Neural Newscast | Pope Gregory’s Calendar Reform [Deep Dive]

Pope Gregory’s Calendar Reform [Deep Dive] - February 24th, 2026

February 24, 2026 / 06:27/E1009

On this day in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII announced the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, a pivotal reform that corrected the Julian calendar's drift of eleven minutes per year and remains the world's most widely used system today. This episode of Deep Dive explores how this structural shift redefined our relationship with time. We also celebrate the birthdays of three influential figures: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, whose vision transformed personal computing and mobile technology; philosopher Judith Butler, whose work on gender performativity reshaped social theory; and undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. Additionally, we reflect on the solemn history of United Airlines Flight 811, which experienced a catastrophic explosive decompression in 1989 due to a cargo door failure. This incident over the Pacific Ocean ultimately led to critical advancements in aviation safety and cargo door design, proving how tragedy often drives the engineering of a safer world.

On February 24, 1582, Pope Gregory XIII changed the way the world tracks time by introducing the Gregorian calendar. This essential reform addressed the inaccuracy of the Julian calendar, which was losing roughly eleven minutes every year, causing significant drift in seasonal dates. Beyond the history of our clocks, this date marks the birth of three transformative figures: tech revolutionary Steve Jobs, philosopher Judith Butler, and boxing icon Floyd Mayweather Jr. Each represents a peak of achievement in their respective fields of technology, social theory, and athletics. We also revisit the harrowing events of 1989 involving United Airlines Flight 811, where a cargo door failure over the Pacific Ocean caused an explosive decompression. This tragic event resulted in the loss of nine lives but catalyzed major safety improvements in Boeing 747 cargo door mechanisms, leaving a lasting legacy in the aviation industry.

Topics Covered

📜 The 1582 papal decree that fixed the Julian calendar's annual drift.
📱 The legacy of Steve Jobs and his impact on Apple and Pixar.
📚 Judith Butler's philosophical contributions to gender theory.
🥊 The undefeated career and cultural weight of Floyd Mayweather Jr.
✈️ The 1989 Flight 811 incident and its influence on aircraft engineering.

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(00:09) - Introduction
(00:21) - Fixing the Clock
(00:21) - Icons of the Day
(00:55) - Safety in the Skies
(03:12) - Conclusion

Pope Gregory’s Calendar Reform [Deep Dive] - February 24th, 2026

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