The Daily Upgrade is no longer actively produced, but the back catalog remains archived and available for your listening pleasure. Listen to a show per day and you’ll learn all sorts of fascinating facts about the world around you.

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Happy trails fellow internet travelers!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 4:32 — 4.3MB)

Look at these, errr, beautiful Hippos. Ok, they are ugly, but notice how they don’t have hair. How do they keep from getting sunburned? They live in the desert under direct sunlight so certainly their skin must get burned if they don’t find shade right? Au contraire. Listen and learn how evolution has made these animals resilient. Also, did you know Koalas have nearly identical fingerprints to us humans? Check it out!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:29 — 5.1MB)

If you aren’t familiar with what happens to Diet Coke when you add Mentos then watch the above video. Then listen to today’s episode to learn why this crazy phenomenon happens.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:28 — 5.1MB)

Listen to today’s episode and learn about an incredibly famous actress from the 1930′s and 40′s who got paid extremely well given she never had a speaking role!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:50 — 5.4MB)

Remember the episode about the $50,000 air cannon designed to ward off thunderstorms? That device turned out to be a total flop or more accurately scam. However, what if there was a device that did the opposite and instead created thunderstorms! A team of scientists say they have developed just such a machine. Here is how they claim it works. Listen to today’s episode for the full details on why this device was invented and how successful it is at making it rain. Plus, learn about man made earthquakes-ish!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 4:26 — 4.2MB)

Ever seen an island rise up from the sea right before your eyes? Check out these pictures and see for yourself. Truly a moment you have to see to believe. The full story including the gentleman who captured the pictures and how the island formed are in today’s episode. Plus  what happens if you get sick in Australia and are prohibitively far from medical care. It turns out they have doctors that make house calls, via airplane!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 4:57 — 4.6MB)

What is a Body Man and what does it have to do with the fact that when President Obama was asked by the New York Times if he had an iPad he responded “I have an iReggie”. A Body Man is a prestigious, thankless, and invisible job, but almost every president in recent history has had one. Listen to today’s episode to learn about the interesting job of being a body man.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:34 — 5.2MB)

The picture above is runway 27 today, but it won’t be long until it is labeled 28. Why the change? Runways are numbered based on their magnetic coordinates and with the magnetic north pole rapidly on the move this means the runway won’t have the same coordinates in a few years. Confused? Don’t be. Listen to today’s episode to learn about runways, the movement of the magnetic north pole towards Russia, and a guy who shipped himself via airfreight.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:43 — 6.3MB)

Were the Dark Ages really a time of pseudo-science and alchemy? Perhaps not. It turns out that period actually had a scientist as pope for a brief moment in time! Too bad it didn’t last. Sylvester II as he was known helped advocate for arabic numerals (the numbers we use today) and the armillary sphere (i.e. the world wasn’t flat). Listen to today’s episode for insight into a time of the Dark Ages that weren’t nearly as dark as you think. Plus, is it true the female praying mantis bites off the head of the male praying mantis after reproducing? Only the Daily Upgrade would have such random information. The full story in today’s episode!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:22 — 5.0MB)

What is the true cost of producing a penny? If you guessed more than a penny you would be correct! Find out all sorts of interesting facts about pennies in today’s episode including why we still make them even though it costs more than a penny to get them into your wallet. Conspiracy theories anyone?