HowStuffWorks_Science

As a leading physicist at NASA, Jack Cover already had a few achievements under his belt. Yet his Stuff of Genius was something completely unrelated. Tune in and learn how a fateful encounter with an electric fence led to the taser in this episode.

Before Nils Bohlin created the modern seatbelt, he designed ejection seats for Saab aircraft. Learn how Nils' Stuff of Genius changed the world -- and saved millions of lives -- in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.

The Chinese language uses non-phonetic characters, which means that a reader can't tell how a word is pronounced by looking at its written form. For readers facing unfamiliar Chinese words, life was rough -- at least, that is, until Zhou Youguang.

Today wetsuits are considered essential equipment for most divers -- but this wasn't always the case. Tune in to learn how a brilliant physicist created the Stuff of (underwater) Genius.

Robert Jarvik wasn't the first person to patent an artificial heart, but his design was the first heart successfully implanted in a human patient. Tune in and learn how Jarvik's Stuff of Genius gave new hope to heart patients in this podcast.

Everyone knows superglue can fix broken mugs and car models -- but it's also strong enough to staunch bleeding wounds. Learn the amazing story behind Harry Coover's Stuff of Genius -- and its original use -- in this video podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.

As an audiophile, James Russell loved his record collection despite the scratching and warping of vinyl. As an inventor, he knew there had to be a better way to play music. Learn more about his Stuff of Genius in this episode.

A vitamin a day keeps you healthy to play. Or does it?

Why do fans form active communities that extend their media influence?​

Josh explains the science behind the healthy green glow.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are a popular and effective method of birth control. So why don't Americans ​use them?

What's going on in our brains when we laugh?

Absinthe has a dangerous reputation. But will you really meet The Green Fairy if you drink it?

The layers of your skin have complex oils and tissues. So how do we heal it?

Is it possible that there’s a hard-wired limit to how many people you can know?

Your saliva makes things taste great while killing bacteria and helping digestion.

Everyone breathes, but why is oxygen important?

The future of your favorite TV shows hinges on their ratings – but what is a rating, and where does it come from?

Every day, millions of people safeguard themselves against excessive sweat with a quick roll of antiperspirant. But what does this stuff do, exactly?

Joseph Glidden was working as a sheriff when an interesting demonstration at a county fair piqued his interest. Tune in to learn how Joseph went from enforcing the law to building barbed wire in this episode.

Cornelius Drebbel was a true Renaissance man and came up with the idea of the submarine long before it would become a reality. Tune in and learn more about submarines.

Thanks to ATMs, we can still cash checks even when the bank is closed. Find out how and why John Shepherd-Barron invented the ATM in this episode of Stuff of Genius.

When Stephanie Kwolek couldn't pursue a career in medicine, she took a job as a research chemist. Tune in to learn how this unplanned career led to the Stuff of Genius that changed the world and saved thousands of lives.

We all get bags under our eyes that make us look tired. Here's how it inevitably happens and some remedies to look your best.​

The first man landed on the moon in 1969, and we've been obsessed with getting back there ever since. So what's stopping us from establishing a permanent moon base?