Even the most ordinary objects have fascinating stories to tell. Journey through their extraordinary lives as host Nihal Arthanayake invites experts and enthusiasts to share remarkable stories of the everyday things around you.
A Brief History of Stuff explores the past, present and future of the stuff in your home – from bath toys to the microwave oven – and looks at how they helped science and changed our world.
Each episode features a story inspired by incredible items from the Science Museum Group Collection. The collection contains more than 7 million items which illustrate the impact of science, technology, engineering and medicine on all our lives.
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Even the most ordinary objects have fascinating stories to tell. Journey through their extraordinary lives as host Nihal Arthanayake invites experts and enthusiasts to share remarkable stories of the everyday things around you.
A Brief History of Stuff explores the past, present and future of the stuff in your home – from bath toys to the microwave oven – and looks at how they helped science and changed our world.
Each episode features a story inspired by incredible items from the Science Museum Group Collection. The collection contains more than 7 million items which illustrate the impact of science, technology, engineering and medicine on all our lives.
Household chores are an unavoidable part of everyday life. For thousands of years a broom was enough, but by using the humble vacuum cleaner we changed our homes forever.
In this episode, carpet sweeper expert Laura Humphreys takes us on a journey through the remarkable history of the vacuum cleaner, while conservator Kate Perks describes the care taken to clean delicate items on display at the Science Museum.
Hear how the first vacuum cleaner was invented, why we should call them Spanglers not Hoovers, how the spring clean began and what housework can tell us about the world around us.
This episode was inspired by Booth’s red trolley vacuum cleaner and the Hoover constellation in the Science Museum Group Collection. Our incredible collection contains more than 7 million items which illustrate the impact of science, technology, engineering and medicine on all our lives.
A Brief History of Stuff is a Storythings and Science Museum Group production. Find out more about the items in this episode on our website. You can also discover more stories about the everyday objects around you, including on vacuum cleaners.
Follow the Science Museum on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for more insights into the collection and use #ABriefHistoryOfStuff to join the conversation on social media.
You can follow Laura Humphreys on Twitter and find out more about Globalising Housework, her fascinating book on housework.
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If you have an idea for a future episode or want to share your thoughts on our podcast, please email us via podcast@sciencemuseum.org.uk.
A Brief History of Stuff
Even the most ordinary objects have fascinating stories to tell. Journey through their extraordinary lives as host Nihal Arthanayake invites experts and enthusiasts to share remarkable stories of the everyday things around you.
A Brief History of Stuff explores the past, present and future of the stuff in your home – from bath toys to the microwave oven – and looks at how they helped science and changed our world.
Each episode features a story inspired by incredible items from the Science Museum Group Collection. The collection contains more than 7 million items which illustrate the impact of science, technology, engineering and medicine on all our lives.
