Invention

Latest Episodes:

Penicillin Jul 15, 2019

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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