How Silly Putty Works

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck dive into the fascinating origin story of Silly Putty, tracing its journey from a failed World War II rubber substitute to one of America's most beloved toys. They explore how a General Electric chemist's attempt to create synthetic rubber for the war effort accidentally led to the creation of this bouncing, stretchy substance that would captivate both adults and children. The hosts reveal the surprising twists and turns of how Silly Putty went from laboratory curiosity to cocktail party novelty to global phenomenon, all thanks to some clever marketing and a perfectly timed mention in The New Yorker magazine.