How GPS Works

Ever wonder how your phone always seems to know exactly where you are, down to the foot? This episode dives into the surprisingly elegant science behind GPS, tracing its roots from Cold War satellite tracking and a tragic 1983 airline disaster to the clever math of trilateration that pinpoints your location using orbiting satellites. Along the way, Josh and Chuck explore how accurate GPS really is, its massive economic impact, and the surprisingly vulnerable ways this system we all depend on can be tricked or thrown off — plus a heartfelt tribute to HowStuffWorks founder Marshall Brain.