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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Superglue
Everyone knows superglue can fix broken mugs and car models ...
Everyone knows superglue can fix broken mugs and car models -- but it's also strong enough to staunch bleeding wounds. Learn the amazing story behind Harry Coover's Stuff of Genius -- and its original use -- in this video podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
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Neon Lights
Have you ever been curious about the story behind those ...
Have you ever been curious about the story behind those bright city lights? Then tune in and learn how Georges Claude's Stuff of Genius illuminated the world of advertising in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
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Ballpoint Pens
In one form or another, pens have been around for ...
In one form or another, pens have been around for centuries. Unfortunately, they've also been messy, inconvenient and unreliable. Learn how Laszlo Biro's Stuff of Genius brought pens into the modern age in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
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The Pop-up Toaster
Although toast itself dates back into prehistory, the toaster is ...
Although toast itself dates back into prehistory, the toaster is a very recent -- and convenient -- invention. Learn how Charles Strite's Stuff of Genius became a fixture of the modern kitchen in this video podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
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The Computer Mouse
Before Douglas Engelbart invented the mouse, computers received input through ...
Before Douglas Engelbart invented the mouse, computers received input through typed commands -- but that all changed once this handy pointer hit the scene. Learn more about Engelbart's Stuff of Genius in this video podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
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Liquid Paper
Dallas secretary Bette Nesmith Graham hated typos, because erasing an ...
Dallas secretary Bette Nesmith Graham hated typos, because erasing an error left smears and smudges. Luckily, she decided to tackle the problem with paint rather than erasers. Learn about her Stuff of Genius in this video podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
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TV Remotes
Modern TV viewers use remote controls to channel surf from ...
Modern TV viewers use remote controls to channel surf from the comfort of their seat -- but it wasn't always this easy. Learn more about the convenience -- and consequence -- of Robert Adler's Stuff of Genius in this video podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
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Windshield Wipers
When Mary Anderson traveled to New York, she noticed that ...
When Mary Anderson traveled to New York, she noticed that traffic jammed as drivers stopped to wipe their windshields in snowy weather. Learn how her Stuff of Genius made roads safer -- and windshields cleaner -- in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
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Refined Sugar
Before Norbert Rillieux's sugar evaporator, slaves across the New World ...
Before Norbert Rillieux's sugar evaporator, slaves across the New World risked severe -- and often fatal -- injury while refining sugar. Learn how this Stuff of Genius saved hundreds of lives and modernized sugar in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
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Long-Range Radio
Before Ernst Alexanderson designed the high-frequency alternators that transmitted radio ...
Before Ernst Alexanderson designed the high-frequency alternators that transmitted radio broadcasts in a continuous wave, radio was not usable over long distances. Tune in and learn more Stuff of Genius in this video podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
