About Time
Summary
This episode explores the phantom Sandy Island, a fictional landmass that persisted on global maps for over a century due to cartographic errors and institutional trust, until scientists finally confirmed its absence in 2012. The show also recounts how Canadian engineer Sanford Fleming, after missing a train due to a timetable misprint, proposed the 24-hour clock and standardized time zones, fundamentally changing how humanity measures time.
Topics discussed
NBC News Sponsorship
Show Introduction
The Mystery of Sandy Island
How Map Errors Become Inherited Facts
Early Attempts to Disprove the Island
Scientific Confirmation and Map Corrections
Tracing the Origin to a 1908 Chart
The Perils of Institutional Trust
Sanford Fleming's Missed Train in Ireland
The Problem with Local Solar Time
Proposing the 24-Hour Time Zone System
Global Adoption of Standardized Time
Conclusion on Time Standardization
Credits and Book Information
Patreon Promotion and Outro
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