FACTORALY

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Aeroplanes are fascinating. Nowadays, they're part of our working, resting and playing lives. But where did they start? What drove their development, and why is airline food so ghastly? We'll answer all these questions in this week's episode. And because Aeroplanes are so visual, these show notes are more fascinating than ever! As always, go to factoraly.com to dive, dive, dive into many more facts... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hippos are huge. Actually, it's a bigger subject than you might think, too. This episode looks into these deadly - and fast - animals with their own built-in sunblock. As always, click on the pics to dive into the river of facts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erasers have been around for longer than you might think - actually, even before pencils. This week, we're going into erasers in depth. As always, click on the pics and links to ink in so facts on erasers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sausages are part of our lives. Whether the British banger, the Saucisson, or the Salami, they seem to be everywhere. This episode gets under the skin and examines what makes sausages so special. As always, click on the 'links' in the pics to find out more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pigeons are often described as the rats of the skies, but they play their role in our ecosystem - and they've played their part in wars, too - and even received medals for it!This episode is all about these misunderstood doves. As always, go to the blog at factoraly.com to learn more from the loft that is Factoraly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tea is part of the British way of life - but it started thousands of miles away. There is only one tea plant - a Camelia - but all the varieties come from it. In this episode, you'll find a variety of facts about tea and how it's changed the world. As always, go to the show notes on the blog at Factoraly.com to spill the tea on this great beverage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we take spice for granted. There's a whole area of the supermarket dedicated to it. But it hasn't always been that way. Spice was almost priceless only a few hundred years ago and the search for it cost untold lives. This episode delves deep into the spice rack and comes out smelling wonderful! As always, go to the show notes on the blog at factoraly.com for lots more smelly facts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you sad that you didn't have all these New Year's facts at your fingertips before New Year? Well, we imagine your friends are very grateful that we released this episode AFTER New Year's Eve! As always, click on the links for more annual facts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jam is a great way to preserve fruit and all its goodness. And it's been the preferred method of keeping fruit for quite some time. This episode goes into all it's sweet gooiness and comes out with very sticky fingers. As always, click on the pics and links to discover some jarring facts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moths are not what you think. They're helpful, beautiful things that are everywhere. Whilst butterflies get all the good songs, moths are the ones doing the heavy lifting. In this episode, we look into the wonderful world of the moth.Tto flutter through some brilliant moth information, go to the show notes here: https://www.factoraly.com/post/e119-moths Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Symmetry is balance, and nature adores balance. There is symmetry everywhere if you look for it. This slightly more aesoteric episode ponders the existence of balance all around us. As always, go to the shownotes blog at https://www.factoraly.com/post/e118-symmetry to see both sides.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The mail has been around for ages, but until recently, only for heads of state, governments and the very wealthy. Nowadays, anyone can send a letter or a parcel anywhere in the world. But how did we get from there to here? In this week's episode, we put our hand in the post box and get stuck! As always, click on the link to go to the show notes: https://www.factoraly.com/post/e117-mail Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seeds are quite literally the stuff of life. We're surrounded by them. The male populations of practically all species will carry them. Ubiquity doesn't come much fuller than seeds. But where do seeds come from? Why are they important? And what will happen to them in the future? This episode plants deeply and springs up with some shoots that will entrance you. As usual, click on the pics or the links to sprout knowledge.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Radio waves exist naturally in the universe, but harnessing them has led you, well, here. Because without radio waves, there would be no internet. And no radio to speak of, as we do in this episode. As always, click on the link to explore the airwaves. https://www.factoraly.com/post/e115-radio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Board Games have been around since the Neanderthals, and one of the most modern board games is named after them (see below). Today, they are an excellent way for friends and family to get together and challenge each other. In this episode, we learn how to play various games, where they originated, and where they're headed. As always, click on the link to gamify your browser over at the show notes. https://www.factoraly.com/post/e114-boardgames Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watches tell more than time. They tell a story. And this week's Factoraly is their story... Go to the blog post for more... https://www.factoraly.com/podcast/episode/663a87a6/e113-watches Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beer is a water of life - sometimes literally. It's been drunk for thousands of years and is useful, especially when the water isn't particularly potable. This episode is ideal for people wearing beer goggles. If you'd like to look at what we're seeing, visit our show notes on the blog page at factoraly.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This time, we'll be discussing those extraordinary fictional characters whom young people love to read about. From their comic book origins to their universal appeal, we investigate just what makes a superhero. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pasta is delicious — especially when it's served with a tasty sauce. But where does it come from? (Italy, obviously). And what types of pasta are there? (over 600). And what goes with which? This episode plunges into boiling water and comes up with some superb morcels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lions. The kings of the Jungle and the Savannah. Lions have been symbols of strength and power since time immemorial. This episode goes deep into the Lions' den and pulls out the thorns of truth and facts that will surprise and delight you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are so many different sorts of chairs. We use them every day, but how much do we really know about them? In this episode, we explore chairs, ranging from the earliest to the most recent, from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon's arm goes live. Bruce gets his wires crossed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bats are really incredible. They're mammals that can fly, and they pollinate profusely. They make up around a quarter of all the mammals on Earth. In this episode, we wing our way into the wonderful world of the bat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dinosaurs were around SO much longer than we have been. In this episode, we look into their timeline, their remains and their representation in popular fiction. Plus, we go into the Boner Wars. If you've not come across them, you'll be as fascinated as we were. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where would we be without our brains? The fact that we don't know the answer is because our brains find that question tricky. From regulating our breathing and heart rate, to propelling us from one place to another physically, literally, and virtually, our brains are fantastic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Industrious little things, beavers. And great for the environment. In this episode, we look into beaver life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Skateboards started out as something for skateboarders to do when the surf wasn't up. Today it's an Olympic sport! Follow the story of these noisy, clattery, dangerous bits of wood, fibreglass and silicone on wheels here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Libraries are good things. Not needed as much these days, what with the internet? Well, it depends on who you ask. There are still lots of libraries, and they still have their place, from the local lending library to the national institutions. Go and check out your local library. These days, there's more there than you might think. As always, click on the pics to be taken down library-sized rabbit holes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our 100th episode! Here's a ton of ideas about 100 that won't cost you a cent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're very nearly at our 100th episode, so we thought we'd go on holiday. Well, actually, we thought we'd do what other audio series do when they fancy a break and put together some of the best bits from the last 99 episodes.So, this one includes snippets from Cucumbers; Typography; Vikings; Curry; Pipes; Bells; Shoes; Bottles; Jelly; Nuts; Spectacles; Camels; Cereal; and Chefs.If you'd like to learn more about any of these subjects, please check out the show notes on our blog pages.We look forward to bringing you the next 100 episodes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kites have been around for a while. Mostly for pleasure, but also with many utilitarian purposes. In this episode, we launch into the uses and styles of kites, highlighting some of the people who used them to achieve fame.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wind is all around us and one of the most powerful forces on Earth. It has a massive effect on our lives and the lives of every living thing on the planet. Not to mention things that aren't alive at all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Witchcraft has nearly always been used to do good. In physical health and in wellbeing. But there was a time in the 14th and 15th centuries and onwards when it was very much frowned upon. Today, we delve into the world of witches and witchcraft, exploring the fascination with women who sought alternative ways of healing.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holidays are fun - usually. In fact most of the fun of a holiday comes from its antici pation. We didn't mention it in this episode, but here's a link to a study... https://www.nathab.com/blog/anticipation-is-the-happiest-part-of-a-travel-journeyThey're good for your health, too, and to enhance one's perception of this wonderful ball we all live on.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spoons can be used for eating or drinking from or serving or even playing. This episode looks at all kinds of uses of the common or garden spoon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Salt is part of life. We wouldn't be anywhere without salt - literally, it's essential to human life. From the sea that we crawled out of, to the preservation of food, we need salt. This episode shakes the facts, and seasons your ears with salty goodness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tennis is one of the most-watched sports in the world. And it's been around a long time. From early origins as a game played with the hand against a wall, to the high-tech judged matches we can watch on TV today. In this episode, we explore all that history, with some heavy slices of weird thrown into the net for luck. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Geese have been with us forever, domesticated for their meat and feathers, not to mention their guardianship properties. In this episode, we delve into geese in all their beauty and practicality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You need hands to hold someone you love. In fact you need hands for all sorts of things. This episode looks at lots of aspects of hands. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grass is everywhere. You can wear it, you can eat it, you can drink it, you can play on it - you can even grow it underwater. Grass is vital to the health of the planet and everyone on it. In this episode, we run our fingers through this wonderful plant in all its iterations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Noses. They smell. That's what they're there for. To warn you of bad things, to alert you to good things. To be as plain as they are on your face. In this episode, we dig deep into noses. Not with our fingers, but with our minds! We stick our noses into a foundry of facts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It sounds weird. You see a goat dancing having eaten something, and you decide to give it a try. Yet this is the apocryphal story of the origin of coffee. Today it's a massive industry and addicts are rarely seen without a cup - even when walking to work! Today is all about the bean. As always, click on the pics to take a sip of lots more about this brilliant beverage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kangaroos are weird. They move differently, give birth differently, and they even communicate differently. They're absolutely fascinating. And this episode is different, too. It's a three-hander where we're chatting with our friend on the spot, Gregory Dwyer, all about these extraordinary Australian animals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are cooks, and there are chefs. This one is about the latter. Those who train under greatness and go on to achieve greatness themselves - even if, at the end of the day, it's only a plate of food. From the first celebrity chef to the buttons on the overalls, this one is for the foodies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beds... We spend a third of our life in them, but where did they originate? And why do men generally sleep on the door side of the bed? Lots of answers in this week's episode.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you like trains? We do. They are to travel what podcasts are to entertainment. You can do lots of other things whilst enjoying getting from A to B. Or in the case of this episode, from Stockton to Beijing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think you know what a berry is? Think again. So many things that we think of as berries aren't technically berries. Find out what is and isn't a berry in this berry episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's nothing quite like the exhilaration of downhill skiing. The cold, clear mountain air is invigorating, and although skiing has been around since the Stone Age, the downhill version has only been around for a century or so. Dive into the mogul hills of facts in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting from A to B requires a route, and if many people take the same route, that eventually becomes a road. Roads are integral to modern life, and this episode explains what they are and why they're brilliant - especially if, like Bruce, you enjoy driving Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.