Paranormal Technology

Paranormal Technology

Author: History Hit October 30, 2022 Duration: 41:01

Welcome to Patented-Gone-Paranormal!! Thomas Edison tried to make a telephone that called the spirit world. One of the pioneers of radio believed he could talk with his dead son through the 'Ether'.


Technology might seem the antithesis of the spirit world. But just at that point in our history when technology began to dominate our way of life, it also sprouted supernatural arms and legs.


Spiritualism emerged in the middle of the nineteenth century. A new form of an old belief that it is possible to communicate with the dead.


And from the beginning it was deeply meshed in the new technologies that were emerging in the Victorian era and changing the way people saw the world.Ghostly photographs, haunted typewriters, spirit voices from the radio, paranormal podcasts even?


My guest today is Efram Sera-Shriar who studies how the occult intersects with science and is the author of a new book Psychic Investigators: Anthropology, Modern Spiritualism, and Credible Witnessing in the Late Victorian Age.


Produced by Freddy Chick. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Executive Producer: Charlotte Long.


With thanks to Denna Cartamkhoob and Tom Chick


If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code PATENTED for a free trial, plus 50% off your first three months' subscription. To download, go to Android or Apple store.


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Dallas Campbell guides you through the fascinating and often overlooked backstories of the objects and ideas that shaped our world in Patented: History of Inventions. This isn't just a dry recounting of dates and blueprints; it's a deep dive into the human drama behind innovation. You'll hear about accidental breakthroughs, the forgotten figures whose contributions were sidelined, and the clever-sometimes dubious-marketing that turned an idea into a household name. From questioning the true legacy of figures like Thomas Edison to uncovering the surprising connection between foundational garments and space exploration, each episode unpacks these narratives with a sense of curiosity and wit. Produced by History Hit, the podcast brings in historians, scientists, and specialists to add depth and context, transforming every tale into a compelling detective story. Tune in for a consistently engaging exploration that reveals how luck, persistence, and sheer human ingenuity collide to create the fabric of modern life. The result is a listening experience that changes the way you look at the ordinary world around you, one remarkable story at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Patented: History of Inventions
Podcast Episodes
Nanotechnology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:58
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Wernher Von Braun: Nazi Father of Rocket Science [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:01
Wernher von Braun launched America's space programme, and took Apollo 11 to the moon. He was also a Nazi member who served in the SS, and developed the lethal V-2 rocket bomb.He helped America progress in the Cold War, b…
Digital Calculators [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:56
What did humans do before calculators? How big was the very first electronic calculator? And what do monkey bones have to do with the history?Dallas Campbell is joined by Keith Houston to talk about the rise and reign of…
Oppenheimer: Inventor of the Atomic Bomb [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:35
Robert Oppenheimer was the father of the atomic bomb - a weapon of unprecedented power, which, when dropped on Japan, would end WWII and would change the course of history. While some perceived the bomb as inhumane and o…
Coca Cola: A Backyard Invention [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:36
Was Coca Cola originally made with Cocaine? Did Coca Cola invent Santa? Who knows the Coca Cola recipe? Dallas is joined by Bart Elmore, an award-winning Professor and Writer who investigates the impact of big business o…
Fritz Haber: Inventor of Poisonous Gas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:04
Fritz Haber is an undisputed genius and is considered one of the most brilliant minds of the 20th Century. He’s an incredibly complex person, who has given so much to the world, but whether his inventions and intentions…
Inventing Hello Kitty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:44
She’s the most famous cat’s in the world. She’s definitely the most expensive. She’s worth a cool $84.5 Billion. She’s none other than Hello Kitty! In the final episode of our mini series on Japanese Inventions, Dallas i…
Thermos Flask: A Hot and Cold History  [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:59
Isn’t it mind-blowing that a thermos flask can keep your drink hot or cold for 8 hours, despite what’s happening in the climate around you? A real sip of relief really/ But who invented this incredibly helpful concept of…
The Walkman: The First Intimate Technology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:44
Think about how intimate our relationship with technology is. In today’s day and age, it’s almost impossible to function in the modern world without it. Believe or not, this intimate relationship with technology actually…
Chewing Gum: From the Aztecs to Avocados [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:18
Spearmint, peppermint, double-bubble. You may think that chewing gum is a modern invention, when in fact we've been chewing the stuff since the year 200. Both the product and the flavour have improved immensely over almo…