Brains On! Science podcast for kids How metal wires changed the world!
Dec 16, 2025
Join Dylan Thuras, co-founder of Atlas Obscura, as he delves into the transformative impact of metal wires on communication. Discover how the telegraph opened new channels for people to connect across vast distances. Dylan shares fascinating tales of early electric experiments, the challenges of laying the first transatlantic cable, and how this technology paved the way for modern communication. Plus, there’s a new Mystery Sound to solve and exciting news about the opening of Brains On Headquarters!
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Wires Revealed Metal's Hidden Powers
- Metal wires enabled electricity to be sent as fast signals across distances, revealing hidden properties of metals.
- Dylan Thuras explains that this discovery changed communication methods by moving little jolts of electricity along wires.
Leverage New Energy To Scale Change
- Use new energy sources to enable technological leaps, as steam power did in the Industrial Revolution.
- Dylan Thuras highlights coal and steam engines expanded available energy and accelerated manufacturing and transport.
Morse Code Turned Jolts Into Messages
- Telegraphs encoded messages as short and long electrical pulses using Morse code.
- Dylan Thuras points out these pulses traveled near light speed, allowing near-instant communication across distances.
