To this day, 5% of Americans believe that the Apollo Moon landings were faked - that’s more than 16 million people. How did this theory start? And why, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, do some still believe it? This & the Flat Earth conspiracy theory will be discussed today on Found Objects history podcast. Listen wherever you stream podcasts!

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SOURCES:

​​“Apollo 11 Mission Overview.” NASA, NASA, 17 Apr. 2015, www.nasa.gov/history/apollo-11-mission-overview/#:~:text=Armstrong%20and%20Aldrin%20spent%2021,at%20124%20hours%2C%2022%20minutes.

Baugh, L. Sue. “Flat Earth.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 22 July 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/flat-Earth.

Burdick, Alan. “Looking for Life on a Flat Earth.” The New Yorker, 30 May 2018, www.newyorker.com/science/elements/looking-for-life-on-a-flat-earth.

Harvey, Austin. “Inside the Enduring Conspiracy Theory That the Moon Landing Was Fake.” All That’s Interesting, All That’s Interesting, 22 July 2024, allthatsinteresting.com/moon-landing-fake.

“How Do We Know That We Went to the Moon? | Institute of Physics.” Institute of Physics, 2024, www.iop.org/explore-physics/moon/how-do-we-know-we-went-to-the-moon.

“July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap for Mankind.” NASA, NASA, 20 July 2019, www.nasa.gov/history/july-20-1969-one-giant-leap-for-mankind/.

Launius, Roger. “Why Do People Persist in Denying the Moon Landings?” National Air and Space Museum, The Smithsonian Institute, 1 Apr. 2010, airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/why-do-people-persist-denying-moon-landings.

The Week Staff. “Apollo 11: The Moon Landing Conspiracy Debunked.” Theweek, The Week, 15 July 2019, theweek.com/102265/apollo-11-the-moon-landing-conspiracy-debunked.

Meet William James Sydis, the “smartest man who lived.” Sydis’ IQ score is estimated by some, to be somewhere between 50 and 100 points greater than that of Albert Einstein. By the time he was just 18 months old, Sydis was able to read The New York Times. At age 2, he taught himself Latin, and by age 6, he was fluent in eight languages, including Greek, French, Russian, German, and Hebrew. Sidis is not a household name, but he was an extraordinary individual whose brilliance often went unnoticed. Let’s explore the life of one of the most enigmatic and misunderstood prodigies of the 20th century, along with Albert Einstein, and the history of IQ testing. It’s a battle of the brains today on Found Objects podcast.

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Instagram.com/katybellotte

SOURCES:

Albert Einstein – Biographical. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2024. Wed. 21 Aug 2024.

Anglis, Jaclyn. “The Surprisingly Tragic Story of the Smartest Man Who Ever Lived.” All That’s Interesting, All That’s Interesting, 2 June 2024, allthatsinteresting.com/william-james-sidis.

Barbas, Samantha. “The Sidis Case and the Origins of Modern Privacy Law.” Columbia Journal of Law & the Arts, 2012, pp. 21–69, https://doi.org/10.7916/D8M335S5.

Cherry, Kendra. “Why Alfred Binet Developed IQ Testing for Students.” Verywell Mind, 13 Mar. 2023, www.verywellmind.com/history-of-intelligence-testing-2795581.

Dombrowski, Stefan C. “The Dark History of IQ Tests.” TED, TED-Ed, 2020, ed.ted.com/lessons/the-dark-history-of-iq-tests-stefan-c-dombrowski.

NPR Staff. “Meet William James Sidis: The Smartest Guy Ever?” NPR, NPR, 23 Jan. 2011, www.npr.org/2011/01/23/132737060/meet-william-james-sidis-the-smartest-guy-ever.

Piccotti, Tyler, and Biography.com Editors. “Albert Einstein: Biography, Physicist, Nobel Prize Winner.” Biography.Com, 20 July 2023, www.biography.com/scientists/albert-einstein.

“William James Sidis.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_James_Sidis.

One of the loudest voices in the early years of the Harlem Renaissance (1918-1930’s) was Madam C.J. Walker, a woman who defied the odds and became America's first female self-made millionaire with her Black haircare brand. Her journey is one of resilience, innovation, and empowerment in a time period where she faced hurdle after hurdle. Today, I tell the story of Madam C.J Walker and her daughter, A’Lilia Walker.

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SOURCES:

Biography.com Editors. “Madam C.J. Walker - Products, Daughter & Hair Products.” Biography.Com, 23 Jan. 2024, www.biography.com/business-leaders/madam-cj-walker.

Bundles, A’Lelia. Madam C.J. Walker, 2020, madamcjwalker.com/.

History.com Editors. “Harlem Renaissance ‑ Definition, Artists & How It Started.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/harlem-renaissance.

History.com Editors. “Madam C. J. Walker ‑ Products, Hair & Facts.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/black-history/madame-c-j-walker.

“A New African American Identity: The Harlem Renaissance.” National Museum of African American History and Culture, 8 May 2024, nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/new-african-american-identity-harlem-renaissance.

“Villa Lewaro (Madam C. J. Walker Estate): National Trust for Historic Preservation.” Villa Lewaro (Madam C. J. Walker Estate) | National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2024, savingplaces.org/places/villa-lewaro-madam-c-j-walker-estate.

Walser, Lauren. “How A’Lelia Walker And The Dark Tower Shaped The Harlem Renaissance: National Trust for Historic Preservation.” How A’Lelia Walker And The Dark Tower Shaped The Harlem Renaissance | National Trust for Historic Preservation, 29 Mar. 2017, savingplaces.org/stories/how-alelia-walker-and-the-dark-tower-shaped-the-harlem-renaissance.

Sharon Tate was a rising star in Hollywood in the 1960s, but she was also the 26-year-old, pregnant victim of the infamous Manson Murders of 1969. She and seven others were the unlucky random targets of Charles Manson’s murderous escapades. Today on Found Objects, we will explore the life of Sharon Tate before her untimely demise and the puppet-master, the man behind the curtain, Charles Manson himself.

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SOURCES:

Bauer, Pat. “Tate Murders.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 1 Aug. 2024, www.britannica.com/event/Tate-murders.

“Charles Manson.” Charles Manson Part 01, Charles Manson Part 02, Charles Manson Part 03, FBI, 6 Dec. 2010, vault.fbi.gov/Charles%20Manson.

Donica, Adrienne. “Charles Manson: Notorious Mastermind of the Manson Family.” Biography.Com, 12 July 2023, www.biography.com/crime/charles-manson.

“Inside Charles Manson’s Crazed Cult | 60 Minutes Australia.” YouTube, 60 Minutes Australia, 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWbzE0aZIvY.

“The Manson Murders: True Story REVEALED | Full Documentary | A&E.” YouTube, A&E, www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_LLK4Hhgoc. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.

In 1971, a mysterious man known as D.B. Cooper hijacked a plane, extorted a hefty ransom from the US Government, and then once the goods were secured, jumped from the aircraft vanishing without a trace. Today on Found Objects, we take a look at one of aviation's most captivating mysteries and dive into the history of “skyjacking.”

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SOURCES:

99pi. “Skyjacking.” 99% Invisible, 23 June 2014,9 9percentinvisible.org/episode/skyjacking/.

“D.B. Cooper Hijacking.” FBI, FBI, 18 May 2016, www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/db-cooper-hijacking.

Donovan, Lauren. “New Evidence Discovered in DB Cooper Skyjacking Case.” FOX Weather, Fox Weather, 5 Jan. 2024, www.foxweather.com/lifestyle/new-evidence-d-b-cooper-skyjacking-case.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “D.B. Cooper.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/biography/D-B-Cooper. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.

Morton, Ella. “Who Was D.B. Cooper?” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/news/who-was-d-b-cooper. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.

Natale, Michael. “7 People Have Confessed to Being D.B. Cooper. A Twist in the Case Says One Told the Truth.” Popular Mechanics, 28 Feb. 2024, www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a46788110/db-cooper-confession-new-evidence-identity/.

News, ABC. “The Possible Pittsburgh Connection in the Case of DB Cooper.” WTAE, WTAE, 5 Jan. 2024, www.wtae.com/article/db-cooper-pittsburgh/46297731.

Have you ever wondered who created the “I love New York” advertising campaign? Whose idea was it for flight attendants in the ’60’s to wear custom Emilio Pucci designer outfits? The woman (and advertising genius) behind these ideas was Mary Wells Lawrence. And today on Found Objects, I’ll tell you her story.

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SOURCES:

“A 70-Year-Old Cereal Mascot Suddenly Is More Relevant than Ever.” Tony the Streamer (Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes) | Work | Leo Burnett, 2024, leoburnett.com/work/tony-the-streamer2024.

“Craftsmen of Creativity: Mary Wells and the End of the Plain Plane.” YouTube, Advertising Week, 30 Oct. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ciu6PVvRHM.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Mary Wells Lawrence.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 2024, www.britannica.com/money/Mary-Wells-Lawrence.

Henneke. “What Makes Copy Truly Persuasive?” Enchanting Marketing, 11 Aug. 2022, www.enchantingmarketing.com/david-ogilvy-rolls-royce-advert/.

Lions. “Mary Wells Lawrence | Lion of St. Mark 2020.” YouTube, 13 May 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbTRz5ftBGk.

McFadden, Robert. “Mary Wells Lawrence, High-Profile Advertising Pioneer, Dies at 95.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 May 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/05/11/business/mary-wells-lawrence-dead.html.

Michals, Debra. “Biography: Betty Friedan.” National Women’s History Museum, 2017, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/betty-friedan.

Pollack, Judann. “Mary Wells Lawrence, Iconic Advertising Creative, Dies at 95.” Ad Age, 13 May 2024, adage.com/article/agency-news/mary-wells-lawrence-iconic-advertising-creative-dies-95/2560126.

“Why Frosted Flakes’ Tony the Tiger Is the Greatest Cereal Mascot of All Time.” PopIcon.Life, 4 June 2023, popicon.life/frosted-flakes-tony-the-tiger-greatest-cereal-mascot/.

“‘at 60 Miles an Hour’ Rolls-Royce Ad by David Ogilvy.” Swipedco, swiped.co/file/rolls-royce-ad-by-david-ogilvy/. Accessed 2 July 2024.

The story of the Titanic's sinking is a tragic tale to say the least. But it is one that has entranced the minds of so many. That is why it is still talked about so extensively to this day, AND why so many conspiracy theories exist about what ‘actually’ happened on board to cause its sinking. Today we are debunking popular Titanic conspiracy theories.

Found Objects Instagram:

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SOURCES:

Hsu, Tiffany, and Sapna Maheshwari. “The Titanic Truthers of TikTok.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 16 June 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/06/16/business/titanic-tiktok-misinformation.html.

Little, Becky. “The Craziest Titanic Conspiracy Theories, Explained.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 28 Nov. 2018, www.history.com/news/titanic-sinking-conspiracy-myths-jp-morgan-olympic.

Mikkelson, David, and Barbara Mikkelson. “Did a Cursed Mummy Sink with the Titanic?” Snopes, Snopes.com, 9 Oct. 1999, www.snopes.com/fact-check/mummy-titantic/.

Ruehl, Franklin. “Did a German U-Boat Sink the Titanic?” HuffPost, HuffPost, 10 June 2012, www.huffpost.com/entry/-did-a-german-uboat-sink_b_1413770.

Tikkanen, Amy. “Olympic.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Olympic. Accessed 25 June 2024.

Tikkanen, Amy. “Titanic.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 18 June 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/Titanic.

Wallace, Lorna. “10 Wild Conspiracy Theories about the Sinking of the ‘Titanic.’” Mental Floss, Mental Floss, 2 Feb. 2024, www.mentalfloss.com/posts/titanic-conspiracy-theories.

The earliest renditions of the Olympics featured a whole lot of running and a whole lot of nudity. Today, there may be a little less nakedness, but running still remains a pillar of the modern Olympic Games. So it’s only fitting that we unpack one of the most bizarre events in the history of the games - the 1904 Marathon in St. Louis. Today on Found Objects, we will also delve into the origins of the games in Ancient Greece and their long awaited return in 1896. You will soon learn that the events may have modernized, but the tradition lives on. Just in time for us to celebrate the start of the 33rd Olympiad!

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SOURCES:

10 Amazing Ancient Olympic Facts, History Channel, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a7vuvHuPic.

Abbott, Karen. “How the 1904 Marathon Became One of the Weirdest Olympic Events of All Time.” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 7 Aug. 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-1904-marathon-became-one-of-the-weirdest-olympic-events-of-all-time-14910747/.

“Ancient Olympic Games.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 July 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Olympic_Games.

History.com Editors. “First Modern Olympic Games | April 6, 1896.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-modern-olympic-games. Accessed 18 July 2024.

History.com Editors. “The Olympic Games: Locations, Facts, Ancient & Modern.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 6 Jan. 2010, www.history.com/topics/sports/olympic-games.

Little, Becky. “When Young Ancient Greek Women Raced at Olympia.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 8 July 2024, www.history.com/news/ancient-greek-girls-women-heraia-race-olympia.

Nelsen, Matt. “Twelve of the Biggest Athletes to Watch at Paris 2024.” Paris 2024, 8 July 2024, olympics.com/en/news/twelve-popular-athletes-ready-to-leave-their-mark-paris-2024.

Olympic History - from the Home of Zeus in Olympia to the Modern Games, International Olympic Committee, olympics.com/ioc/ancient-olympic-games/history. Accessed 18 July 2024.

Sakavitsi, Kalliopi. “The History of the Olympic Games.” Paris 2024, 11 Jan. 2024, olympics.com/en/news/the-history-of-the-olympic-games.

Voigt, Robin. “The Evolution of the Early Olympics*.” International Society of Olympic Historians, isoh.org/cause-view/the-evolution-of-the-early-olympics/. Accessed 18 July 2024.