Patented: History of Inventions

Pyres on the Appalachian mountains. Planes spraying chemicals into clouds. Mirrors in space. “I can make it rain, I can make it rain, I can make it rain...by waggling my stick”.

For more than a century, scientists, soldiers and charlatans have tried to manipulate the weather, wildly exaggerating what is possible.

Does any of it actually work?

And even if we could control the climate, should we? Whose hand would be on the thermostat?

Today we’re joined by James Fleming, a leading historian of meteorology and climate change and author of Fixing the Sky: The Checkered History of Weather and Climate Control.

James helps us chart the dubious history of attempts to control the weather from the 19th century meteorologist dubbed the ‘Rain King’, to Cold War efforts to drench opposing armies, to cloud seeding at the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The episode was produced by Freddy Chick

The editor was Anisha Deva

The senior producer is Charlotte Long

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The history of Special Effects — from stop motion to motion capture.

In just over a century, we special effects have been subject to rapid innovation. What were the biggest breakthroughs? How did the digital revolution transform the industry? And, what does the future hold?

Today on the show, we speak to film historian Julie Turnock who answers all that and more, revealing the biggest technological secrets behind movie magic.

This episode was produced by Emily Whalley

The senior producer is Charlotte Long

Edited and mixed by Stuart Beckwith

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“As ancient as time, as modern as tomorrow.’

Why have tattoos been reinvented in so many cultures - and with so many different meanings - throughout history?

And yet, tattooing is constantly portrayed as a new ‘thing’, when tattoos were just for criminals or sailors.

Far from truth, tattoos and the art of painting ones skin is as old and as fascinating as humankind itself.

On this episode we focus on the evolution of tattooing with Dr Matt Lodder. A Senior Lecturer in Art History and Theory, and Director of American Studies at the University of Essex.Dallas and Matt explore the inventions that led the way to modern tattooing from 17th century pilgrims in Jerusalem getting religious iconography inked on their skins, through to the first tattoo parlour in the late 1880s, and to King George V.

This episode was produced by Emily Whalley

The senior producer is Charlotte Long

Edited and mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

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Chicken, mayonnaise, curry powder - and wait, sultanas? What exactly is Coronation Chicken and what does it have to do with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II?

Created by students, beloved by many, how does this iconic sandwich filler fit into British culinary history?

In this Jubilee Special, Dallas is joined by food historian Annie Gray to talk all things TV chefs, supermarket sandwiches, and whether this creamy delight was ever really served to the Queen.

This episode was produced by Emily Whalley.

Edited and mixed by Seyi Adaobi.

The senior producer is Charlotte Long

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!