Omnibus is a production of I Heart Radio.

We are Ken Jennings and John Rodrick.

We speak to you from our present, which we can only assume is your distant past.

The turbulent time that was the early 21st century.

Fearing the great cataclysm that will surely befall our civilization,

we began this monumental reference of strange and obscure human knowledge.

These recordings represent our attempt to compile and preserve wonders and esoterica

that would otherwise be lost.

So whether you're listening from an advanced civilization or have just reinvented the technology

to decrypt our transmissions, this is our legacy to you.

This is our time capsule. This is the Omnibus.

You have access entry 1229.mt 1125.

Certificate number 35551.

You want to know the common element for the entire group?

Like you asked? I'll tell you the answer.

I'll tell you because I had that one.

Carbon. Carbon.

In pencil that is in the form of graphite.

In coal it's mixed up with other impurities.

And in the diamond it's in hard form.

Whoa.

Oh, you really want to know was the common element,

...