Today

Why Is Glass Transparent?

Glass windows are as solid as the materials that surround them, yet they let light through. Learn the physics of why glass can be so transparent -- and why it took humans thousands of years to create totally clear glass -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: htt ... Show More

9m 1s

Aug 23

BrainStuff Classics: Should We Retest Licensed Drivers Periodically?

Although some driving skills can deteriorate with age, experienced drivers tend to be the safest drivers. To an extent. Learn when and how experts think drivers should be retested in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-dri ... Show More

7m 3s

Aug 22

How Did President Jimmy Carter Work?

As a U.S. President, Jimmy Carter championed education and renewable energy as keystones of a healthy nation. Outside of office, he helped other nations grow democracy, built afforadable housing with his own hands, nearly eradicated guinea worm disease -- and still found time to ... Show More

10m 25s

May 2019

The Motion Picture, Part 2

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! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ... Show More

43m 37s

Jul 2020

COINTELPRO, Part 1

FBI surveillance of people associated with the civil rights movement has come up on the show many times. Today, we’re going to talk about the history of the FBI, especially as it related to communism and “subversive threats,” and how that fed directly into COINTELPRO. Learn more ... Show More

40m 31s

Dec 2021

Louis Daguerre and the Daguerreotype

Daguerre comes up almost any time we mention photography, but we’ve never covered his life story. Well before he figured out how to capture images through a camera obscura, he was an artist and innovator in entertainment. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodc ... Show More

38m 21s

Nov 2017

SYMHC Classics: Frances Glessner Lee and Tiny Forensics

Today's show revisits the story of a Chicago heiress who helped develop forensic investigation standards still in use today. Her most notable contribution to the field came in the form of tiny homicide dioramas. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork ... Show More

29m 24s

Dec 2021

Behind the Scenes Minis: Photography Innovators

Holly and Tracy discuss Daguerre's life, and veer off into VR, and the nature of Daguerre's monetization of photography. Then they talk about the famously handsome Cornelius and the importance of photography to our modern world. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihe ... Show More

16m 1s

Jul 2018

TechStuff Classic: Slow Motion Film and High Speed Photography

How does film work? What are the basic parts of a camera? How can you take a photo of a high-speed subject and get a clear picture? Tune in as Chris and Jonathan break down the tech behind slow motion and high speed photography. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihe ... Show More

37m 1s

Nov 2019

The Photography of Frances Benjamin Johnston

Fannie Johnston is tied to SO MANY people and events that we have talked about on the show before. She’s like a history nexus point. And she was able to make a very nice living for herself as a photographer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Learn more about your ad-choic ... Show More

31m 17s

Feb 2021

TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Listens to Dolby

Who was Ray Dolby? TechStuff takes a look at the life and work of a man whose inventions changed how we experience sound. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

46m 43s

Nov 2019

Kodak Roll Film: As Convenient as a Pencil | S23-E1

Today, if we want to take a photo, we unlock our phone, aim, and click. It can be done on a whim, without a second thought. We document everything from new haircuts to latte art, cute cats to baby’s first smile. But prior to the 1900s, photography was the exclusive domain of prof ... Show More

35m 48s

Mar 2023

Can You Picture That? This Photographer Can and Does

Photographer Mark Thiessen, who’s worked on staff at National Geographic for over 30 years, likens his job to a Swiss army knife—versatile enough to tackle many kinds of assignments. Even when the subject is challenging, he approaches each assignment with a lot of curiosity and c ... Show More

28m 30s

How Did a Civil Rights Photographer Beco...