The invention of the electronic television was uniquely complicated for its time. So complicated, in fact, that the prevailing narrative is that it couldn’t have been invented by a single person -- let alone Philo Farnsworth. After all, some of the most brilliant minds in the world spent the first quarter of the 20th century working on television systems -- ... Show More
Feb 2020
Valium: Miltown Magic | S22-E1
Anxiety. It’s something everyone experiences at some point in their lives, but for centuries doctors had no effective way to treat it. They could send patients on rest cures, order them to do nothing at all, or prescribe barbiturates that depressed the central nervous system, eas ... Show More
39m 31s
Mar 2020
Organ Transplant: The Kidney Twins | S23-E1
A century ago, organ transplants were the stuff of science fiction. But a handful of experimental surgeons believed that transplants were not just possible – they had the potential to save thousands of lives. Then, in 1954, a man agreed to donate his kidney to his twin brother – ... Show More
42m 50s
Feb 2022
S1E140 - Kapow's Power of Invention: The Computer
Tune in to today's episode of Kapow's Power of Invention, where we are introduced to the one and only Charles Babbage! A mathematician, philosopher, mechanical engineer, inventor, and father of modern computing!
11m 44s
Sep 2024
Patents Are Absolutely Bonkers: An Origin Story
Have you ever had a good idea -- like, a brilliant idea? If so, you may have immediately started trying to figure out the cartoonishly complicated, labyrinthine world of patents. In today's episode, the guys dive into the strange history of the concept and process of patents.See ... Show More
48m 40s