About 2,400 years ago Aristotle mentions the use of diving bells, apparatuses that convey divers to the bottom of the sea -- or at least below the surface of the water -- and allows them to breathe -- at least until the air runs out. Learn about the physics of this clever and ancient invention and how it's been used to sabotage enemy boats and build the Brooklyn Bridge.
In this fascinating episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck dive deep into the surprisingly ancient history of diving bells - those iron and wooden contraptions that allowed people to breathe underwater thousands of years before modern scuba gear existed. They explore how these early underwater vessels evolved from simple overturned cauldrons mentioned by Aristotle to complex pressurized chambers used to build bridges and salvage shipwrecks, while sharing some hair-raising stories about the deadly risks faced by early underwater explorers. The hosts also connect this vintage technology to a remarkable modern survival story involving a man who lived for 60 hours in an accidental diving bell situation.
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