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 Best Thing Since...
We've all heard the expression 'the best thing since sliced ...
We've all heard the expression 'the best thing since sliced bread,' but did someone actually invent slicing bread? Tune in to learn how Otto Rohwedder made the world's first bread-slicing machine in this podcast.
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Bioplastics: The Stuff of (Sustainable) Genius
Plastic is a ubiquitous and incredibly useful invention, but it ...
Plastic is a ubiquitous and incredibly useful invention, but it has some serious downsides. But what if plastics were biodegradable? Tune in to learn more about the evolution and advantages of bioplastics.
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John Shepherd-Barron and the ATM
John Shepherd-Barron usually stopped by his local bank on Saturdays ...
John Shepherd-Barron usually stopped by his local bank on Saturdays to cash checks. But when he arrived one minute after they closed, he was out of luck. Tune in and learn how John's irritating experience led to the Stuff of Genius in this episode.
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Bartolomeo Cristofori: The Real-life Piano Man
Before Bartolomeo Cristofori began tinkering with musical instruments for Ferdinando ...
Before Bartolomeo Cristofori began tinkering with musical instruments for Ferdinando de Medici, no one had heard of a piano. Tune in to learn how Cristofori's Stuff of Genius changed music -- and history -- in this podcast.
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Al Gross and the Walkie-Talkie
When Al Gross was nine years old, he wandered into ...
When Al Gross was nine years old, he wandered into a steamboat's radio room while vacationing with his family. For the rest of his life he was fascinated by wireless communication. Tune in and learn more about Al's Stuff of Genius.
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Thomas Adams, Santa Anna and Chewing Gum
Before his Stuff of Genius struck, Thomas Adams had already ...
Before his Stuff of Genius struck, Thomas Adams had already lived a very interesting life -- in fact, he even spent time with the infamous Santa Anna. Tune in to learn how Thomas failed at making synthetic rubber and ended up with chewing gum.
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Living the High Life: The Evolution of High Heels
Unlike many modern inventions, high heels can't be traced to ...
Unlike many modern inventions, high heels can't be traced to a single inventor. In fact, this unique form of footware dates back into antiquity. Listen in and learn more about the evolution of high heels.
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Adolf Fick: Envisioning the Contact Lens
Today, contact lenses are used by people across the world. ...
Today, contact lenses are used by people across the world. But how did this billion-dollar industry get started? Tune in to learn how a German ophthalmologist created the Stuff of (Optical) Genius.
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Esperanto: The L.L. Zamenhof Story
L.L. Zamenhof was fascinated by language from a young age. ...
L.L. Zamenhof was fascinated by language from a young age. He also believed the majority of human conflict arose from miscommunication. Tune in to learn how Zamenhof used his Stuff of Genius to build a universal language.
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The Surprising Origins of Sudoku
Math-based puzzles have been around for centuries, but how did ...
Math-based puzzles have been around for centuries, but how did modern Sudoku get its start? Tune in to learn more about Sudoku in this episode.
