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.
Show allAs a leading physicist at NASA, Jack Cover already had ...
As a leading physicist at NASA, Jack Cover already had a few achievements under his belt. Yet his Stuff of Genius was something completely unrelated. Tune in and learn how a fateful encounter with an electric fence led to the taser in this episode.
Download
Nowadays the internet is nearly ubiquitous -- but how did ...
Nowadays the internet is nearly ubiquitous -- but how did it all begin? Tune in for a closer look at the man who changed the world -- and invented the world wide web -- in this episode.
Download
With patents on everything from fountain pens to rifles, Walter ...
With patents on everything from fountain pens to rifles, Walter Hunt has sometimes been called "America's forgotten inventor." However, his most successful invention is incredibly commonplace -- tune in and learn more about the safety pin.
Download
It's easy to take tape for granted -- it's usually ...
It's easy to take tape for granted -- it's usually around when you need it, and you can buy it in numerous places. However, this wasn't always the case. Tune in and learn how Richard Drew's Stuff of Genius changed the world of adhesives in this podcast.
Download
Norm Larsen started with a simple idea: If water causes ...
Norm Larsen started with a simple idea: If water causes rust, then a substance that displaces water can prevent rust. Sure, his first thirty-nine tries didn't work out -- but the last one was pure genius. Tune in and learn more.
Download
Louis Reard wasn't the typical automobile engineer, and his Stuff ...
Louis Reard wasn't the typical automobile engineer, and his Stuff of Genius has nothing to do with cars. Tune in and learn how an otherwise mild-mannered inventor created one of history's most iconic -- and controversial -- pieces of swimwear.
Download
Flat-head screwdrivers have been around for centuries, but when Henry ...
Flat-head screwdrivers have been around for centuries, but when Henry Phillips realized he'd need a better screwdriver for power tools, inspiration struck. Learn more about his Stuff of Genius -- the Phillips Screwdriver -- in this episode.
Download
Over the past year, Stuff of Genius has covered dozens ...
Over the past year, Stuff of Genius has covered dozens of inventors and world-changing inventions. Tune in as our narrator, Marshall Brain, takes a look back at some of our favorite inventors from 2009.
Download
Nathaniel Baldwin was always an exceptional inventor. Regardless of his ...
Nathaniel Baldwin was always an exceptional inventor. Regardless of his day jobs, Baldwin continued tinkering until he hit upon the Stuff of Genius that would literally change the way modern civilization approaches music. Tune in and learn more.
Download
According to his piano teacher, Les Paul had no musical ...
According to his piano teacher, Les Paul had no musical talent. Yet Les Paul overcame this inauspicious beginning to become a legendary songwriter -- even inventing the modern electric guitar on the way. Tune in and learn more.
Download
