The Stuff of Genius
Have you ever had an idea that seemed crazy -- maybe crazy enough to work? Every invention starts out as an idea, and it only takes a bit of genius to make it reality. See how some of the greatest inventions were brought to life ...
Have you ever had an idea that seemed crazy -- maybe crazy enough to work? Every invention starts out as an idea, and it only takes a bit of genius to make it reality. See how some of the greatest inventions were brought to life in The Stuff of Genius from HowStuffWorks.com. When George de Mestral and his dog set out on a leisurely mountain stroll, they returned covered in burrs. Learn how an afternoon walk inspired the creation of Velcro in this video podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
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The Story of the Stethoscope
Nowadays it seems that every doctor has a stethoscope. But ...
Nowadays it seems that every doctor has a stethoscope. But who invented this nifty device, and how? Tune in to learn more.
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Ole Evinrude and the Outboard Motor
Ole Evinrude grew up loving machines, but he may never ...
Ole Evinrude grew up loving machines, but he may never have stumbled across the Stuff of Genius if he hadn't had a grueling quest for ice cream. Tune in to learn more about outboard motors.
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Willem Einthoven and the ECG
Today, doctors across the planet use the ECG -- also ...
Today, doctors across the planet use the ECG -- also known as the EKG -- to detect and diagnose heart conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. But who gets the credit for making the first reliable ECG? Tune in to find out.
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Arthur Wynne and the Crossword
Crosswords are one of the world's most popular word games, ...
Crosswords are one of the world's most popular word games, but how did they get invented? Tune in to learn how hard-working newspaper employee Arthur Wynne struck upon the Stuff of (Crossword) Genius.
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From Radars to Reheated Food: Percy and the Microwave
Today, microwave ovens are a common sight in kitchens across ...
Today, microwave ovens are a common sight in kitchens across the world -- but who invented them? Tune in to learn how Percy Spencer accidentally struck upon the Stuff of Microwaving Genius.
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Christopher Cockerell and the Hovercraft
Christopher came from a smart family, and he was no ...
Christopher came from a smart family, and he was no exception to the rule. Tune in to learn how the purchase of a marina inspired this engineer to build something that's not quite a boat, and not quite a plane -- but certainly the Stuff of Genius.
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The Rise and Fall of Zeppelin's Airship
When the German aristocrat Ferdinand Zeppelin traveled to the U.S. ...
When the German aristocrat Ferdinand Zeppelin traveled to the U.S. during the Civil War, an unexpected encounter with Thaddeus S.C. Lowe's aviation experiments changed his life. Tune in to learn more about the rise and fall of the Zeppelin airship.
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Hans Geiger and the Stuff of Radioactive Genius
Today, the Geiger counter used across the planet -- but ...
Today, the Geiger counter used across the planet -- but who invented it, and how? Tune in to find out.
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Control Your Cruising: The Ralph Teetor Story
Although he was blinded at the age of six, Ralph ...
Although he was blinded at the age of six, Ralph Teetor rose through the ranks of industry to become the president of his own manufacturing company -- and he didn't stop there. Tune in to learn how an uncomfortable auto ride inspired the Stuff of Genius.
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Philip Diehl and the Ceiling Fan
Originally born in Germany, Philip Diehl immigrated to the US ...
Originally born in Germany, Philip Diehl immigrated to the US in 1868. Although he has several fascinating inventions to his name, the ceiling fan remains his most well-known innovation. Tune in to learn more.
