Invention

Latest Episodes:

Walls Feb 25, 2019

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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The X-Ray Jan 07, 2019

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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

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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

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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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