On December 12th, 2023, Day 19 of Season 99 of LearnedLeague, we learned of an invention that was first created by French physicist Jean-Augustin Fresnel for use in a specific type of building.

I Later Learned more about the enduring history of lighthouses, the buildings that housed the Fresnel lenses debatably saved a million ships, and, while growing less nautically necessary, continue to endure as metaphors.

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On December 11th, 2023, Day 18 of Season 99 of LearnedLeague, we learned of beneficiaries of Section 2 of the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution.

I Later Learned the history of lines of succession, which both required bringing guys like Gerald Ford and Nelson Rockefeller to the vice presidency, and also goes much deeper down a roster to sort the order for more than a dozen possible presidential replacements. Why do we have such long orders ready? Could that many dominos fall?

Thank you for listening! Please subscribe on your favorite audio apps like Apple and Spotify, leave reviews, and tell your friends and join the conversation on the message boards! And you can support by pre-ordering Ben's book about Naomi Osaka before it comes out next month! 

On December 8th, 2023, Day 17 of Season 99 of LearnedLeague, we learned of the primary ingredient in the chilled soup vichyssoise.

I Later Learned the history of the potato and its champion Antoine-Augustin Parmentier, the French pharmacist who saved lives and changed the way the world eats by exalting the humble apple of the earth.

Thank you for listening! Please subscribe on your favorite audio apps like Apple and Spotify, leave reviews, and tell your friends and join the conversation on the message boards! And if you like the show you can support by pre-ordering Ben's book before it comes out next month!