of water, kicking off millions of dollars of research, Nobel Prize consideration and a new Cold War arms race between the USA and USSR. This episode we investigate the history of the miraculous discovery that almost changed the world, and the unbelievable story of why it didn't. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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19:18

Why Do Birds Suddenly (Dis)Appear?

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong ·

2017/12/12

Have you ever wondered where birds go in the winter? Of course not. But throughout history, many people have. On this, the season premiere of The Constant, we dive into some of the incredible explanations people concocted for this seemingly obvious question, and give you the surprising story of how we eventually came to know what we do. https://theconstantpodcast.weebly.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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10:46

You Gotta Fry a Few Eggs

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong ·

2017/12/06

A preview of things to come: this is our "stress test" mini episode to try to work out all the kinks. Music byLee Rosevere http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/ and Animeistrash Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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231 results

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