99% Invisible

This episode tells the story of Thomas Cobden Sanderson and Emery Walker, two friends who founded the Doves Press but later had a bitter falling out over the business.

Host Roman Mars and guest Avery Trufelman trace the evolution of the M-43 field jacket, from its scientific development by George Doriot using a…

Journalist Alex Davies explores the hidden world of test engineering, from grizzly bears destroying canisters to chickens shot into jet engines.

Host Roman Mars explores the history of American game shows through the lens of the Wheel of Fortune ceramic dalmatian, a quirky consolation prize from the 1980s.

This episode explores the history of the 800 number, tracing its evolution from a toll-free business tool to the backbone of 24/7 retail and call centers in Omaha, Nebraska.

This episode explores how Willard Bundy’s employee time clock and Frederick Taylor’s stopwatch-driven efficiency methods transformed workplace surveillance and American attitudes toward time.

This episode explores "spolia," the architectural practice of reusing old materials, through the story of Granby, Liverpool, where residents…

This episode explores the history of the NBA compression sleeve, tracing its origin to Allen Iverson’s 2001 treatment for elbow bursitis.

Reporter Gillian Jacobs explores the "Bone Wars," a fierce 19th-century rivalry between paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope and O.

Host Roman Mars and guest Elliot Kalin explore how 23 letters from Julia Sands inspired President Chester A.

Reporter Julie Blusset investigates the 2022 Wang Fook Court fire in Hong Kong, which sparked a government ban on traditional bamboo scaffolding.

Host Roman Mars interviews historian Seth Rockman about his book *Plantation Goods*, focusing on a rare swatch of "Negro cloth" found in archival letters.

Host Roman Mars and guest Kurt Kolstad explore biomimicry, examining how nature inspires human design.

Host Roman Mars and guest Paul Lucas explore the history of the Brannock device, the iconic metal tool used to measure feet for shoe fitting.

This episode explores the history and impact of the Finnish baby box, a universal welfare package given to new parents since 1938.

Hosted by Roman Mars and featuring historian Jeff Chang, this episode explores how nunchucks evolved from ancient weapons into symbols of Asian American resistance.

Roman Mars consults former British Museum director Neil MacGregor about his new project, A History of the United States in 100 Objects.

This episode explores the history and cultural impact of the missing children milk carton campaign, sparked by the 1982 disappearance of Johnny Gosch.

This episode of *Family Lore*, hosted by Lloyd Lockridge, investigates the story of Charles Frederick Page, an enslaved-born Louisiana man who patented an airship design before the Wright Brothers.

This episode explores how animal symbols shape American environmental attitudes, contrasting the enduring teddy bear with the failed "Billy Possum" mascot for President Taft.

Roman Mars interviews philosopher C.

Host Roman Mars and guest Jack Hitt explore the life of James Otis, a fiery lawyer whose 1764 pamphlet argued against British search warrants and…

This episode explores the history of TAT-8, the first transatlantic fiber optic cable, which revolutionized global telecommunications by proving fiber optics superior to satellites.

This episode examines the 1984 Bernie Goetz subway shooting, where Goetz shot four Black teenagers, sparking a national debate on vigilante justice.

This episode explores the hidden economic strategy behind the 50 State Quarters program, revealing how the U.

This episode explores how Noah Webster’s Blue-Back Speller, originally intended to forge a white American identity, became a vital tool for Black liberation.

This episode explores the controversial history of the vuvuzela during the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

This episode explores the life of Thaddeus Lowe, an eccentric inventor who pioneered military ballooning during the Civil War after a failed attempt at overnight mail delivery.

This episode explores the obscure golden age of 1980s and 90s karaoke music videos produced by Pioneer for Laserdiscs.

Host Roman Mars and historian Dr.

Host Chris Berube explores Canada’s "CanCon" policy, which mandated radio stations play 30% Canadian music to build a domestic industry.

Historian Daniel Immerwahr joins Roman Mars to explore how the standardization of the screw thread helped establish an "invisible empire" for the United States.

Host Thomas Goetz explores the history of ivermectin, from its discovery as a Nobel Prize-winning treatment for parasitic diseases like river…

Host Roman Mars and historian Jill Lepore explore the "Century Safe," a time capsule sealed in 1876 and opened by President Ford in 1976.

Sean Cole explores the complex, regulated world of pharmaceutical brand naming, featuring insights from Scott Piergrosi of Brand Institute and veteran namer Arlene Tech.

Roman Mars introduces "A History of the United States in 100 Objects," a new series from 99% Invisible and BBC Studios.

Hosts Roman Mars and Chris Berube explore "inshittification," a term coined by Corey Doctorow describing how digital platforms degrade user experience to profit corporations.

Roman Mars explores the concept of world citizenship through the story of Gary, who renounced his nationality to live as a stateless person.

Roman Mars and Elizabeth Jo analyze Articles 6 and 7 of the US Constitution, focusing on the Supremacy Clause’s role in federal preemption.

This episode explores Co-op City, the world’s largest housing cooperative in the Bronx, and its origins in the mid-20th century.

This 99% Invisible episode explores Major League Baseball’s introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, a robot umpire technology.