Short Stuff: Paperclips

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck dive into the surprisingly complex history of the humble paperclip, uncovering a tangled web of inventors, patents, and misconceptions about who actually created this everyday office staple. They trace the journey from medieval ribbon-binding techniques through the late 1800s when multiple inventors around the world were tinkering with wire-based paper fasteners, and explain how the simple gem paperclip design we all know today became the worldwide standard despite never actually being patented. Along the way, they reveal fascinating details like how Norwegian paperclips became symbols of resistance during Nazi occupation, the various design flaws that plague the gem clip even today, and how companies still receive letters from people convinced they've finally cracked the code on the perfect paperclip.