meta dict | text listlengths 124 216 |
|---|---|
{
"things": [
"Goalie Pads",
"Lapel Pins",
"Cardboard Boxes",
"Crystal Wine Glasses"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Goalie pads...",
"Lapel pins...",
"Cardboard boxes...",
"And crystal wineglasses.",
"In 1896, george merritt of the canadian hockey team winnipeg victorias was the first-ever hockey goaltender to wear pads to protect his legs.",
"He and those who followed him used pads ... |
{
"things": [
"Dinnerware",
"Air Brake Tanks",
"Frosted Cereal",
"Fossils"
]
} | [
"Restaurant dinnerware brings a lot to the table.",
"It's known for rugged good looks, it holds up to heavy use and repeated cleaning in commercial dishwashers, and its design reflects the restaurant's theme and adds presentation value to the food.",
"Most people appreciate the effort that goes into a fine meal... |
{
"things": [
"LED Tubes",
"Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars",
"Robotic Medication Dispensers"
]
} | [
"L.e.d. tubes are designed so they can easily replace fluorescent tubes that are inside overhead commercial light fixtures.",
"Unlike traditional incandescent and fluorescent lighting, a light-emitting diode produces light through a microchip.",
"It lasts twice as long and uses half the electricity.",
"These ... |
{
"things": [
"Individual Transporters",
"Canoes",
"Electric Guitars"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Individual transporters...",
"Cedar canoes...",
"And electric guitars.",
"It's the world's first self-balancing, electrically powered personal transportation device.",
"Built-in sensors and an onboard computer keep this $6,000 vehicle upright as it zooms around, up to thr... |
{
"things": [
"Tea",
"Roof Finials",
"Artificial Flowers",
"Alloy Wheels"
]
} | [
"After water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world.",
"The different types are determined by the degree to which the producer lets the harvested leaves oxidize before drying them.",
"Green tea, for example, is barely fermented, whereas black tea is greatly fermented.",
"Oolong falls somewhere in bet... |
{
"things": [
"Fiberglass Insulation",
"Wooden Ducks",
"Gumball Machines",
"Exhaust Systems"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Chains...",
"Bagels...",
"And vinyl records.",
"Chains are as indispensable today as they were thousands of years ago.",
"Ancient historians refer to the use of metal chains for jewelry, shackles, and construction.",
"Today, chains are used for those very same purposes ... |
{
"things": [
"Retractable Cords",
"Wood Frame Sports Cars",
"Sushi"
]
} | [
"Retractile cords were invented for telephone handsets in the late 1930s, and ever since, these coiled cords have been making a lot of great connections, from medical equipment to construction tools to industrial machinery.",
"They keep in a lot of things plugged in, in a very neat way.",
"Retractile cords stre... |
{
"things": [
"Escalators",
"Kevlar Canoes",
"Goat Cheese",
"Disc Music Boxes"
]
} | [
"Every day, millions of people around the world use escalators in places like shopping malls and airports.",
"Escalators can move 100 or more people just as easily as 1.",
"Driven by a motor, these moving stairways make it very convenient for people to get around.",
"Riding an escalator is easy, but building ... |
{
"things": [
"Classic Car Gauges",
"Chocolate Marble Cake",
"Ghillie Kettles",
"Rubber Gloves"
]
} | [
"They may have stopped making the car.",
"But they still manufacture replacement gauges that look just like the originals.",
"After all, modern digital instruments just wouldn't look right in the dashboard of a classic vehicle.",
"Technicians give the mechanism a bit of an update, but the look is all retro.",... |
{
"things": [
"Tissues",
"Travel Trailers",
"Slippers",
"Motorcycle Helmets"
]
} | [
"The origin of facial tissue may be japanese.",
"A 17th-century historical account describes japanese blowing their noses in small, soft papers, then throwing them on the ground.",
"Modern-day tissues were first marketed in the early 1920s as a disposable cloth for wiping off cold cream.",
"While some sneezer... |
{
"things": [
"Throttle Bodies",
"Limestone Fireplace Mantels",
"Candied Fruit & Fruit Jellies",
"Linen Ukuleles"
]
} | [
"today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Throttle bodies.",
"Limestone fireplace mantels.",
"Candied fruit and fruit jellies.",
"And linen ukuleles.",
"the throttle body is a device that allows the engine of a fuel-injected vehicle to breathe.",
"Pressing on the accelerator pedal opens the throttle body's blad... |
{
"things": [
"Automatic Sliding Doors",
"Gin",
"Firearms Restoration"
]
} | [
"And...",
"Automatic sliding doors are the norm at most supermarkets and large retailers.",
"Sensors detect your approach and prompt the doors to slide open.",
"They open when you arrive and close when you depart, which is convenient when your hands are full.",
"These automatic sliding doors are custom-made... |
{
"things": [
"Carburetors",
"Air Conditioners",
"Sugar"
]
} | [
"Cars that don't have fuel-injection systems have carburetors.",
"They're an integral part of the engine that mixes air and fuel in specific proportions, vaporizes them, then sends the mixture to the intake manifold.",
"The manifold transfers the mixture to the engine cylinders, where combustion occurs.",
"Fi... |
{
"things": [
"Chemical Tank Pressure Vents",
"Candy Wafers",
"Food Trucks",
"Traditional Ropes"
]
} | [
"Today, on \"how it's made\"...",
"It's common for pressure to build up inside chemical tanker trucks during transport.",
"Special vents regulate that pressure, preventing any unwanted gas build-up, which could lead to an explosion.",
"Pressure relief vents are standard equipment on chemical tanker trucks.",
... |
{
"things": [
"Armored Vehicles",
"Tension Fabric Buildings",
"Rowers",
"Sculpture Enlargements"
]
} | [
"The first armored car was developed in the late 19th century.",
"First used as scouting vehicles, they quickly became a source of protection in modern warfare.",
"Today, private armored vehicles are made for celebrities, c.e.o.s, and government officials.",
"This armored s.u.v. looks like an ordinary car, bu... |
{
"things": [
"Cufflinks",
"Blueberry Turnovers",
"Dashboards",
"Earthenware Pottery"
]
} | [
"Cufflinks are a fashion trend with definite staying power.",
"They've been holding shirt cuffs together since the 17th century.",
"Early versions were buttons linked by short chains, an improvement over the ribbons and pins the gentleman of the day had been using to fasten their sleeves.",
"Clothes may make ... |
{
"things": [
"Tapioca Pudding",
"Snow Ploughs",
"Paddle Boats",
"Fibre Cement Siding"
]
} | [
"Tapioca pudding is a textural fusion of creaminess and chewy tapioca pearls.",
"The recipe is at least a century old, and there are conflicting theories about when and where it was invented-- britain or the united states.",
"With its distinctive chewiness, it brings something entirely different to the table.",... |
{
"things": [
"Hospital Laundry",
"Brass Instrument Restoration",
"Horse Replicas",
"Excavation Buckets"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Hospitals generate a lot of dirty laundry, from patient gowns and sheets to cleaning rags.",
"Some facilities do the washing in house.",
"But to free up hospital space, some send theirs out to industrial-size laundry operations that deal in high-volume with bigger and better ... |
{
"things": [
"Curling Stones",
"Refrigerators",
"Aluminum Baseball Bats",
"Opalescent Glass"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Curling stones...",
"Refrigerators...",
"Aluminum baseball bats...",
"And opalescent glass.",
"The sport of curling is a combination of shuffleboard, billiards, and bowling on ice.",
"Players aim a large stone at a target while trying to knock the opponents' stones away... |
{
"things": [
"Indy Steering Wheels",
"Mixed Salad",
"Wind Turbines"
]
} | [
"The indy steering wheel isn't just for steering.",
"It's the control center for the racecar, replacing the dashboard.",
"This incredible steering wheel is also detachable to allow the driver to enter and exit the cockpit quickly and easily.",
"It's, quite simply, designed for speed.",
"The indy steering wh... |
{
"things": [
"Bamboo Bicycles",
"Chainsaw Art",
"Breath Mints",
"Manual Motorcycle Transmissions"
]
} | [
"The bamboo bicycle was invented in england in the 19th century, and the idea never really went anywhere until now.",
"The modern bamboo bicycle is a highly engineered piece of work-- one that takes advantage of bamboo's steely sturdiness and its ability to absorb vibrations.",
"At a time when bicycles are ofte... |
{
"things": [
"Pro Hockey Sticks",
"Bronzed Shoes",
"Treadmills",
"Computers"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Pro hockey sticks.",
"Bronzed baby shoes.",
"Treadmills.",
"And handheld computers.",
"Today's cutting-edge hockey sticks are made primarily of graphite, a strong yet lightweight material woven from carbon.",
"Professional hockey players have their graphite sticks custo... |
{
"things": [
"Game Calls",
"Mayonnaise",
"Traditional Razor Blades",
"Butterfly Safety Razors"
]
} | [
"The invention of mechanized game calls in the middle of the 19th century allowed hunters to mimic the sounds of their prey.",
"Before these devices came along, hunters whistled and made noises with their hands to lure birds or animals into shooting range, and their efforts weren't always on the mark.",
"whethe... |
{
"things": [
"Folding Kayaks",
"Piñatas",
"Garbage Trucks",
"Ceramic Composite Brake Discs"
]
} | [
"The folding kayak is a seaworthy vessel that can be disassembled and stuffed into a duffel bag.",
"This boat-in-a-bag concept was developed in germany a century ago.",
"It's a good fit for the modern traveler's lifestyle because it can be stowed in a car trunk, checked on to a plane, or stashed in the condo cl... |
{
"things": [
"Prams",
"Factory"
]
} | [
"When it comes to choosing baby's vehicle, as with any set of wheels, there's no shortage of choices.",
"Some parents prefer sporty models, while others opt for the elegance of a classic carriage.",
"Either way, it's a stylish experience baby will likely sleep through.",
"The classic perambulator, or \"pram\"... |
{
"things": [
"Golf Balls",
"Furniture Handles",
"Parking Meters",
"Room Dividers"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Golf balls.",
"Furniture handles.",
"Parking meters.",
"And room dividers.",
"Different types of golf balls deliver different results.",
"Highly skilled golfers often use what's called a wound ball-- a ball made of rubber thread wound tightly over a core-- because its f... |
{
"things": [
"Balloons",
"Wallpaper",
"Frozen French Fries",
"Incandescent Light Bulbs"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Balloons...",
"Wallpaper...",
"Frozen french fries...",
"And incandescent light bulbs.",
"Balloons are used to mark special occasions or to brighten up a day for young and old people alike.",
"But balloons weren't always so delightful.",
"In earlier days, they were ma... |
{
"things": [
"Spinning Reels",
"Plasma Protein Therapies",
"3D Cups",
"Stainless Steel Beer Kegs"
]
} | [
"Spinning reels are also called fixed spool reels.",
"That's because the spool on this fishing reel doesn't rotate.",
"Instead, a device around the spool does the spinning, which winds the fishing line.",
"The advantage of using a non-spinning spool is there's no backlash of the line.",
"A spinning reel pro... |
{
"things": [
"Abalone Collagen",
"Digital"
]
} | [
"Abalone is an edible mollusk.",
"Its shell has a multicolored iridescent lining that's been used since ancient times to decorate jewelry and other prized objects.",
"More recently, abalone has been tapped as a source of collagen, a protein that supports the structure of bones, connective tissues, and skin.",
... |
{
"things": [
"Ropes",
"Billiard Tables",
"Sailboards",
"Cymbals"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Ropes...",
"Billiard tables...",
"Sailboards...",
"And cymbals.",
"Years ago, making rope was a time-consuming process.",
"They stretched yarn 700 to 1,000 feet-- sometimes down alleys-- and secured it on hooks.",
"Then, they turned wheels to rotate the hooks, twistin... |
{
"things": [
"Solid Tires",
"Cheesecake",
"Canoe Paddles",
"Globes"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made,\" solid tires...",
"Cheesecake...",
"Canoe paddles...",
"And globes.",
"Solid rubber tires are designed to conquer the toughest turf, the kind of rough terrain found at construction sites, landfills, and mining operations.",
"These places are full of hazards that would flatten o... |
{
"things": [
"Glass Sculptures",
"Racing Pulley Systems",
"Inductors",
"Medicine Balls"
]
} | [
"the use of glass as an artistic medium dates back to ancient egypt.",
"Despite the obvious fragility of glass sculptures, this art form has an enduring appeal.",
"The transparency of glass often has a ghost-like quality.",
"They're tangible works of art that are skillfully crafted.",
"With this glass sculp... |
{
"things": [
"Thermometers",
"Produce Scales",
"Aircraft Painting",
"Luxury Chocolates"
]
} | [
"You can sense the difference between hot and cold, but a thermometer puts a number on it.",
"The concept is simple-- heat causes liquid to expand, forcing it up a glass column with a scale attached to it.",
"Italy's galileo came up with the idea in 1593.",
"Incredibly, these century-old thermometers can stil... |
{
"things": [
"Chinese"
]
} | [
"Classic chinese furniture is made of rich, lacquered woods with intricate carvings and ornate artwork in mother-of-pearl inlay.",
"For centuries, the specialized skills required to craft these functional works of art have been passed down from generation to generation.",
"The style of this striking rosewood si... |
{
"things": [
"CCD Semiconductors",
"Airline Meals",
"Paper Cups",
"Trumpets"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made,\" ccd semiconductors...",
"Airline meals...",
"Paper cups...",
"And trumpets.",
"A ccd semiconductor is the image sensor in a digital camera or camcorder.",
"When you snap the shutter or press record, you expose the ccd to patterns of light.",
"It captures them electronically ... |
{
"things": [
"Car Headlamps",
"Directional Drills",
"Pet Grooming Combs",
"Stained Glass Restoration"
]
} | [
"Headlights aren't just functional.",
"They're often the first design feature that catches the eye of a potential buyer.",
"Unlike the metal and glass versions of the past, today's headlights are made of durable plastics that can be creatively molded into a multitude of shapes.",
"In addition to the main beam... |
{
"things": [
"Glass Cookware",
"Soap Bars",
"Steel Drums",
"Firefighter Uniforms"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Glass cookware...",
"Soap bars...",
"Steel drums...",
"And firefighter uniforms.",
"Pyrex is an idea cooked up by the wife of a glass-industry scientist in 1913.",
"She believed the tough glass used in lantern globes would be great for baking cakes in, so she baked one ... |
{
"things": [
"Blast Doors",
"Lipstick",
"Artificial Palm Trees",
"Brass Plaques"
]
} | [
"With a black market for firearms and terrorism a worldwide threat, armed forces need to protect their munitions from getting into the wrong hands.",
"Weapons are often stored in earth-covered concrete bunkers that have special doors.",
"These mammoth steel doors are designed to prevent anyone from blasting the... |
{
"things": [
"Pocket Knives",
"Soapstone Products",
"Electric Pole Transformers",
"Snowshoes"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Pocketknives...",
"Soapstone products...",
"Electric pole transformers...",
"And traditional snowshoes.",
"Pocketknives can be used to cut rope or slice an orange.",
"Just unfold the blade, and you're good to go.",
"Folding knives actually date back to ancient rome.",... |
{
"things": [
"Rock Crushers",
"Fabric Lampshades",
"Cake Sprinkles",
"Steam Irons"
]
} | [
"Rock crushers are brawny machines designed to smash big boulders to bits.",
"The broken rock is then used to make asphalt pavement, concrete building foundations, ceramic tile, and many other things.",
"Modern society is largely built on the crushing strength of these powerful machines.",
"If there's one inv... |
{
"things": [
"Crosscut Saws",
"Haggis",
"Collectible Firearms"
]
} | [
"Chain saws and other machines may dominate forestry, but the human-powered crosscut saw still has a basic appeal.",
"Pushed and pulled through the trunks of trees, its jagged blade can handle any job, that is, until the person operating it runs out of gas.",
"Making a crosscut saw is an exact science that date... |
{
"things": [
"Hydroponic Lettuce",
"Construction Wood",
"Recycling",
"Fishing Flies"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Hydroponic lettuce, construction wood, recycling, and fishing flies.",
"Bet you thought the only way to grow lettuce was in a garden.",
"Well, vegetables don't necessarily need soil.",
"They can also grow in water, provided it contains the proper nutrients and fertilizers."... |
{
"things": [
"Plastic Injection Moulds",
"Automotive Oil Filters",
"Filing Cabinets",
"Blown Glass"
]
} | [
"If you take a closer look at the products around you, you'll notice that many are made of parts that have been assembled together.",
"One way factories make product parts is by melting material such as metal, rubber, or plastic, then pouring or injecting them into molds.",
"To make a plastic part for a product... |
{
"things": [
"Educational Robots",
"Boxing Belts",
"Boat Radar Mounts",
"European Style Radiators"
]
} | [
"Artificial intelligence is an area of computer science focused on creating intelligent machines that work and react to humans.",
"The term \"robot\" first appeared in 1920.",
"It comes from the czech word \"robota,\" meaning \"forced labor\".",
"This facility makes a type of educational robot equipped with a... |
{
"things": [
"Recycled Skateboard Guitars",
"Solar Street Lights",
"Dolls"
]
} | [
"With flips and jumps part of the sport, active skateboarders damage their decks beyond repair every few months.",
"But instead of tossing the ruined skateboards into landfills, their being reclaimed for a different kind of trick-- a transformation into electric guitars.",
"From skateboards to fretboards, it ma... |
{
"things": [
"Table Tennis Tables",
"Plastic Model Kits",
"Light Microscopes"
]
} | [
"Table tennis is more commonly known as ping-pong.",
"Folding table-tennis tables are popular in homes and kept outdoors because they can be closed up and rolled out of the way.",
"These tables can also fold down on just one side, allowing for solo play.",
"This high-end outdoor table-tennis table has an alum... |
{
"things": [
"Temporary Metal Fences",
"Asphalt Shingles",
"Expanded Polystyrene Products",
"Hard Candies"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Temporary metal fences...",
"Asphalt shingles...",
"Expanded polystyrene products...",
"And hard candies.",
"Temporary metal fences securely cordon off dangerous areas on construction sites.",
"At open-air events such as concerts and festivals, they mark the perimeter a... |
{
"things": [
"Mouth"
]
} | [
"Today, on \"how it's made\"...",
"Mouth-blown window glass...",
"Water pumps...",
"Sake...",
"And tweezers.",
"Before machine-made plate glass became popular in the 1920s, window glass was blown by artisans.",
"Today, specialty companies still make window glass the traditional way.",
"While machine-m... |
{
"things": [
"Train Rails",
"Desalinated Water",
"Racing Wheelchairs",
"Parquetry"
]
} | [
"In the early days of the railroad, train rails were made of either cast iron or wrought iron.",
"Cast iron was too brittle and would break easily.",
"Wrought iron was too soft and would wear out too quickly.",
"So steel eventually became and remained the train-rail metal of choice.",
"The train wheel's rim... |
{
"things": [
"Dress Forms",
"Boat Propellers",
"Duvets",
"Faucets"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Dress forms...",
"Boat propellers...",
"Duvets...",
"And faucets.",
"When it comes to dressmaking, a dummy can be a lot of help.",
"These dummies are known as dress forms, and they're full-scale reproductions of the human body.",
"They give seamstresses a form on whic... |
{
"things": [
"Olive Oil",
"Lift Trucks",
"Seamless Rolled Rings",
"Ski Boots"
]
} | [
"The ancient greek poet homer called olive oil \"liquid gold,\" and today a little drizzle can still dazzle.",
"Like fine wine, premium olive oil can bring a complexity of flavors to the table and create flavors to the table and create a real taste sensation.",
"A real taste sensation.",
"The roots of the oli... |
{
"things": [
"Berets",
"Pastis",
"Stationary Bikes"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"When it comes to iconic hats, nothing says french more than the beret, specifically the basque-style beret, as people wear different styles in other countries.",
"The basque beret was traditionally worn by shepherds tending their flocks along the pyrenees mountain range that di... |
{
"things": [
"Tin Whistles",
"Horn Products",
"Formula F Race Cars"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"The distinctive sound of the tin whistle is characteristic of the traditional music of england, ireland, and scotland.",
"When this flute was first manufactured in the mid-19th century, it sold for just a penny, making it affordable and earning its nickname \"the penny whistle\... |
{
"things": [
"Industrial Casters",
"Wedding Cakes",
"Terahertz Spectrometers",
"Racing Catamarans"
]
} | [
"Industrial casters are used to move heavy equipment from one location to another.",
"The wheels make it easy to move mining machinery, large medical devices, or factory carts wherever and whenever it's required.",
"The size of the object determines the size of the casters used to move it.",
"Heavy items need... |
{
"things": [
"Radiators",
"Hatchery Chicks",
"Filo Pastry",
"Cross"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Car radiators...",
"Hatchery chicks...",
"Phyllo dough...",
"And cross-country skis.",
"When the gasoline in a car engine burns, up to 70% of the energy generated converts into heat.",
"A lot of this heat goes out the exhaust system, but much of it stays heating up the ... |
{
"things": [
"Motion Sensors",
"Belt Loaders",
"Pheasant Breeding",
"Diving Helmets"
]
} | [
"Tiny motion sensors known as accelerometers are at the heart of much of today's technology.",
"Built into a smartphone, for example, the sensor detects both movement and the angle at which the phone is being held to trigger the rotation of the screen.",
"This little chip is why a smartphone knows when it has m... |
{
"things": [
"Chocolate Coins",
"Floor Heating Systems",
"Pedal Cars",
"Latex Swords"
]
} | [
"This edible money is a symbolic treat.",
"In some parts of the world, chocolate coins are stuffed in christmas stockings to celebrate the charity of saint nicholas.",
"They're also handed out to jewish children during the festival of hanukkah to teach them the value of money and charity.",
"Chocolate coins d... |
{
"things": [
"Grammy Awards",
"Bicycle Lights",
"Above"
]
} | [
"Today, on \"how it's made\"...",
"In the music industry, winning a grammy is the ultimate accolade.",
"The national academy of recording arts and sciences has been awarding grammys for recording since 1958.",
"Every year, the winners are honored with a golden gramophone trophy.",
"The grammys are to the mu... |
{
"things": [
"Space Pens",
"Reef Aquariums",
"Metal Caskets",
"Composite Bike Wheels"
]
} | [
"The space pen can write in zero gravity, which is why astronauts have used it.",
"It also writes underwater, in extreme heat or cold, or when held upside down.",
"All this is possible due to the pen's ingenious design that keeps ink flowing toward the tip no matter what.",
"The space pen's ink is pressurized... |
{
"things": [
"Cast Iron Tubs",
"Hopi Kachina Dolls",
"Mine Truck Engine",
"Memory Cards"
]
} | [
"An 1880s invention, the cast-iron tub was first marketed in america as a horse trough and a hog scalder, which could also serve as a bathtub.",
"It was soon more popular in the bathroom than the barnyard.",
"It's heat-retaining properties made a long and luxurious soak possible.",
"The cast-iron tub is one i... |
{
"things": [
"Copy Paper",
"Jeans",
"Computers",
"Plate Glass"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Copy paper-- we'll check it out again and again and again...",
"Jeans-- stay tuned for a \"denim-stration\"...",
".computers-- here's some hard data for you...",
"And plate glass-- we promise you full transparency in this report.",
"Computers were supposed to send paper ... |
{
"things": [
"Custom Steering Wheels",
"Aerospace Fuel Lines",
"Apple Pies",
"Household Radiators"
]
} | [
"What do you do when you're the proud owner of an ultra-luxurious vintage automobile that has an original steering wheel that's several miles short of being as elegant as the car?",
"You order yourself a handsome custom-made steering wheel designer to match the vehicle's deluxe interior.",
"From the plain, orig... |
{
"things": [
"Fish Replicas",
"Siren Systems",
"Pre"
]
} | [
"It used to be that you stuffed and mounted that big catch.",
"Nowadays, catch-and-release is the norm, so the trend is to display replicas of the prize fish you caught, photographed, then set free.",
"It's more humane, and you get to brag about the one that didn't get away until you let it.",
"Sports fisherm... |
{
"things": [
"Aluminum Foil",
"Snowboards",
"Contact Lenses",
"Bread"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Aluminum foil...",
"Snowboards...",
"Contact lenses...",
"And bread.",
"Aluminum foil has a multitude of uses, from heating something up in the oven to keeping something cold in the fridge.",
"But have you ever wondered how a huge block of solid aluminum gets transforme... |
{
"things": [
"Champagne Hoods & Foils",
"Pneumatic Systems",
"Espresso Machines",
"Pizza Ovens"
]
} | [
"Champagne toasts are common at weddings, birthdays, and many other special occasions, but if the cork isn't secured properly, it can pop off at the wrong moment.",
"So champagne manufacturers have developed hoods and foils to keep the bottles closed until the right moment.",
"The foil covering that protects th... |
{
"things": [
"Guitar Pickups",
"Heated Furniture",
"Water Well Cylinders",
"Nonconductive Tools"
]
} | [
"Guitar pickups were invented during the time of the big-band era.",
"Jazz music incorporated both guitar and large brass sections.",
"To offset a guitar's mellow tones, a pickup device was developed to amplify the vibration of the guitar's strings, generating a louder sound.",
"The guitar pickup was invented... |
{
"things": [
"Cartridge Blades",
"Chocolate Banana Loaves",
"Vending Machines",
"Dive Computers"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made,\" cartridge blades, chocolate banana loaves, vending machines and dive computers.",
"Developed in the middle of the 20th century, the cartridge blade is an invention with many cutting edges.",
"The plastic cartridge houses up to five razor blades.",
"With multiple blades, fewer shav... |
{
"things": [
"Wooden Utensils",
"Transport Refrigeration Units",
"Moccasins",
"Electronic Impact Drills"
]
} | [
"Wooden utensils may date back to prehistoric times, yet today, they're a popular cutlery option for the modern dinner table.",
"Typically a high-end product, handcrafted by artisans, wooden forks, knives, and spoons appeal to people who are drawn to the organic beauty and warmth of wood.",
"Traditional in mate... |
{
"things": [
"Underwater Robots",
"Lasagne",
"Band Saws",
"Ski & Trekking Poles"
]
} | [
"Robots perform many underwater tasks, which are impossible or too risky for divers to carry out, like collecting samples from the ocean floor for scientific research, exploring shipwrecks, inspecting underwater pipelines, searching for planted explosives, or recovering bodies.",
"This particular underwater robot... |
{
"things": [
"Hollow Disk Pumps",
"Palm Sugar",
"Yachts"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"And...",
"Many industries require pumping a wide variety of liquids.",
"And there are many different kinds of pumps that can do that.",
"One type, the hollow rotary disk pump, uses a rotating disk to create sufficient suction to move thin or thick liquids in a forward or re... |
{
"things": [
"Lacrosse Sticks",
"Frozen Fish Products",
"Flashlights",
"Paintbrushes"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Lacrosse sticks...",
"Frozen fish products...",
"Flashlights...",
"And paintbrushes.",
"Lacrosse is north america's oldest sport.",
"It was back in the 1400s that native people got the ball rolling, playing with a distinctive netted stick.",
"French missionaries decid... |
{
"things": [
"Slate Tiles",
"Hot Dog Carts",
"Garage Door Openers",
"Bicycle Seats"
]
} | [
"Today, on \"how it's made\"...",
"History suggests slate may have first been mined in the roman era, although the earliest confirmed records date back to the early 1700s.",
"Slate tiles were used for general building construction and are still used today for practical and aesthetic purposes.",
"These pieces ... |
{
"things": [
"Straight Razors",
"Black Pudding",
"Steering Wheels",
"Inorganic Pigments"
]
} | [
"In a world dominated by high-tech gadgetry, the low-tech straight razor still gets a lot of face time.",
"It can be reused endlessly, and it has a traditional appeal, one that actually dates back to ancient egypt, when there were straight razors made of solid gold.",
"Shaving with an unguarded super-sharp knif... |
{
"things": [
"Electric Vehicle Charging Stations",
"Grappa",
"Lunar Rover Replicas"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Cars powered by electricity were being developed as early as the 1820s.",
"In recent years, legislative initiatives improved batteries, and accessible methods of recharging have made electric vehicles more popular.",
"Charging stations provide electricity to customers with el... |
{
"things": [
"Firefighter Boots",
"Garden Tools",
"Automated Machines",
"Gypsum Board"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made,\" firefighter boots...",
"Garden tools...",
"Automated machines...",
"And gypsum board.",
"Firefighters need boots they can pull on lightning fast to get to the blaze as quickly as possible.",
"Those boots have to be fire-resistant and waterproof.",
"They have to provide good ... |
{
"things": [
"Artist Brushes",
"DEF Tank Heaters",
"Game Tables",
"Art Glass Wall Sconces"
]
} | [
"An artist's paint brush can have synthetic bristles or natural ones made of animal hair.",
"Which type to use is really a matter of the artist's preference.",
"However, painters often tend to use a natural brush for watercolors, a synthetic brush for acrylics, and either type for oils.",
"These natural-hair ... |
{
"things": [
"Kelp Caviar",
"Luxury Sailboats",
"Dental Crowns",
"High"
]
} | [
"Caviar is made by processing the unfertilized eggs of certain species of fish.",
"For those who love the taste but not the price, there's simulated caviar made of kelp, a type of seaweed.",
"A fraction of the cost, it looks, smells, and tastes similar to the real thing.",
"Unlike fish caviar, the source of k... |
{
"things": [
"Air Filters",
"Billiard Cues",
"Ice Sculptures",
"Suits"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Air filters...",
"Billiard cues...",
"Ice sculptures...",
"And suits.",
"Pollutants in the air can make it tough for you to breathe and function.",
"But pollutants can also affect your car's performance.",
"It's the reason an air filter is standard equipment on intern... |
{
"things": [
"Inflatable Safety Devices",
"Braille Typewriters",
"Carbon"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Inflatable safety devices...",
"Braille typewriters...",
"And carbon-fiber cellos.",
"They're designed to keep your head above water.",
"Inflatable safety devices activate in seconds to buoy you up and keep you afloat until help arrives.",
"You'll find these survival de... |
{
"things": [
"Leather Overnight Bags",
"Horse Exercisers",
"Air Hockey Tables",
"Copper Sculptures"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Leather overnight bags...",
"Horse exercisers...",
"Air hockey tables...",
"And copper sculptures.",
"Whether heading across the country or taking a weekend getaway, people love to travel.",
"Regardless of the destination, it's impossible to leave home without luggage."... |
{
"things": [
"Exercise Bikes",
"Cornish Pasties",
"Pasta Makers",
"Slate Products"
]
} | [
"Exercise bikes can provide a great cardio workout.",
"Their tension settings are equivalent to the gears on a road bike.",
"Cyclists can adjust the tension to control the intensity of their workout, all while staying in one place.",
"Riding an exercise bike can help burn calories, increase strength, and reac... |
{
"things": [
"Holograms",
"Package Printing",
"Skin Culture",
"Canned Corn"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Holograms-- projections for the future...",
"Package printing-- how to make an impression...",
"Skin culture-- it definitely grows on you...",
"And canned corn-- we hope you're all ears.",
"Holograms aren't just beautiful and fascinating.",
"They have a certain high... |
{
"things": [
"Suits of Armor",
"Street Light Poles",
"Bent Hardwood",
"Membrane Switches"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Suits of armor...",
"Street-light bulbs...",
"Bent hardwood...",
"And membrane switches.",
"If you're the type of guy who finds wearing a tie uncomfortable, try sporting a suit of armor.",
"Armor reached its peak during the battle-filled 15th century.",
"Initially, it... |
{
"things": [
"External Hard Drives",
"Frozen Shrimp",
"Thai Rice Boxes",
"Paper Towels"
]
} | [
"In the digital world, like the real one, it helps to have extra storage space.",
"An external hard drive stores data separate from a computer to expand storage capacity.",
"It also preserves memory.",
"So in the event that the computer drive crashes, all is not lost.",
"50 years ago, external hard drives w... |
{
"things": [
"Heather Gems",
"Instant Film",
"Beet Sugar",
"Electric Roadsters"
]
} | [
"Manufactured gemstones are typically designed to imitate genuine mined gemstones.",
"Not these-- they're made from heather, a hardy flowering plant which grows wild across scotland.",
"For centuries, scots used heather to thatch roofs, stuff mattresses, and even brew ale.",
"This scottish company turns heat... |
{
"things": [
"Residential Water Heaters",
"Air Bags",
"Jelly Beans",
"Ice Resurfacers"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Residential water heaters...",
"Air bags...",
"Jelly beans...",
"And ice resurfacers.",
"The residential water heater was invented back in 1889, and the basic concept still applies today.",
"It heats water, usually with natural gas, propane, or electricity, then keeps i... |
{
"things": [
"Rolled Wafers",
"Wood Pellets",
"Class & Championship Rings"
]
} | [
"At some point many centuries ago, the thin, communion-style wafer took a delicious twist with the creation of the rolled wafer cookie.",
"The exact origin of this tubular treat isn't known, but it has been traced back to syrian christian pastry makers during the middle ages.",
"Long and elegant, the rolled waf... |
{
"things": [
"Sleeper Rigs",
"Pecans",
"Steel Pulleys",
"Acetate Eyewear"
]
} | [
"Truck drivers spend a lot of time on the road, so their sleeper rigs become a home away from home.",
"Equipped with a refrigerator, tv, and microwave, a sleeper rig is more than a place to bunk down for the night.",
"It can also be a trucker's living space when it's time to pull over.",
"Due to the convenien... |
{
"things": [
"Fiberglass Boats",
"Clothes Dryers",
"Bubble Gum",
"Fireworks"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Fiberglass boats...",
"Clothes driers...",
"Bubble gum...",
"And fireworks.",
"They're sleek, they're fast, and they're fun.",
"Fiberglass boats can jump waves and turn on a dime.",
"The fiberglass body is low-maintenance and durable, so these watercraft don't deterio... |
{
"things": [
"Coconut Shell Charcoal",
"Dial Indicators",
"Wet Downdraft Tables",
"Bassoon Reeds"
]
} | [
"Coconut shells used to be considered agricultural waste, but today they're processed into biofuel for the barbecue.",
"In countries like thailand, companies convert the shells into briquettes that burn cleanly for an extended period.",
"Throwing away these shells would be a real waste of energy.",
"Instead o... |
{
"things": [
"Thai Barbecues",
"Diving Masks & Fins",
"Bassoons"
]
} | [
"The word barbecue seems to originate in haiti where indigenous people developed a method of cooking meat outdoors over a wooden structure long before columbus arrived.",
"Nobody knows exactly when humans started grilling.",
"But it's safe to assume that we've been cooking outdoors longer than indoors.",
"In ... |
{
"things": [
"Millefiori Glass Paperweights",
"Road Salt",
"Nutcrackers",
"Car Doors"
]
} | [
"\"millefiori\" is italian for \"a thousand flowers\".",
"It's also an elaborate glass-making technique developed in 15th-century italy in which pattern-colored glass rods are cut, grouped to form floral shapes, arranged into intricate patterns, then encased in clear crystal.",
"If a picture's worth a thousand ... |
{
"things": [
"Carbon Fiber Bicycles",
"Blood Products",
"Forged Chandeliers",
"Ballpoint Pens"
]
} | [
"Carbon fibers are minute hairs of almost pure carbon.",
"They may be tiny, but they're three times stronger and four times lighter than steel.",
"Weaving them together and bonding them with plastic resin, then molding this material into a bike frame creates one lean, mean peddling machine.",
"This company bu... |
{
"things": [
"Mortars and Pestles",
"Bowling Lane Conditioners",
"Crematories",
"Wood Playsets"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Together, the mortar and pestle form some of the oldest and most useful of humanity's inventions.",
"Their image adorns many pharmacology symbols because pharmacists have been using them to prepare medicine for centuries.",
"But it's with food that this simple tool is most cl... |
{
"things": [
"Top & Bowler Hats",
"Solar Water Heaters",
"Sticky Buns",
"Electrostatic Speakers"
]
} | [
"Top hats and bowler hats both originated in england.",
"The top hat emerged in the late 1700s as a daring new style, radically higher than the flat 3-cornered hat men wore at the time.",
"Then the bowler was invented around 1850, as a lower alternative to the top hat.",
"Today, even women wear bowlers.",
"... |
{
"things": [
"Turntables",
"Steam Engines",
"Playground Equipment",
"Non"
]
} | [
"As the music industry went digital, the turntable seemed destined for the scrap heap.",
"But this analog technology defied predictions and survived.",
"With a sound that's arguably fuller and more natural than compressed digital formats, this retro technology is attracting new fans.",
"In an age when media p... |
{
"things": [
"Decorative Sombreros",
"Salad Dressings & Marinades",
"Cap Guns",
"Regenerative Medicine"
]
} | [
"The sombrero is a traditional mexican hat with a large brim that's designed to cast a wide shadow over the face and shoulders.",
"Everyday sombreros are made of straw, but mariachi bands and other folkloric performers wear fancier ones made of velvet, wool, or felt, with elaborate decorations.",
"These fancy s... |
{
"things": [
"Retractable Ballpoint Pens",
"Solar Salt",
"Tubas"
]
} | [
"The ballpoint pen was designed as the answer to the fountain pen's many annoyances-- the hassle of having to manually refill the barrel with ink that dried slowly and often smudged.",
"The ballpoint has a tiny steel ball in its tip that applies quick-drying ink from a ready-made cartridge.",
"When the ink cart... |
{
"things": [
"Sulkies",
"Bagpipes",
"Yule Logs",
"Fishing Lures"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Sulkies...",
"Bagpipes...",
"Yule logs...",
"And fishing lures.",
"In the sport of harness racing, the horse, known as a standardbred, pulls its driver in a sulky.",
"A sulky is a cart on two wheels that attaches to each side of the horse's harness.",
"It has to be st... |
{
"things": [
"Metal Golf Clubs",
"Waffles",
"Custom Wires and Cables",
"Train Wheels"
]
} | [
"Golfers use different types of clubs for different types of shots-- woods for long-distance shots off a tee, putters to gently roll the ball into the cup, and irons for everything in between.",
"That's why in golf, choosing the right club for the shot is a key part of game strategy.",
"The heads of these golf ... |
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