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The Discovery of Pluto: A Search for [Deep Dive] - February 18th, 2026

/ 05:15/E958
On February 18th, we explore a day marked by profound scientific discovery and immense moral courage. The core of today's episode centers on the 1930 discovery of Pluto by Clyde Tombaugh, an event that concluded the long-standing search for 'Planet X' and expanded our map of the solar system. We also delve into the heavy history of the White Rose resistance, specifically the 1943 arrest of Sophie Scholl, whose defiance against the Nazi regime remains a beacon of human integrity. Additionally, we celebrate the birthdays of three cultural and scientific giants: Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the electric battery; Toni Morrison, the Nobel Prize-winning novelist who transformed American literature; and Dr. Dre, the visionary producer who redefined hip-hop. From the icy reaches of space at the Lowell Observatory to the high-stakes activism at the University of Munich, this episode of Deep Dive examines how individual actions and insights continue to resonate through history.

February 18th serves as a powerful reminder of how individual conviction and scientific persistence can reshape our world. In 1930, American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh identified Pluto at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, resolving a decades-long hunt for a theoretical ninth planet and sparking a legacy that continued through its 2006 reclassification. The day also carries a solemn weight, marking the 1943 arrest of Sophie Scholl and the White Rose resistance members by the Gestapo for their distribution of anti-Nazi leaflets. Their bravery in the face of certain execution stands as a testament to moral resistance. Beyond these milestones, we honor the legacies of physicist Alessandro Volta, literary icon Toni Morrison, and hip-hop architect Dr. Dre. These figures represent the intersection of scientific innovation, cultural mastery, and the unyielding human spirit.

Topics Covered

  • 🔭 Pluto's Discovery: How 24-year-old Clyde Tombaugh found a tiny moving object among the stars at Lowell Observatory.
  • 📜 The White Rose: The courageous stand of Sophie Scholl and her fellow activists against the Nazi regime in 1943.
  • 🔋 Alessandro Volta: The birth of the Italian physicist who gave the world the first electric battery and the 'volt'.
  • 📚 Toni Morrison: Celebrating the Nobel laureate whose masterpieces like Beloved redefined the American literary canon.
  • 🎧 Dr. Dre: Exploring the influence of the producer and entrepreneur who shaped the sound of West Coast hip-hop.

Deep Dive is AI-assisted, human reviewed. Explore history every day on Neural Newscast.

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (00:36) - The White Rose Resistance
  • (00:36) - Pluto and the Search for Planet X
  • (01:44) - Legendary Birthdays
  • (04:34) - Conclusion
The Discovery of Pluto: A Search for [Deep Dive] - February 18th, 2026

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