Episodes

The first Pokémon videogames, ‘Red’ and ‘Green’ were launched in Japan on 27th February, 1996. The franchise went on to be the most successful ever video game to TV adaptation, and the highest selling trading card game in history of cards.  Created by Satoshi Tajiri, the gameplay recalled his childhood obsession for bug-hunting, and made […]

Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone – now better known as St Francis of Assisi – attended Mass on 24th February, 1208, and heard the Gospel According to Matthew. From that day on, the former soldier and playboy removed his shoes, put on a rough tunic, and embarked fully into a monastic lifestyle. The process would

Sorcerer and fortune-teller Catherine “La Voisin” Monvoisin was sentenced to death on 22nd February, 1680. She had supplied poisons and potions to clients including Madame de Montespan, official mistress to King Louis XIV. Monvoisin’s punishment was the climax of the witchcraft hysteria that rocked the Parisian court, triggered by the confessions of Madame de Brinvilliers,

Entrepreneur Edwin Holmes installed the very first electric burglar alarm in Boston on 21 February, 1858, which deployed an electrical circuit that would trip when the connection was broken by opening a door or window, which would sound a bell.  Unfortunately for Holmes, there wasn’t much burglary going on in Boston at the time, so

On 20 February, 1472, Orkney and Shetland officially became part of Scotland having been offered up as security for the dowry of the daughter of King Christian of Norway and Denmark. The marriage was aimed at quelling a long-standing tax-related feud between the two powers. But as time wore on, it began to feel as

Between 1908 and 1927, the Ford Motor Company sold 15,007,033 Model Ts, making the car the best-selling automobile the world had ever seen. That record came to an end on the 17th February, 1972 when the 15,007,034th Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the production line. The car was the brainchild of Adolf Hitler who commissioned it

Mary Jane Jones, known professionally as Vickie Jones, was arrested on fraud charges on 15th February, 1969 after successfully impersonating soul legend Aretha Franklin during multiple sold-out shows across Florida. When her case ended up before a judge, Jones maintained her innocence, insisting that she had been press-ganged into the deception by conman, kidnapper and

Although the Roman Catholic Church continues to recognise St. Valentine as a saint of the church, there is some uncertainty about who exactly he was. One thing that is agreed is that someone called Valentine was killed on or around February 14th, 270, which some believe is why we celebrate Valentine’s Day every February 14th

The Coso Artifact – a man-made, cylindrical object apparently encased in a geode – was discovered by Wallace Lane, Virginia Maxey and Mike Mikesell while prospecting for gems in Olancha, California on February 13th, 1961. The OOPArt (or ‘out-of-place artifact’) caused a sensation amongst Creationists, Forteans and conspiracists, who believed it might be up to

When did humans first start to farm? What was the first murder solved by forensic science? Who invented the battery? The answer to all these questions can be found on the podcast Patented: The History of Inventions, which we’re recommending today. It’s hosted by Dallas Campbell, who has presented hit science shows like the Gadget Show