TechStuff Watches Independence Day
How well does the film treat science and technology in Independence Day? What are the big goofs committed in the movie? How realistic is the [Read more]
Podcast
The Luddites
The Luddite uprising was a series of protests in northern England, in which workers smashed machines in mills and factories. This wasn’t the first organized [Read more]
Pew! Pew! Plasma!
What is plasma and how do we use it? Why are plasma weapons so popular in science fiction? Are plasma weapons realistic? Learn more about [Read more]
John Harvey Kellogg
While his last name is famous for breakfast cereal, John Harvey Kellogg was a 19th-century doctor with some unique (and groundbreaking) beliefs about health and [Read more]
Nazi spies and Viking ships
Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones tells the story of an unlikely German spy, while Giles Kristian recalls his adventures on a recreated Viking ship. Rob Attar presents
The WikiLeaks Story
How did WikiLeaks get started? What is the purpose of WikiLeaks? What are some of the controversies WikiLeaks has been in? Learn more about your [Read more]
Five Historical Robots
Long before Czech playwright Karel Capek coined the term “robot” in his 1920 play “R.U.R.,” mechanized creations — automata — were being created without electronics [Read more]
TechStuff Fuels Up Part 2
What are the challenges of depending upon an alternative fuel? Which fuels are better for the environment? Which one is most likely to be the [Read more]
The Cursed Mary Celeste
She’s often referred to as a cursed ghost ship. The history of the Mary Celeste features one unfortunate incident after another. While this vessel is [Read more]
Margaret Thatcher’s path to power, and the story of the Devonshires
Matt Elton speaks to Charles Moore about the first volume of his authorised Margaret Thatcher biography, while Roy Hattersley explores the history of one of Britain’s most influential dynasties. Rob Attar presents