One of the coolest things humans have ever figured out is how to use steam as power. It made the Industrial Revolution possible and even today, 88% of America's electricty comes from steam turbines.
AI Summary
# Stuff You Should Know Podcast Summary
On this episode, Josh and Chuck dive deep into the fascinating history of steam power technology, tracing it from ancient Roman mathematician Hero's theoretical steam-powered devices all the way through to the Industrial Revolution. They explore how brilliant inventors like Thomas Newcomen, James Watt, and Richard Trevethick built upon each other's innovations to create increasingly efficient engines that literally transformed society. The hosts walk you through the evolution from early pressure cookers to powerful locomotives and steamboats, showing how necessity, material science improvements, and relentless tinkering combined to harness the incredible power of pressurized water vapor and change the world forever.
Better Off Dead...
1985
1h 37m
★ 6.6
"Remember Better Off Dead? Yeah, sure. That was the ski movie of sorts, in part. — Chuck mentioned Better Off Dead as an example of 1980s ski movies, referencing its cultural significance."
— Chuck
Clash of the Titans
1981
1h 58m
★ 6.9
"that little robot steam bird in there? The first movie, I mean? Yeah, the original one with Harry Hamlin. — Chuck mentioned the original Clash of the Titans film when discussing Hero's theoretical steam-powered bird invention."
— Chuck
Red Dawn
1984
1h 54m
★ 6.3
"You can't just come along and be like, oh, look, another red dawn poke button, you know? — Josh used Red Dawn as an example of a nostalgia reference he refuses to engage with without conscious choice."
— Josh
The Three Stooges
1934
★ 8.0
"it's going to go spin around in an axis, like curly on a shoulder on the floor from the three stooges. — Chuck compared the spinning motion of Hero's steam-powered sphere to Curly from The Three Stooges spinning on the floor."
— Chuck
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