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

1:51

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.

3:45

Tim Berners-Lee: World Wide Web

Nowadays the Internet is nearly ubiquitous, but how did it all begin? Tune in for a closer look at the man who changed the world -- and invented the World Wide Web -- in this episode.

1:44

Stuff of Genius: Ed Acheson and the Carborundum Condundrum

Although silicon carbide occurs in the natural world, it's extremely rare. Tune in to learn how Edward Acheson got struck by inspiration and learned how to manufacture this substance, which he called carborundum.

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.

2:16

Stuff of Genius: Bartolomeo Cristofori: The Modern Piano

Before Bartolomeo Cristofori began tinkering with musical instruments for Ferdinando de Medici, no one had heard of a piano. Tune in to learn how Cristofori's Stuff of Genius changed music -- and history -- in this episode.

2:26

Stuff of Genius: The Stuff of (Sustainable) Genius: Bioplastics

Plastic is a ubiquitous and incredibly useful invention, but it has some serious downsides. But what if plastics were biodegradable? Tune in to learn more about the evolution and advantages of bioplastics.

1:48

Stuff of Genius: From War to iPods: The Story of Headphones

Nathaniel Baldwin was the inventor of headphones -- an invention that changed the way society approaches music. Learn about headphones in this video from 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.

2:09

Stuff of Genius: Louis Braille: Braille

Learn how Louis Braille invented the system that sparked Helen Keller to say, "we the blind are as indebted to Louis Braille as mankind is to Gutenberg."

1:59

Stuff of Genius: Ralph Teetor: Cruise Control

Although he was blinded at the age of six, Ralph Teetor rose through the ranks of industry to become the president of his own manufacturing company -- and he didn't stop there. Tune in to learn how an uncomfortable auto ride inspired the Stuff of Genius.

1:31

Stuff of Genius: Hans Geiger: Geiger Counter

Today, the Geiger counter is used across the planet, but who invented it and how? Tune in to find out.

1:55

Stuff of Genius: The History of Chewing Gum and Santa Anna

Who invented chewing gum? Learn how this inventor failed at making synthetic rubber and ended up with chewing gum.

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.