TechStuff

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 on that huge email backlog. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From factory shutdowns to canceled events, the novel coronavirus has wreaked havoc in the tech industry and beyond. In this episode, we explore some of the early consequences and consider what the long-term effects might be. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA is soliciting applications for its astronaut program in anticipation of sending men and women to the Moon. Learn all about the Artemis program, its goals and what comes next! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is fusion? Why is fusion power so challenging? What is cold fusion? Learn more about the challenges -- and potential promises -- of fusion power in this podcast with Jonathan and Lauren. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 intelligence? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 causality problems if it were real? Learn more about hyperspace with Lauren and Jonathan. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 application or service -- and how old is gamification, exactly? Join Chris and Jonathan to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 questions: What do we need to do to be better prepared for an asteroid impact? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 explore the rise of Napster. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 photopolymers. Here's how it works. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Special guest Shea Lee joins the show to talk about Internet folklore, conspiracy theories and hoaxes and how platforms like Facebook and communities like 4chan can perpetuate misinformation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Washington Post published an article revealing that the CIA secretly owned and operated an encryption company for decades. How did that happen and what does it mean? And what lessons should we learn from it? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s the history of refrigerators? How is a refrigerator like an air conditioner? How does vapor compression work? Learn the cold, hard facts about refrigeration with Jonathan and Lauren. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What exactly is radiation? How is electromagnetic radiation different from particle radiation? What is ionizing radiation? And how do Geiger counters work? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smoke detectors save lives, but how do they work? From photoelectric effects to nuclear radiation, we explore how smoke detectors let you know when there's a fire. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 rise and fall of digital pets in the U.S. with Jonathan and Lauren. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do lighters work? Jonathan explains the mechanics and chemistry behind lighters from their earliest forms to the type you can buy today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How were matches invented? From toxic chemicals to pee science, we learn about matches. And a fictional character stops by to irritate our host. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 they explore Nikola Tesla: the man, the myths and the truth. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 autonomous cars and their limitations in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do all those smart speakers actually work? From basic speaker technology to the complicated science behind voice recognition and natural language processing, we find out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Jonathan and Lauren explore the tech behind tractor beams. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ultrasonic waves let medical professionals see what's going on inside us without ever making an incision. But what makes sonography so effective? Join Lauren and Jonathan as they look into the history and amazing applications of ultrasound technology. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did Ferdinand Porsche's grandson reshape Volkswagen? And how did a scandal with diesel vehicles nearly break the company? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 and more in this episode of TechStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Volkswagen Beetle. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the technological singularity? How might the technological singularity come about? What do critics say about the idea of the singularity? Listen in as Jonathan and Lauren explore the technological singularity. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 year ever. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 predictions, Uber's missteps and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 government determined to prosecute him? Listen in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 how things shook out over the year. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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 Lauren as they break down the basics of nanotubes, along with their potential uses in future applications. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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? Are VPNs reliable? What about Tor? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the past, present and future of Google Maps. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 straightforward as you might imagine. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 if we’re in a computer simulation? Learn about the nature of perception with Lauren and Jonathan. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 from sound? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Temple University scientists have found a new way to improve chocolate and it involves electric fields. Learn about the technology and physics behind improving a nearly perfect food. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 contradictory studies? Join Jonathan and Lauren as they explore the effects of social media. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 why it's so darn complicated. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 some big examples of this philosophy and how it can go wrong. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 they explore the life and times of this iconic computer engineer and Apple cofounder. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at the history of incorporating lights in winter holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah and how electricity changed things dramatically. We'll also dive into those over the top displays that sequence lights with sound and talk about why it was such a challenge for the electrician on Stranger Things to make lights blink a specific way. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.