TechStuff
Episodes
Thinking is Critical
03 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's time for another critical thinking episode! We are flooded with information and not all of it is reliable. Let's talk about developing the skills...
TechStuff In Front of a Green Screen
01 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Where did green screen technology come from? How does it work? From the dawn of cinema to the latest Zoom meeting, we take a look at the tech that let...
TechStuff Classic: The Electronic Arts Story: Part One
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Who is the founder of Electronic Arts? What was the company's philosophy about making games? Why did the founder leave the company? Tune in to learn m...
The Deal With Steel
27 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are lots of different kinds of steel. In this episode, we demystify steel, talk about the different classifications and what makes them differen...
One Stuff of Iron, The Other of Steel
25 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What makes iron different from steel? How are they made? In this episode, we explore the history of iron and steel. It's heavy metal! Learn more abou...
TechStuff Classic: The Evolution of Batteries
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How do batteries work? What are the different types of batteries? Why has battery improvement been so slow? Join Lauren and Jonathan to learn more abo...
Small Tech, Big Deal
20 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What does the word nanotechnology really mean? And how did it evolve? From ancient glassmaking to the tech of sci fi, we look at nanotechnology. Lear...
The Packard Bell Story
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Packard Bell's lifespan was 1926 to 1968. Or maybe 1933 to 1974. Or maybe 1986 to 2000. What is up with this company? We investigate the Packard Bell ...
TechStuff Classic: Printing a Gun
15 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How powerful is the 3D-printed gun designed by Cody Wilson? Why is the gun so controversial? Is a plastic gun really undetectable? Learn more about y...
The Birth of the Modem
13 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly is a modem and what does it do? We trace the development of the modem and how it plays a key part in computer networks. Learn more about...
What is a Redox Flow Battery?
11 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What are redox flow batteries? How are they similar to other types of energy storage technologies like traditional batteries and fuel cells? Will we e...
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Gets Fit
08 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What are fitness trackers? What sort of sensors does a typical tracker contain? Do fitness trackers really help you lose weight or get fit? Tune in to...
How Musical Instruments Work
06 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a trumpet sound different from a guitar? How do flutes work? In this episode, we look at how musical instruments actually create their resp...
Smart Talks with IBM: Working Together While Apart
05 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The COVID-19 pandemic forced millions of people into a new lifestyle and raised many challenges. Among those are how do we pursue learning from home? ...
How Music Works - The Physics
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Musical instruments are a particularly cool type of technology. How do musical instruments take advantage of fundamental laws of physics? We explore t...
TechStuff Classic: How Nanotechnology Works
01 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nanotechnology is the science of building incredibly tiny machines. As manufacturing techniques improve, more nanotechnology may find its way to the m...
How Essential Became NonEssential
29 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The lead developer of the Android operating system launched a new phone company in 2015 called Essential Products. In 2019, that company folded. What ...
The Zoom Boom
27 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The web conferencing service Zoom was already successful before the era of isolation really kicked it into a new gear. Learn about where it came from,...
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Shifts Into High Gear
24 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What do automotive transmissions do? How does power get from an engine to a car’s wheels? Why do manual transmission vehicles have a clutch? Learn m...
How Thermal Imaging Works
22 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A Chinese company is marketing heat-sensing glasses as a possible way to screen people for COVID-19. How does thermal imaging work, and is this a good...
Smart Talks with IBM: Accelerating an answer to COVID-19
21 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How is technology playing a role in the search for an effective treatment for COVID-19? Dave Turek of IBM joins the podcast to talk about how high per...
What's up, WhatsApp?
20 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Where did the WhatsApp messaging service come from, how did it get so popular, and why did Facebook spend so much money to acquire it? Learn more abo...
TechStuff Classic: What is the DMCA?
17 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why does the DMCA exist? What is safe harbor? What does the DMCA have to do with boats? Tune in to learn more with Jonathan and Lauren. Learn more ab...
What were CGA, EGA and VGA?
15 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How did IBM define computer graphics standards for the PC? What's the difference between the different standards? And why did the company get out of t...
TechStuff Sends Exoskeletons XOs
13 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
While we're not likely to ever see something as sophisticated as Iron Man's suit, there are a number of robotic exoskeleton designs that have made the...
TechStuff TechStuff Classic: Tackles Wikipedia
10 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How did Wikipedia get started? What was the predecessor to Wikipedia? What are the pros and cons of Wikipedia? Learn more about Wikipedia with Jonatha...
How Laptop Computers Evolved
08 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It took a lot of time and experimentation for the clamshell laptop to become standard. Today, most laptops follow that style. But companies have made ...
Smart Talks with IBM: Tracking COVID-19
07 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Cameron Clayton, the General Manager of IBM Cloud Ecosystem and of The Weather Company, an IBM business, joins the show to talk about how artificial i...
The History of Laptop Computers
06 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From the very first 55-pound portable computer to establishing the clamshell form factor, we take a look at the history of the laptop computer. Learn...
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Goes on a Voyage
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is the Voyager program? What systems are onboard the Voyager spacecraft? What is on the golden record on the Voyager spacecraft? Tune in and lear...
Sony Strikes Back with the PS4
01 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After the departure of Ken Kutaragi, Sony executives decided that the next PlayStation console wouldn't be as dramatic a departure as the PS3. And we ...
A Tough Start for the PS3
30 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The second PlayStation console exceeded all sales expectations, setting the bar for the PS3 incredibly high. But a change in processor architecture wo...
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Gets Stealthy
28 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How does radar work? How can stealth planes avoid radar? How many stealth vehicles are in active service in the US? Learn more about the science of st...
Make Way for the PS2
25 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sony built on the success of the PlayStation and launched an even more popular console: the PlayStation 2. We look at how the PS2 established itself a...
Smart Talks with IBM: Project OWL
24 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the first episode of the Smart Talks series, Jonathan talks with Bryan Knouse of Project OWL, winner of IBM's Call for Code, and Alisa Maclin of IB...
The Birth of the PlayStation
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A failed collaboration between Nintendo and Sony would lead to the birth of one of the most popular video game consoles of all time: the PlayStation. ...
TechStuff Classic: The Riches People In Tech
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Who are the wealthiest tech billionaires? How did they get so wealthy? Which ones have been on the list a long time? Join Jonathan and Lauren as they ...
TechList: The Phantom Zone
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the early 2000s, a company called Infinium Labs promised to revolutionize gaming with a console called The Phantom. It never materialized. What hap...
TechList: The World of eSports
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From professional streamers to full-blown championship tournaments, where did eSports come from and is it really that big a deal? We talk with represe...
TechList: The History of Podcasting
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From Internet Radio to the emergence of TechStuff, we look at the long and colorful history of podcasts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
TechList: The Golden Age of Radio
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How did broadcast radio get its start? What were the challenges and controversies? And how did the golden age fade into history? Learn more about you...
TechList: How Lightsabers Work
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan and Chris discuss the most famous weapon in the "Star Wars" universe -- the lightsaber -- in this episode of TechStuff. Learn more about you...
TechList: Famous April Fool's Tech Pranks
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On April 1, pranks run wild in the tech sector. In this podcast from HowStuffWorks, the TechStuff guys tickle your funny bone with a list of famous Ap...
TechList: The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On October 1, 1982, EPCOT Center opened at Walt Disney World. But that Epcot wasn't the same thing as Walt Disney's initial vision. We look into the h...
TechList: Tron: He Fights For the Users
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Steven Lisberger, writer and director of the 1982 film Tron, joins the show to talk about the tech of making the film and the mythology of Tron itself...
TechList: The Tech of Stranger Things
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jess Royal and John Hilton drop what they're doing on Stranger Things to come by the studio and talk about what their jobs require. From Christmas lig...
TechList: An Interview with the Creators of Homestar Runner
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The creators of Homestar Runner hop on TechStuff to talk about their pioneering work in web series production and how StrongBad is going to catch up o...
The Impact of COVID-19 on Tech
18 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From factory shutdowns to canceled events, the novel coronavirus has wreaked havoc in the tech industry and beyond. In this episode, we explore some o...
The Artemis Program
16 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
NASA is soliciting applications for its astronaut program in anticipation of sending men and women to the Moon. Learn all about the Artemis program, i...
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Experiments With Fusion
13 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is fusion? Why is fusion power so challenging? What is cold fusion? Learn more about the challenges -- and potential promises -- of fusion power ...
Seti Not at Home
11 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After 20 years, the Seti@Home program is going on hiatus. How did this project let the average computer user lend a hand in the search for alien intel...
Time for TikTok
09 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's a social platform. It's a meme generating machine. It's a . . . threat to national security? It's time to learn about TikTok. Learn more about y...
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Leaps Into Hyperspace
07 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why does Han Solo's line about parsecs not make any sense? In the Star Wars universe, what exactly is hyperdrive? Why would hyperspace cause huge caus...
Rerun: What is gamification?
05 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Gamification is exactly what it sounds like -- adding an aspect of gameplay to an activity. So why would someone add a game layer on top of an applica...
Rerun: Can we stop an asteroid from hitting Earth?
02 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Could we blow up an asteroid like in the movie Armageddon? Join Jonathan and Chris as they tackle what may become one of Earth's most important questi...
TechStuff Classic: How Napster Worked
28 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What was the purpose of Napster? Who created Napster? How is the Napster of today related to the original Napster? Join Lauren and Jonathan as the exp...
Rerun: Eureka! Archimedes!
26 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Who was Archimedes, and what did he actually invent? Join Jonathan as he revisits this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
3D Printing and Tomography
24 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists have created a way to 3D print small objects by using beams of light directed at special resin. It's all based off tomography and photopoly...
TechStuff Classic: How Segways Work
21 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the history of the Segway? How does a Segway work? What are gyroscopes? Listen in and learn more about Segways with Jonathan and Lauren. Lea...
Internet Folklore and Misinformation
19 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Special guest Shea Lee joins the show to talk about Internet folklore, conspiracy theories and hoaxes and how platforms like Facebook and communities ...
When Secrets Aren't Secret
17 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Washington Post published an article revealing that the CIA secretly owned and operated an encryption company for decades. How did that happen and...
TechStuff Classic: How Refrigerators Work
15 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the history of refrigerators? How is a refrigerator like an air conditioner? How does vapor compression work? Learn the cold, hard facts abou...
Understanding and Detecting Radiation
12 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly is radiation? How is electromagnetic radiation different from particle radiation? What is ionizing radiation? And how do Geiger counters ...
How Smoke Detectors Work
10 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Smoke detectors save lives, but how do they work? From photoelectric effects to nuclear radiation, we explore how smoke detectors let you know when th...
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Cleans Up After Digital Pets
08 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is a digital pet? What was the first digital pet? Why did the digital pet craze fizzle out so quickly in the United States? Learn more about the ...
The Lighter Side of Tech
05 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How do lighters work? Jonathan explains the mechanics and chemistry behind lighters from their earliest forms to the type you can buy today. Learn mo...
Firestarter
03 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How were matches invented? From toxic chemicals to pee science, we learn about matches. And a fictional character stops by to irritate our host. Lear...
TechStuff Classic: Tesla- The Man, The Myths, The Truth
31 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Who was Nikola Tesla, really? What did he invent? What are some of the popular misconceptions about Tesla and his work? Join Jonathan and Lauren as th...
The State of Autonomous Vehicles
29 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Just a few years ago, optimism was running high that we'd have fleets of autonomous vehicles by early 2020. What happened? We learn more about autonom...
How Smart Speakers Work
27 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How do all those smart speakers actually work? From basic speaker technology to the complicated science behind voice recognition and natural language ...
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff is Caught in a Tractor Beam
25 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What are tractor beams? How do photons normally react with matter? How are scientists using beams of light to pull microscopic objects? Listen in as J...
Rerun: How Ultrasound Works
22 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ultrasonic waves let medical professionals see what's going on inside us without ever making an incision. But what makes sonography so effective? Join...
Volkswagen Today
20 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How did Ferdinand Porsche's grandson reshape Volkswagen? And how did a scandal with diesel vehicles nearly break the company? Learn more about your a...
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Gets Domestic . . . Robots
17 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is a domestic robot? Why are today's domestic robots specialized? Why is it so hard to build a bipedal robot? Get the answers to these questions ...
Volkswagen: Beyond the Beetle
15 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What did Volkswagen produce beyond the iconic Beetle? From buses to Audi, we look at how Volkswagen evolved up to the 1980s. Learn more about your ad...
The Dark Origins of Volkswagen
13 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is the story of how Ferdinand Porsche, with the support of Adolph Hitler, created the Volkswagen company. We also follow the evolution of the Vol...
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Enters the Singularity
10 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is the technological singularity? How might the technological singularity come about? What do critics say about the idea of the singularity? List...
The Tech of 2014 to 2018
08 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is part two of a retrospect on the last decade in tech. Jonathan looks at Apple in the post Steve Jobs era, protests at Google and Uber's worst y...
A Decade In Review (But Only 2009 to 2013)
06 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan begins his look back on ten years in technology, exploring how the tech landscape has changed from 2009 to 2013. Learn about Jonathan's bad p...
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Remembers Aaron Swartz
03 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Aaron Swartz was a young tech genius who was defining RSS specifications at age 14. Who was this young man, what did he believe in and why was the US ...
More Top Tech Stories of 2019
01 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We look back at some more of the biggest stories and themes in tech over the course of 2019. From planned obsolescence to missteps in tech, we look at...
Tech Stories of 2019 - The Bummer Episode
30 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan looks back at some of the biggest (and saddest) tech stories of 2019. From bankruptcies to data breaches, this one is kind of a bummer, but s...
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Plays with Carbon Nanotubes
27 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What is a carbon nanotube? What are the properties of carbon nanotubes? What are some of the potential uses of carbon nanotubes? Join Jonathan and Lau...
The Dangers of Public WiFi
25 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hacker extraordinaire Shannon Morse joins the show to talk about how you can protect your data when browsing the Internet. Is public WiFi off limits? ...
Rerun: Augmenting Your Reality
23 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What is AR and how does it work? Learn about augmented reality's history and future! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnet...
TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Navigates Google Maps
20 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How did Google Maps get started? How does it work, and how has it expanded beyond its original functionality? Join Lauren and Jonathan as they explore...
Rerun: Bad Computer Bugs
18 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Software bugs range from annoying to catastrophic. It's time to explore some of the most famous flaws in computer history! Learn more about your ad-c...
Human Centric Design and the Mazda CX-30
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Live from inside a Mazda CX-30 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Jonathan talks about the concept of human centric design and why it's not as straightforw...
TechStuff Classic: Are we living in a computer simulation?
13 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What is the philosophical argument about living in a computer simulation? What does the singularity have to do with it? How might we be able to tell i...
Rerun: Shh! How Soundproofing Works
11 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Producer Noel Brown joins the show to talk about the science, theory and practice of soundproofing. How does sound work? How can you protect a room fr...
Rerun: How Tech Could Make Better Chocolate
09 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Temple University scientists have found a new way to improve chocolate and it involves electric fields. Learn about the technology and physics behind ...
TechStuff Classic: Social Media and You
06 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is social media harmful to our real-world relationships? Is there evidence that social media helps us form stronger connections? Why are there so many...
Biofuel Bonanza
04 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly are biofuels, and can they replace fossil fuels? In this episode, we take a critical look at the issues surrounding our energy needs and ...
Fake It Til You Make It
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the world of technology, it's not unusual for startups to make big promises and then scramble to try and keep them. In this episode, we look at som...
TechStuff Classic: The Wonderful Wizard Named Woz
29 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Who is Steve Wozniak? What was Wozniak's role at Apple? What other ventures has Wozniak been involved in over the years? Join Chris and Jonathan as th...
Lighting Up the Holidays
27 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We look at the history of incorporating lights in winter holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah and how electricity changed things dramatically. We'll a...
Blizzard Meltdown
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We look at what's been going on at Blizzard recently and how global politics have created a challenging situation for the company. Learn more about y...
TechStuff Classic: How Motion Capture Works
22 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What does motion capture mean? What are the different systems used to capture a performer’s movements? Why do some animators consider motion capture...
Things Get Hot for Blizzard
20 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Riding high on some notable successes, Blizzard continued to make big waves in the world of video games. But now and again the company would find itse...
Winter is Coming: The Early Days of Blizzard
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Founded in 1991, the video game company Blizzard got its start not by creating blockbuster games of its own but by porting other companies' games to d...