The Stuff of Genius
How William Burroughs Made It All Add Up
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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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Robert Cade and the Amazing Sports Drink
When a local football coach asked Robert Cade to help ...
When a local football coach asked Robert Cade to help hydrate his players, he set off on a journey to find the perfect sports drink. Tune in and learn more about Cade's Stuff of Genius in this episode.
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Cabin Fever and Softball: The George Hancock Story
As a reporter in Chicago, George Hancock was resigned to ...
As a reporter in Chicago, George Hancock was resigned to the bitter, snowy winter weather that trapped people indoors and stopped them from playing outdoor sports like baseball. At least, that is, until his Stuff of Genius struck. Tune in and learn more.
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The World Wide Web
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.
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George Ferris and His Amazing Wheel
When Chicago began planning for the World's Columbian Exhibition of ...
When Chicago began planning for the World's Columbian Exhibition of 1893, the city's planners asked George Ferris to build something "original, daring, and unique." Tune in to learn more about his invention -- and why it's considered the Stuff of Genius.
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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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Charles Drew and the Modern Blood Bank
Before the advent of the modern blood bank, blood could ...
Before the advent of the modern blood bank, blood could only be stored for about two days. Luckily, when Charles Drew began researching ways to prolong the usefulness of stored blood, his Stuff of Genius struck. Tune in and learn more in this episode.
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From Radars to Reheated Food: Percy Spencer 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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Who invented the modern calendar?
Nowadays it's easy to take the calendar for granted -- ...
Nowadays it's easy to take the calendar for granted -- nations across the world have agreed that (for business purposes) each year is twelve months long. But how did we get this calendar in the first place? Tune in and find out.
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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.
