Peripherals
Microphones, macro pads, Bluetooth devices
32 episodes
#3885: The Moving Trolley That Ran Away
When your loaded trolley rolls off on a slope, wheel locks aren't a nice-to-have — they're a necessity.
#3869: How a Bendy Stick Transmits Torque
The surprising engineering inside flexible screwdriver extensions and how they transmit torque around obstacles.
#3865: The Spudger Problem: Thin vs Strong
Why pry tools bend and what materials science says about the perfect spudger.
#3715: The Head-Mounted Tool Belt
What if we moved our wallets, power banks, and speakers from our pockets to our heads?
#3601: The All-Day Headset Unicorn: 12-Hour Mic & Comfort
One device, all day, great microphone, comfortable enough to forget. What actually exists for 12-hour voice work?
#3454: Bluetooth Range Lies: How to Get Audio Through Concrete Walls
Your phone's Bluetooth antenna can't punch through concrete walls. Here's the dedicated transmitter that can.
#3158: How Consumer Drones Really Talk to Their Controllers
From DJI's OcuSync to military SATCOM and 4G LTE — how drone control links actually work and why they fail.
#3141: How Search Teams Use $500 Torches to See 2km
How SAR teams deploy throwers, flood lights, and beacons as coordinated systems — and the physics that makes 2km throw possible.
#3105: The Four-Hundred-Year-Old Pen That Outperforms Modern Tech
A 400-year-old tool still draws lines thinner than any modern technical pen can manage.
#3103: Refillable Markers: Industrial Ink Chemistry & Nib Selection
How Molotow's modular marker system saves thousands on factory floors with lacquer and oil-based inks.
#3097: Measuring Car Horns: Phone Apps vs. Court Evidence
Can a phone spectrogram app prove which car honked? Usually not — here's what you actually need.
#3081: Laser Tape Measures: What Actually Matters
Time-of-flight vs phase-shift, combined inclinometers, and what your budget actually buys you in accuracy.
#3079: NFC vs UHF RFID: What Actually Works on Fabric
Why NFC tags peel off fabric and how UHF RFID solves it — plus what hardware you actually need.
#3065: Why Orange Markers Outlast Yellow and White
Orange markers last 5-7x longer outdoors than yellow. The secret is in the crystal structure of the pigment.
#3049: Why Your Screwdriver Strips Screws (It's Not You)
The real difference between a $3 screwdriver and a $12 one isn't marketing — it's metallurgy and tip tolerance.
#2974: How Safety Vests Actually Reflect Light
Glass beads vs. microprisms, ANSI classes, and the physics of staying visible at night.
#2964: The Physics of Tiny Speakers: How 46mm Fools Your Ears
How a 46mm driver uses psychoacoustic tricks to fake bass — and why it’s accidentally perfect for podcasts.
#2937: Why Your Phone-to-Computer Transfer Takes Forever
The cable, hub, or port you're using is probably the bottleneck. Here's how to fix it.
#2885: How to Choose Your First Real Drill
Voltage numbers are misleading. Here’s what actually matters when buying a drill that will last.
#2818: The Connector Built for War Zones
The chunky military connectors in control centers aren't USB. Here's what they are, and how to use them on a laptop.
#2592: The Market That Never Went Away
From IBM terminals to Stream Decks — how macro keyboards evolved under the radar for decades.
#2585: The Pristine Key Namespace Nobody Uses
How unused keyboard keys, custom firmware, and layered macros can transform your workflow.
#2364: The $1000 Military Clock You Can Build for $30
Learn how to build a precise dual-timezone clock using an ESP32 microcontroller, LCD displays, and USB-C power.
#2330: Offloading Attention: The Case for Ambient Notifications
How USB lights and DIY setups are rethinking notifications to reduce screen overload and tap into your peripheral vision.
#2270: How Your Laptop Charger Conquered the World
The heavy travel transformer is extinct, thanks to a clever engineering revolution inside every power brick. We explain the tech and which devices ...
#2268: The Universal Power Cord's Quiet Masterpiece
A deep dive into the humble IEC power cable—the C13 and C14 connectors. We explore the history, physics, and surprising engineering that makes this...
#2256: The One-Charger Dream: Specs, Trade-offs, and Reality
Drowning in chargers? We break down the specs for a single, powerful desktop charging station that can handle laptops, phones, and more—and where t...
#2235: What IP68 Actually Means (And Doesn't)
IP ratings, MIL-STD-810, drop tests—consumer gear is covered in durability labels. But what do they actually guarantee?
#2101: Why USB-C Handshakes Hate Solar Power
Cheap solar chargers often fail to charge devices due to USB-C handshake issues and heat inefficiencies.
#1960: The Microscopic Venetian Blinds in Your Screen
A coffee shop glance reveals a black slab, not your data. Discover the microscopic Venetian blinds making it possible.
#1935: The Charger Graveyard: How to Avoid Buying a Fire Hazard
Stop plugging in mystery chargers! Learn how to spot safe, smart chargers that won't fry your batteries—or your house.
#1875: Why TOSLINK Beats USB for Noisy Mini PCs
Is optical really better than USB? We break down the noise, jitter, and bandwidth trade-offs in your home audio setup.