HowStuffWorks

Stuff of Genius

Tetris! A Riddle Wrapped In An Enigma

Alexey Pajitnov changed the world of gaming forever when he created Tetris. Learn the history of this famous game and how it came to be.

Most Watched in Stuff of Genius

1:48

Stuff of Genius: Stephanie Kwolek: Kevlar

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.

1:10

Stuff of Genius: Velcro

When George de Mestral and his dog set out on a leisurely mountain stroll, they returned covered in burrs. Learn how an afternoon walk inspired the creation of Velcro in this video.

1:51

Stuff of Genius: George Ferris: Ferris Wheel

When Chicago began planning for the World's Columbian Exhibition of 1893, the city's planners asked George Ferris to build something "original, daring, and unique." Tune in to learn more about his invention -- and why it's considered the Stuff of Genius.

1:35

Stuff of Genius: Dmitri Mendeleev: Periodic Table of Elements

You've probably seen it in every science classroom you've been in, but what's the story behind the Periodic Table of Elements? Find out in today's Stuff of Genius!

1:00

Stuff of Genius: Philo Farnsworth: Television

When Philo Farnsworth was just 14 years old, he had an epiphany that changed his life -- and ours. Tune in and learn how this former sharecropper created the modern television in The Stuff of Genius, a video podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.

1:21

George de Mestral: Velcro

When George de Mestral and his dog set out on a leisurely mountain stroll, they returned covered in burrs. Learn how an afternoon walk inspired the creation of Velcro in this video podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.

1:54

Stuff of Genius: Edward Jenner: Smallpox Vaccine

Although forms of vaccination had been discovered thousands of years ago in Asia and Africa, Western Europeans didn't pick up on it until Edward Jenner turned an old wives' tale into the Stuff of Genius. Tune in and learn more in this podcast.

1:40

Stuff of Genius: Alfred Nobel: Dynamite

While Alfred Nobel is credited as the creator of dynamite, he is better known for creating the Nobel Prize. In this episode, we trace Nobel's life from the accidental creation of the explosive through his subsequent creation of the Nobel Prize.

1:45

Stuff of Genius: Chester Greenwood: Earmuffs

As a big-eared child in Maine, Chester Greenwood was used to freezing weather. Of course, that doesn't mean he enjoyed it. Learn how his Stuff of Genius kept ears across America toasty (and made Chester famous) in this podcast.

1:38

Stuff of Genius: Spray Cans

Although the idea of an aerosol spray back to the 18th century, Erik Rotheim was the first person to make a working device based on the concept. Tune in and learn how his Stuff of Genius has changed the world -- for better or worse.

1:24

Stuff of Genius: Neon Lights

Have you ever been curious about the story behind those bright city lights? Then tune in and learn how Georges Claude's Stuff of Genius illuminated the world of advertising in this episode.

1:20

Stuff of Genius: Robert Wilhelm Bunsen: Bunsen Burners

Nowadays Bunsen burners are an everyday laboratory device, but this wasn't always the case. Tune in and learn more about the fascinating life of Robert Bunsen and his Stuff of Genius in this video podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.

Recent Videos in Stuff of Genius

3:21

Stuff of Genius: Black Sabbatical

Before Stuff of Genius takes its own scheduled break, Christian looks into the origin of the modern sabbatical and its goal of improving productivity through revitalization.

2:14

Stuff of Genius: Tetris! A Riddle Wrapped In An Enigma

Alexey Pajitnov changed the world of gaming forever when he created Tetris. Learn the history of this famous game and how it came to be.

2:44

Stuff of Genius: Hack Your New Year

Want to successfully meet your resolutions in 2014? Use these 5 lifehacks at the beginning of your year, so you're happy with the rest of it!

2:06

Stuff of Genius: The Iceman Cometh... Jacob Perkin's First Refrigerator

Jacob Perkins was always a tinkerer, but in 1834 he patented the refrigerator. Learn how his version worked by vaporizing dangerous chemicals.

3:29

Stuff of Genius: No More Woof

Talking dogs are cute and all, but what if you could actually translate your dog's thoughts into English? A Scandinavian research lab claims they've invented the answer.

1:58

Stuff of Genius: Explosions in the Sky

Thousands of years ago, the Chinese invented fireworks. Learn the origin of these celebrated pyrotechnics in this episode.

2:36

Stuff of Genius: The White Elephant In The Room

Every year, American office parties celebrate a tradition called a "White Elephant" exchange. Stuff of Genius deciphers how this term came from a complicated history between the U.S. and Thailand.

2:29

Stuff of Genius: For Your Eyes Only: The Privacy Visor

A Tokyo based team has invented a pair of glasses that disrupts digital cameras and prevents facial recognition. Want to hide your identity and personal information? We'll tell you how in today's episode.

2:03

Stuff of Genius: Better, Faster, Stronger... Meet the Modern Umbrella

While umbrellas have been around for centuries, the modern steel design we're all familiar with was invented by Samuel Fox in 1852. Or was it? Learn about the controversy behind this simple device that keeps us dry.

2:41

Stuff of Genius: 5 Tips to Make Your Phone Battery Last

Is your phone constantly dying? Try these 5 everyday tips to conserve your battery's power.

1:57

Stuff of Genius: George Ballas and the Weed Eater

What do carwashes and lawn care have in common? The answer might surprise you. Tune in in to learn how George Ballas went from cleaning his car to inventing the weed eater.

2:13

Stuff of Genius: No Babies! Gregory Pincus and the Birth Control Pill

The birth control pill prevents millions of births every year. Learn how a scientist's experiments with rabbit ovums and frozen sperm led to this game changing advance in human reproduction.