Interesting Things with JC #1204: “Eastern Air Lines Flight 304 – The Tragedy Over Lake Pontchartrain” - Nine minutes after takeoff, Flight 304 vanished over Lake Pontchartrain. No warning. No survivors. Investigators found wreckage but no definitive cause. Could an instrument failure have sent the pilots into a deadly spiral? The mystery remains, but its lessons shaped the future of aviation.

Interesting Things with JC #1203: "The Speed of Light" - In 1676, Ole Rømer made a groundbreaking discovery—proving light had a measurable speed. By observing Jupiter’s moon Io, he revealed the first true calculation of how fast light travels. This revelation defied centuries of belief and set the stage for modern physics.

Interesting Things with JC #1202: "Raising Valor - The Flag on Iwo Jima" - The flag on Iwo Jima became an icon—but behind the photo was sacrifice, survival, and loss. This is the real story of this defining WWII moment.

Interesting Things with JC #1201: "Glycine – The Sleep Boosting Secret in Your Soup" – The key to better sleep might not be melatonin but glycine, an amino acid found in bone broth. It helps lower body temperature, calm the nervous system, and improve deep sleep—without side effects.

Interesting Things with JC #1200: "The Dark Factor Behind Human Behavior" – Psychologists say the D, or "Dark Factor," drives traits like deceit and greed. How much D is in you—and what happens when you find out?

Interesting Things with JC #1199: "The Battle of Edinburgh 1547 – The Rough Wooing War" – England’s aggressive campaign to force Scotland into union led to devastation, but it also strengthened Scotland’s ties to France.

Interesting Things with JC #1198: "IWO JIMA" – The brutal battle for 8 square miles of volcanic rock forged legends. 70,000 U.S. Marines met hell—21,000 Japanese defenders refused surrender. 27 Medals of Honor for bravery—the most in any battle in U.S. history. Valor, sacrifice, and the flag atop Mount Suribachi became immortal.

Interesting Things with JC #1197: "The 133rd Seabees – Built on Sacrifice, Deserving of Honor" – Seabees of the 133rd were memorialized by their shipmates through the dedication of a chapel on Iwo Jima.

They gave their lives in service and never came home.

Their names are engraved on the chapel’s plaque, but their unit was not included in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to those they fought beside. This episode reflects on their sacrifice and asks that their service be fully recognized.

Interesting Things with JC #1196: "Skara Brae" – A deadly storm in 1850 ripped the land open—and revealed a Neolithic village older than Stonehenge. Skara Brae’s stone homes, beds, and even toilets lay untouched for 5,000 years. But the same sea that unearthed it now threatens to wipe it away forever.

Interesting Things with JC #1195: "Pineapple Cucumber Salad" – Crisp cucumber and juicy pineapple combine with a tangy dressing for a salad bursting with flavor. Fast, fresh, and perfect for any table—discover the taste sensation.

Interesting Things with JC #1194: "Stonehenge of Lake Michigan" - 40 feet beneath Lake Michigan, a mysterious stone alignment could be over 10,000 years old. Hunters, mastodons, or ritual site? The lake keeps its secrets.

Interesting Things with JC #1193: "What are Reciprocal Tariffs and Sovereign Wealth Funds?" – Reciprocal tariffs could reshape global trade and stabilize America’s economy. Learn how this approach might protect U.S. industries, reduce deficits, and attract global investment.

Interesting Things with JC #1192: "Chromosome 2 - The Fusion That Made Us Human" - An ancient chromosome fusion changed human evolution. Discover the genetic clue hidden in all of us.

Interesting Things with JC #1191: "B-2 Spirit" – A bomber that’s invisible to radar, flies across the globe, and costs over a billion dollars. The B-2 Spirit isn’t just a plane—it’s a revolution in stealth warfare.

Interesting Things with JC #1190: "Von Neumann Machines" – Explore Von Neumann Machines—self-replicating automata that could transform space exploration. Learn how John von Neumann’s work paved the way for this technology and what it means for our future. Could these machines explain the Fermi Paradox or create new risks?

Interesting Things with JC #1189: "Marilyn vos Savant" – With an IQ of 228, Marilyn vos Savant held the highest recorded IQ in Guinness World Records. But her real legacy was solving the Monty Hall Problem and challenging the mathematical community. Discover how she reshaped our understanding of probability and logic.

Interesting Things with JC #1188: "Your Thoughts and Beliefs Shape Your Reality" - What if your thoughts could rewire your brain, heal your body, or even shape reality itself? The fascinating science of belief, from hypnosis and neuroplasticity to the quantum realm, and learn how your mind is more powerful than you think.

Interesting Things with JC #1187: "Who Were the Ancient North Eurasians?" - Nearly 24,000 years ago, a boy near Lake Baikal was buried with mammoth ivory carvings. His DNA reveals a surprising link between Ancient North Eurasians and populations across the Americas, Europe, and South Asia. Explore how their migrations shaped human genetics, languages, and technologies.

Interesting Things with JC #1186: "Chevrolet K10" – The Chevy K10 wasn’t just another pickup; it was a symbol of rugged durability. From its early days in the 1960s to the iconic square-body design of the 1970s and 80s, this truck built a legacy on farms, job sites, and off-road trails. Discover how the K10 evolved and why it remains a sought-after classic today.

Interesting Things with JC #1185: "From a Small Town to the White House - The Birth of Ronald Reagan" - Born in a tiny apartment above a bakery in Tampico, Illinois, Ronald Reagan’s journey began in humble surroundings. Frequent moves, financial struggles, and early academic success shaped the future 40th president. How did these beginnings forge a leader?