Season 9
23 episodes · 2022
1Animal Power
Our curator of agriculture & the environment discusses animal-powered farms with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us tiny sensors saving snails, a lifesaving invention to stop choking and a robot that is keeping beaches clean.
2Driver Education
Our curator of transportation discusses the evolution of driver education with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a rock climbing treadmill wall, an invention for making plant milk at home and shipping container homes designed to keep families safe from storms.
3Tether Car Racing
Our curator of transportation discusses tether cars with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a mosquito repellent patch, a balloon that can take you to the edge of space and a puzzle feeder for pets.
4Regenerative Agriculture
Our curator of curator of agriculture & the environment discusses natural fertilizers with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us flower turbines, water absorbing concrete and a theater with perfect acoustics.
5Board Games
Our curator of domestic life discusses the evolution of board games with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us crop dusting drones, a wood alternative made from kombucha brewing waste and a tactile camera for the blind.
7Porches
Our curator of historic structures & landscapes discusses the history of porches with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us how dog nose prints can find a lost pet, luggage designed to grow, and planting mushrooms on your kitchen counter.
8Libraries
Our librarian discusses the evolution of libraries with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a co-pilot for the blind, the designer reimagining products in your home, and a scooter that is built for trails.
9Tinsmithing
Our crafts and trades program manager discusses tinsmithing with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a company recycling glass into sand, a wristband designed to stop motion sickness, and a bike that turns into a bed.
10Organizing Knowledge
Our librarian discusses the organization of knowledge with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a high-tech handheld musical instrument, digital screens replacing metal license plates, and learning through hypnosis.
11Parking Meters
Our curator of transportation discusses the history of parking meters with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us an innovative way to hang wallpaper, an AI-enabled breathing trainer, and a bedside lamp designed to help babies get better sleep.
12Porches
Our curator of historic structures & landscapes discusses the history of porches with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a lifesaving invention to stop choking, a theater with perfect acoustics, and shipping container homes designed to keep families safe from storms.
13Women-founded Potteries
Our curator of decorative arts discusses the women of art pottery with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a smart sprinkler that conforms to each lawn's shape, the company converting vintage cars to electric and updates on our past innovators.
14Idioms
One of our associate curators discusses the origins of idioms with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us an app designed to read for us, a microphone blocker for smart devices and a wireless electronic brake system for inline skates.
15Paper Dresses
Our curator of domestic life discusses the paper dress trend with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us hair clippers with a built-in camera for DIY cuts, a headset designed to relieve stress, and noise cancelling earbuds made for sleeping.
16Ruth Adler Schnee
Our curator of design discusses a pioneering textile designer with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a tiny dog vest created to stop predators, a high-tech bus shelter, and aftermarket dash cams designed for safer driving.
17Automobiles & Women’s Suffrage
One of our associate curators discusses the automobile's role in the women’s suffrage movement with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a high-tech chess trainer, an update on the inventor of the "Hollow Flashlight," and a waterproof bag designed to protect cars during floods.
19Glenn Curtiss
One of our associate curators discusses motorcycle and aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us the autonomous seacraft collecting hurricane data, an under-bed clothes hamper, and a compact wind turbine designed to charge electronic devices outdoors.
20Technology as Furniture
Our curator of decorative arts discusses technology as furniture with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a gift box that explodes with fun, a portable active wheelchair, and the way electric utilities shield conductors from lightning.
21Snow Globes
Our retired senior curator and curator of public life discusses the history of snow globes with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us autonomous race cars, the teen who invented a tiny earthquake warning system, and self-healing concrete.
23Combines
Our curator of agriculture and the environment discusses combines with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us high tech solar shingles for rooftops, a vibrating smoke alarm for those with hearing impairments, and floor tiles that generate power.
24Serial Publications
Our librarian discusses serial publications with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us custom finger prostheses, a biosensor designed to detect sweat loss, and a folding cartop tent.
25Byrd Arctic Expedition
Our curator of transportation discusses Richard Byrd's North Pole flight with Host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a method of stocking fish from the air, a line of hybrid locking devices, and updates from past innovators.
26Best of - Board Games
Our curator of domestic life discusses the evolution of board games with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us tiny sensors designed to save snails, mushrooms grown on kitchen counters, and a device that captures carbon from the atmosphere.