Invention

Soap Apr 20, 2020

We’re all probably using a lot more soap these days, but… what is it exactly? How does it work? Who invented it and how has it changed the world? Join Robert and Joe as they explore the invention of Soap. This episode marks the final installment of Invention as a standalone podcast, but invention-based episodes will continue on the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast.

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Invention Classic: Chewing Gum Apr 13, 2020

Chewing gum is everywhere today, but where does it come from? What did we chew before Bubblicious? How does gum affect us? Robert and Joe explore in this episode of Invention. (Originally published 7/8/2019)

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Invention Classic: The Museum Apr 06, 2020

We all love a good museum, but how long have we had them? In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe discuss just what a museum actually is and when the concept seems to have entered human civilization. (7/1/2019)

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Invention Classic: Sun Glasses Mar 30, 2020

It’s hard to imagine how anyone looked cool before the invention of sunglasses, but just when did humans pop their first pair of shades? In this episode of Invention, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick discuss everything from the blinding white hell of arctic wastes to the blood-soaked spectacle of gladiatorial combat. (Originally published 1/7/2019)

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Invention Classic: Penicillin Mar 23, 2020

A fungal accident in the early 20th century opened the door for the medical wonders of the antibiotic age. In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe explore what came before and how Alexander Fleming’s discovery changed the world. (Originally published 7/15/19)

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Invented Words, Part 2 Mar 16, 2020

Where do new words come from? Robert and Joe explore in the latest episode of Invention.

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Invented Words, Part 1 Mar 09, 2020

Where do new words come from? Robert and Joe explore in the latest episode of Invention.

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Invention: Barbed Wire Mar 02, 2020

You may very well encounter barbed wire everyday -- and, in all likelihood, you see THROUGH this flesh-ripping barrier. Where did this invention come from? How did it change the world? Robert and Joe discuss “the devil’s rope” in this episode of Invention.

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The Fire Extinguisher, Part 2 Feb 24, 2020

Fire technology depends on the ability to not only create and foster fire, but also the ability to snuff it out as needed. Today, the fire extinguisher is an important active fire protection device, but where does this technology emerge in human techno-history? Robert and Joe explore in this episode of Invention.

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The Fire Extinguisher, Part 1 Feb 17, 2020

Fire technology depends on the ability to not only create and foster fire, but also the ability to snuff it out as needed. Today, the fire extinguisher is an important active fire protection device, but where does this technology emerge in human techno-history? Robert and Joe explore in this episode of Invention.

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Strike the Match, Part 3 Feb 10, 2020

Mastery of fire was one of humanity’s greatest technological leaps forward, but even the ability to create fire only gets you so far if the flame is not easily generated and/or transferred. Thus, the millennia-spanning quest to create the subtle technology we so easily take for granted: the modern matchstick. Join Robert and Joe for a multi-episode Invention exploration on fire-generation technology.

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Strike the Match, Part 2 Feb 03, 2020

Mastery of fire was one of humanity’s greatest technological leaps forward, but even the ability to create fire only gets you so far if the flame is not easily generated and/or transferred. Thus, the millennia-spanning quest to create the subtle technology we so easily take for granted: the modern matchstick. Join Robert and Joe for a multi-episode Invention exploration on fire-generation technology.

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Strike the Match, Part 1 Jan 27, 2020

Mastery of fire was one of humanity’s greatest technological leaps forward, but even the ability to create fire only gets you so far if the flame is not easily generated and/or transferred. Thus, the millennia-spanning quest to create the subtle technology we so easily take for granted: the modern matchstick. Join Robert and Joe for a multi-episode Invention exploration on fire-generation technology.

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The Pencil Jan 20, 2020

It’s easy to take the pencil for granted, but that eraser-capped wooden cylinder with a core of graphite has a story and a history -- and Robert and Joe explore it in this episode of Invention.

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Beachbum Berry on the Invention of the Mai Tai Jan 13, 2020

The Mai Tai isn’t only the most famous Tiki cocktail, it’s one of the most well known cocktails on the planet. But where does it come from? Who invented it? In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe turn to noted Tiki historian and mixologist Jeff “Beachbum” Berry for answers.

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Invention Classic: Chopsticks Jan 06, 2020

Chopsticks are such an intuitive and precise eating utensil, it’s easy to assume they’ve been with us. But as Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore, this neolithic invention didn’t really leave the kitchen for the dinner table in a major way till the fifth century CE. Prepare to explore the invention of chopsticks. (Originally published 12/17/18)

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Listener Mail: Year End Wrap-Up, Part 2 Dec 30, 2019

Join your Invention hosts Robert and Joe for another round of listenener mail on recent episodes devoted to the Microwave Oven and all sorts of toys.

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Listener Mail: Year End Wrap-Up, Part 1 Dec 23, 2019

As the first year of Invention comes to a close, Robert and Joe catch up on listener mail for everything from air conditioning and ketchup to toys and bubble wrap.

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Toys, Part 3 Dec 16, 2019

As the holiday season sets in, Robert and Joe open up Santa’s toy bag to consider the invention of various toys -- toys intended to teach, toys intended to puzzle and toys that leverage technology for good old fashioned childhood fun.

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Toys, Part 2 Dec 09, 2019

As the holiday season sets in, Robert and Joe open up Santa’s toy bag to consider the invention of various toys -- toys intended to teach, toys intended to puzzle and toys that leverage technology for good old fashioned childhood fun.

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Toys, Part 1 Dec 02, 2019

As the holiday season sets in, Robert and Joe open up Santa’s toy bag to consider the invention of various toys -- toys intended to teach, toys intended to puzzle and toys that leverage technology for good old fashioned childhood fun.

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The Microwave, Part 2 Nov 25, 2019

You probably use one everyday: to warm up your lunch, to explode pats of butter or simply to reheat your coffee. But how does a microwave oven work and where does this amazingly useful invention come from? Find out in this episode of Invention!

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The Microwave, Part 1 Nov 18, 2019

You probably use one everyday: to warm up your lunch, to explode pats of butter or simply to reheat your coffee. But how does a microwave oven work and where does this amazingly useful invention come from? Find out in this episode of Invention!

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The Turnspit Dog Nov 11, 2019

In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe continue the month’s journey through human CULINARY techno-history -- this time with the story of the turnspit dog. This now-extinct breed of dog turned the meat in many a European kitchen, before it was replaced by machines.

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Canning Nov 04, 2019

In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe kick off a month of food content with the history of canning! Yes, from Napoleonic bottles of soups to our modern bounty of canned sustenance, you’ll explore where it came from, who invented the process and how it changed the world.

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Invention Classic: Guillotine Oct 28, 2019

Once more, for Halloween! The 18th century Guillotine represents the absolute pinnacle of mechanical decapitation. In this episode of Invention, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore its origins and legacy.

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Casket-a-go-go, Part 3 Oct 21, 2019

Sure, caskets and coffins are essentially just containers for the dead -- but we stash far more than our corpses inside them. We also pour in a generous helping of human anxiety, hope and magical thinking. In this three-part exploration of Invention, Robert and Joe consider the nature of caskets and look at some of the stranger designs from human history.

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Casket-a-go-go, Part 2 Oct 14, 2019

Sure, caskets and coffins are essentially just containers for the dead -- but we stash far more than our corpses inside them. We also pour in a generous helping of human anxiety, hope and magical thinking. In this three-part exploration of Invention, Robert and Joe consider the nature of caskets and look at some of the stranger designs from human history.

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Casket-a-go-go, Part 1 Oct 07, 2019

Sure, caskets and coffins are essentially just containers for the dead -- but we stash far more than our corpses inside them. We also pour in a generous helping of human anxiety, hope and magical thinking. In this three-part exploration of Invention, Robert and Joe consider the nature of caskets and look at some of the stranger designs from human history.

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Ketchup Sep 30, 2019

You love it. You put it on everything. But where does ketchup come from? In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe explore the mysterious origins of everyone’s favorite sweet red sauce -- and consider the jaw-dropping fact that ketchup isn’t always red and isn’t always made from tomatoes.

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Air Conditioning, Part 3 Sep 23, 2019

Air conditioning has had a profound impact on modern life -- and in more ways than you might realize. In this trio of Invention episodes, Robert and Joe explore pre-AC cooling methods, the invention itself and the many ways it changed the shape (and temperature) of our lives.

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Air Conditioning, Part 2 Sep 16, 2019

Air conditioning has had a profound impact on modern life -- and in more ways than you might realize. In this trio of Invention episodes, Robert and Joe explore pre-AC cooling methods, the invention itself and the many ways it changed the shape (and temperature) of our lives.

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Air Conditioning, Part 1 Sep 09, 2019

Air conditioning has had a profound impact on modern life -- and in more ways than you might realize. In this trio of Invention episodes, Robert and Joe explore pre-AC cooling methods, the invention itself and the many ways it changed the shape (and temperature) of our lives.

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The Telescope Sep 02, 2019

The telescope is one of the most important inventions in human history, ultimately enabling humanity to gaze beyond the limits of biological sight and begin a greater understanding of the cosmos. In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe explore the invention’s history and impact.

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Bubble Wrap Aug 26, 2019

Don’t take bubble wrap for granted! Someone had to invent it and you might be surprised to learn where it came from. In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe discuss the history and future of packing material.

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Listener Mail: Machine Aug 19, 2019

It's listener mail time again on Invention! You've written in with your thoughts on past episodes and now Robert and Joe are going to read some of them -- with the help of a brand new mailbot.

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Scissors Aug 12, 2019

Let's cut to the chase: scissors are an excellent and ancient invention that impacts our lives in a number of ways. In this episode, Robert and Joe discuss their origins, use and examples from past and present -- along with a little scissor myth and folklore.

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Bread/Toast/Toasters Aug 05, 2019

Who invented toast? Who then went on to invent the toaster? In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe chase the origins of bread transformed through the Maillard reaction and consider the origins of the specialized mini-oven we use to do it.

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The Hypodermic Needle Jul 29, 2019

Sit back. This might sting. In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe explore the history of hypodermic needles: what came before in human and evolutionary history and where we’re going with drug injections and blood withdrawls.

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The Earthquake Detector Jul 22, 2019

How does earthquake detection work and when did humans device the first method of detecting them at a distance? In this Invention two-parter, Robert and Joe first discuss the mysterious invention of ancient Chinese polymath Zhāng Héng before moving on to modern innovations.

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Penicillin Jul 15, 2019

A fungal accident in the early 20th century opened the door for the medical wonders of the antibiotic age. In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe explore what came before and how Alexander Fleming’s discovery changed the world.

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Chewing Gum Jul 08, 2019

Chewing gum is everywhere today, but where does it come from? What did we chew before Bubblicious? How does gum affect us? Robert and Joe explore in this episode of Invention.

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The Museum Jul 01, 2019

We all love a good museum, but how long have we had them? In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe discuss just what a museum actually is and when the concept seems to have entered human civilization.

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Dreams of a Gastro Automaton Jun 24, 2019

Sometimes necessity ISN’T the mother of invention. Case in point: Humanity’s long-standing desire to create machines that poop. In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe discuss Vaucanson’s digesting duck and modern takes on the technology.

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The Condom Jun 17, 2019

Condoms are an important part of human health and medicine, but where did this invention come from? Robert and Joe explore in this episode of Invention.

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The Atlatl Spear Thrower Jun 10, 2019

The spear is a truly ancient human technology, but this preceded one of humanity’s oldest mechanical inventions: the atlatl or spear thrower. In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe explore the history and physics of this amazing hunting device.

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Listener Mail: Mothers of Invention Jun 03, 2019

Finally, it's listener mail time on Invention! You've wrote in with your thoughts on past episodes and now Robert and Joe are going to read some of them -- with the help of a brand new mailbot.

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The Motion Picture, Part 3 May 27, 2019

Finally, Robert and Joe finish their look at early motion picture history and invention, discussing some early examples of narrative film and how it continues to manipulate our senses and minds.

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A Motion Picture Mystery May 20, 2019

In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe talk with show researcher Scott Benjamin about a mysterious disappearance in the history of the motion picture. What happened to Louis Le Prince and his claim on the invention?

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The Motion Picture, Part 2 May 13, 2019

In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe continue their exploration of photographic technology by taking it to the next phase in its evolution: the motion picture!

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The Motion Picture, Part 1 May 06, 2019

In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe continue their exploration of photographic technology by taking it to the next phase in its evolution: the motion picture!

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The Camera, Part 3 Apr 29, 2019

Photography is one of the most important technological, artistic and cultural advancements of the 19th century. In the third part of their look at the invention of photography, Robert and Joe consider follow the evolution of photography and move toward the motion picture.

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The Camera, Part 2 Apr 22, 2019

Photography is one of the most important technological, artistic and cultural advancements of the 19th century. In the second part of their look at the invention of photography, Robert and Joe consider look the dawn of photography and its major effects on the world.

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The Camera, Part 1 Apr 15, 2019

Photography is one of the most important technological, artistic and cultural advancements of the 19th century. In the first part of their look at the invention of photography, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick consider the limits of the pre-photographic world and some of the initial advancements that bridged the camera obscura and the first cameras.

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Camera Obscura Apr 08, 2019

Before there was photography, there was the camera obscura. In the first of three episodes focusing on the invention of camera and motion picture technology, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick discuss the ways that stationary and moving images changed our world.

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Board Games, Part 2 Apr 01, 2019

Board games have only grown in variety and complexity in recent decades, but just how far back in time do these curious physical simulations go? In this episode of Invention, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick consider the meeples of ancient history.

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Board Games, Part 1 Mar 25, 2019

Board games have only grown in variety and complexity in recent decades, but just how far back in time do these curious physical simulations go? In this episode of Invention, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick consider the meeples of ancient history.

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Toilet, Part 2 Mar 18, 2019

While the toilet is not THE most important invention, it's certainly hard to imagine life without one -- and the advantages of modern flushing toilets go far beyond mere convenience. In this Invention two-parter, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore the ancient origins of the toilet and the origins of the modern flush toilet.

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Toilet, Part 1 Mar 11, 2019

While the toilet is not THE most important invention, it's certainly hard to imagine life without one -- and the advantages of modern flushing toilets go far beyond mere convivence. In this Invention two-parter, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore the ancient origins of the toilet and the origins of the modern flush toilet.

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Braille Mar 04, 2019

French educator and inventor Louis Braille invented a system of reading and writing for the blind in 1824. How did he develop it? How has it changed the world? Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore in this episode of Invention.

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Walls Feb 25, 2019

Walls area very old invention, but where did they first divide the tribes of humanity? To what extent were they successful? What can we learn about the modern world from discussions of ancient walls? Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore it all in this episode of Invention.

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The Wheel, Part 2 Feb 18, 2019

The wheel is perhaps the most iconic of all inventions, and yet we are often too dismissive of wheel technology. We’ve been reinventing the wheel for thousands of years and show no sign of stopping. In this Invention two-parter, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore the earliest examples of wheel technology and discuss why some cultures barely used it at all.

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The Wheel, Part 1 Feb 11, 2019

The wheel is perhaps the most iconic of all inventions, and yet we are often too dismissive of wheel technology. We’ve been reinventing the wheel for thousands of years and show no sign of stopping. In this Invention episode, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore the earliest examples of wheel technology and discuss why some cultures barely used it at all.

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Roads Feb 04, 2019

Roads go ever, ever on, but where do they come from? What key innovations link the animal paths of pre-human times with the massive highway systems we know today? Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore in this episode of Invention.

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The Saxophone Jan 28, 2019

Few musical instruments are as associated with American music and culture as the saxophone, but it's origins go back to 19th century Belgian instrument maker's Parisian shop. Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore in this episode of Invention.

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The Death Ray, Part 2 Jan 21, 2019

From ancient myth and the inventions of Archimedes to the work of Tesla and countless sci-fi authors, the concept of a death ray is a powerful expression of technological might. But here’s the catch: they don’t quite exist. Join Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick as they explore the various figures, inventors and frauds who claimed to have invented a death ray.

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The Death Ray, Part 1 Jan 14, 2019

From ancient myth and the inventions of Archimedes to the work of Tesla and countless sci-fi authors, the concept of a death ray is a powerful expression of technological might. But here’s the catch: they don’t quite exist. Join Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick as they explore the various figures, inventors and frauds who claimed to have invented a death ray.

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The X-Ray Jan 07, 2019

Just try to imagine modern medicine without x-rays. How did we ever get by without them and who is responsible for this amazing technological invention? Join Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick for another eye-opening episode of Invention.

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Sun Glasses Dec 31, 2018

It’s hard to imagine how anyone looked cool before the invention of sunglasses, but just when did humans pop their first pair of shades? In this episode of Invention, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick discuss everything from the blinding white hell of arctic wastes to the blood-soaked spectacle of gladiatorial combat.

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Toothpaste Dec 24, 2018

Toothpaste is a vital substance in our war against tooth decay, but when did we first rub this stuff into our teeth and gums? In this episode of Invention, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick squeeze out the history and origins of toothpaste.

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Chopsticks Dec 17, 2018

Chopsticks are such an intuitive and precise eating utensil, it’s easy to assume they’ve been with us. But as Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore, this neolithic invention didn’t really leave the kitchen for the dinner table in a major way till the fifth century CE. Prepare to explore the invention of chopsticks.

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Guillotine Dec 10, 2018

The 18th century Guillotine represents the absolute pinnacle of mechanical decapitation. In this episode of Inventions, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore its origins and legacy.

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The Vending Machine Dec 10, 2018

Automatons that sell goods on behalf of humans? Vending machines are so ubiquitous in our world that we tend to overlook the weirdness and wonder of the advancement. In this episode of Invention, Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick quest after the first vending machines.

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