Nashville under the microscope

Have you ever looked closely at your Tennessee driver’s license? There might be something surprising in the fine print.

Curious Nashville listener Sam Barocas used his microscope to find it. And then he asked the question that inspired today’s show:

Why is there a microscopic typo on the Tennessee driver’s license?

In some instances — likely on millions of licenses — a thin ribbon of text reads “The Volundeer State.” With a ‘d.’

“And I saw that and I was like, ‘Huh? That’s funny,’ ” Barocas says. “How’d that happen?”

Among the theories:

1. It’s a genuine mistake.
2. It’s an intentional security feature.
3. It’s an easter egg tucked in by a mischievous designer.

WPLN’s Justin Barney helps Curious Nashville get to the bottom of this mystery. Then we’re staying on the theme of “microscopic Nashville,” and learning from experts about other parts of our community that are hiding in plain sight.

We’ll also be taking your tiny queries! You can chime in during the second half of the show at 615-760-2000 or pop into chat on our YouTube stream.

Guests

• Justin Barney, culture and music reporter, Nashville Public Radio
• Dr. Eva Parker, expert on climate change’s impact on health and assistant professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Ross Andrew, associate professor of biology at Belmont University

Further reading

• Scientist’s 652-Mile Swim Tests Water Quality In The Tennessee River (WPLN)
• Class on the Cumberland River (Belmont University)
• Allergy season in Middle Tennessee (WPLN)