In this episode, we look at five famous hoaxes that rocked science to the core.

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Sources

• https://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i9/Crystal-Skulls-Deemed-Fake.html
• https://archive.archaeology.org/0511/etc/giants.html
• https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/services/library/collections/piltdown-man.html
• https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-04-24-8904060814-story.html
• https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/retractions-fraud-peer-review/
• https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12917551-600-himalayan-scandal-rocks-indian-science/
• https://blog.library.si.edu/blog/2019/07/25/a-heavy-hoax-the-lying-stones-of-johann-beringer/

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This week, Sarah presents the first in a series of episodes covering some of the court cases that were dubbed "The Trial of the Century" in the 1900s. First up, the murder of architect Stanford White by Harry Thaw, the heir of a coal and rail baron. This story had all the earmarks of a sensational public scandal including a gorgeous young woman, passion, jealousy, and folks being super messy in the press.

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Sources

• https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2020/09/trials-of-the-century-1900-to-1950/
• https://www.famous-trials.com/thaw/405-home

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Our second Pinkerton Detective Agency episode sees agents hunting down notorious outlaws in the wild west.

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Sources:

• https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/james-jesse/
• https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/james-life-and-death-jesse-james/
• https://web.archive.org/web/20090211021610/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/james/peopleevents/e_banks.html
• https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pinkertons-maim-frank-and-jesse-james-mother
• https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-05-30-9305300394-story.html
• https://www.legendsofamerica.com/butch-cassidy/

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2023 is a wrap, so join us as we look back at some of our favorite moments of the podcast from the past year.

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Music featured:

Sneaky Adventure Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Look Busy Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) George Street Shuffle Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Fluffing a Duck Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Auld Lang Syne (Instrumental Jazz) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWNL4hFgii7hoOGKgY7Dv7w Music promoted by Happy Soul Music Library https://happysoulmusic.com

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While these days eggnog is a divisive holiday treat, never has it been more contentious than in 1826, when a secret Christmas Eve party in the barracks of West Point Academy spiraled very, very far out of control.

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Sources

• https://www.military.com/history/eggnog-fueled-riot-nearly-brought-down-entire-west-point-class.html
• https://www.treehugger.com/eggnog-riot-4866246
• https://www.history.com/news/when-eggnog-sparked-a-riot-at-west-point
• https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/ridiculous-history-heres-why-west-point-cadets-rioted-eggnog-1826.htm

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It's less Happy Holiday and more Bah Humbug as we explore the several possible inspirations for the covetous old sinner from Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol.

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Sources

• https://earlybirdbooks.com/scrooge-inspirations-charles-dickens
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4y78YB9vVMG1xYrW8CmzjPw/a-life-wasted-who-was-the-real-ebenezer-scrooge
• https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/72386/7-real-life-inspirations-dickenss-christmas-carol
• https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-67577402
• https://familychristmasonline.com/stories_other/dickens/gabriel_grub.htm

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We have a very special guest this week: BFF of the podcast, librarian Melanie Terrill! Though children have known Alice in Wonderland for generations, not many know the story of the man behind the novel or the girl who may have inspired it. Bonus: it's also about math!

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Sources

• Lewis Carroll Biography by Sarah Lewis
• In the shadow of the dream child by Sarah Leach
• http://joyofmuseums.com/
• https://www.npr.org/2010/03/13/124632317/the-mad-hatters-secret-ingredient-math
• https://www.npr.org/2010/02/28/124132534/years-beyond-the-rabbit-hole-alice-looks-back
• https://carroll-myth.wild-reality.net/

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If “He Had It Coming” is your favorite song from Chicago, then boy, do we have an episode for you! This week, Sarah shares the eerily similar stories of Giulia Tofana and Baba Anujka, two legendary serial killers separated by centuries who nevertheless shared a goal: killing other women’s abusive husbands.

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Sources

• https://mikedashhistory.com/2015/04/06/aqua-tofana-slow-poisoning-and-husband-killing-in-17th-century-italy/
• https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/giulia-tofana-the-italian-serial-poisoner-who-became-a-legend
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHAv3Clhrhg
• https://www.historydefined.net/baba-anujka/

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The Monty Hall Problem is one of the most famous puzzle in probability. But what is less famous is the woman who made it famous on the pages of Parade Magazine.

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Sources

• https://www.straightdope.com/21342062/on-let-s-make-a-deal-you-pick-door-1-monty-opens-door-2-no-prize-do-you-stay-with-door-1-or-switch-t
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOQowCeAnRs
• https://teachingmathsscholars.org/newsandevents/themontyhallproblem
• https://allthatsinteresting.com/marilyn-vos-savant

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There have been many times throughout history where crime does in fact pay. Claude Duval saw such an opportunity while serving in the court of King Charles II and, oh boy, did he ever run with it! This week, Sarah tells the story of a gentleman robber who charmed his way onto the very first most wanted list in Restoration England - and into the hearts of the ladies.

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Sources

• https://dirtysexyhistory.com/2016/08/21/the-life-and-death-of-claude-duval/
• https://www.exclassics.com/newgate/ng31.htm
• https://www.blackheathandgreenwich.com/post/blackheath-claude-duval

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