The Lab With Brad Brad Barton

Pick a card



Join us for the beginnings of paper money and fiat currency.



Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!





Here are a couple of articles about the use of playing cards as money.



A Good Deal



Playing-Card Money



And here’s a video about the invention of paper money.



Inventing Paper Money

Coin flips and clips



Join us as we attempt to figure out where the first coins came from.



Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!





Here are a couple of things on Roman coins.



Coin Production in the Roman World



Ancient Roman Coins: More Than Just Money



Rome: A Thousand Years of Monetary History



And here’s a bit about what might be the first ever coins.



The Coinage of Ephesus

Nothing to sneeze at



If you don’t use gold silver or coins, what does one use for money?



Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!





Here are several links with information, and differing notions, on the sale of Manhattan Island.



Keep the Change: The Beads that Bought Manhattan



Was Manhattan really sold for $24 worth of beads and trinkets?



The Beads That Did Not Buy Manhattan Island



Here’s more about the use of cacao beans as money.



The Maya civilization used chocolate as money



Chocolate Currency?



And here’s a little something about black pepper, and how it was used as money.



Black Pepper

Why money?



We take a look at economic activity by nonhumans, and the Incas, with a large empire that never used money.



Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!





Here are some links about gift giving in the animal kingdom.



Do Animals Give Gifts?



Why Dolphins Bring Humans “Gifts” From the Sea at Australian Café



Gift giving crows



And here’s more info about the Incas, and the large empire they controlled that never used money.



Inka Economy



Economy of the Inca Empire

On silly names and loud voices



Let’s take a closer look at the sperm whale, with an unfortunate name and the loudest voice in nature.



Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!





Here are links to videos and articles about shattering glass with the human voice.



Can You Shatter Glass With Your Voice?



Jaime Vendera-Glass Shattering MythBuster



MythBusters Episode 31: Breaking Glass



Busting Myths About Sound



And some links to videos and articles about sperm whales and their very loud voices.



Feeling the Force of Sperm Whales Ultrasound



Is it true that sperm whales stun giant squid with sonar?



Sperm Whales Clicking You Inside Out

On dragons, fire, and breathing



For our last question on DND and fantasy fiction, could any animal ever be able to actually breathe fire?



Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!





Special thanks to:



Girls Who Don’t DND



Here’s the website for the Fuel Girls.



Fuel Girls - Fire & Pyro Performances



Here are a couple of things on the jellyfish sting, and the exploding cells behind it.



Jellyfish Sting Mechanism Unveiled; Could Help Design Future Delivery Devices



How does a jellyfish sting?



And here’s one or two things on the bombardier beetle.



The Bombardier Beetle And Its Crazy Chemical Cannon



Bombardier Beetles Squirt Boiling Anal Chemicals to Make Frogs Vomit