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99% Invisible

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Roman Mars

Design is everywhere in our lives, perhaps most importantly in the places where we've just stopped noticing. 99% Invisible is a weekly exploration of the process and power of design and architecture. From award winning producer Roman Mars. Learn more at 99percentinvisible.org.

#818

The Bone Wars

Two rival paleontologists turn a hunt for dinosaur bones into an all-out scientific war. S... more

Yesterday

44 MINS

44:42

Yesterday

#817

100 Objects #13: The Sand Letters

This episode is sponsored by Claude. For problems worth solving, get started with Claude a... more

14 Aug 2026

48 MINS

48:40

14 Aug 2026

#816

Bamboo Is Innocent

A devastating fire put one of Hong Kong's oldest building traditions on trial, but the rea... more

11 Aug 2026

32 MINS

32:02

11 Aug 2026

#815

100 Objects #12: "Negro Cloth"

In 1821, two Rhode Island brothers went looking for buyers for their woolen fabric, and st... more

07 Aug 2026

37 MINS

37:50

07 Aug 2026

#814

The Borrowed Nature of Biomimicry

Behind every perfect nature-inspired design is a far more complicated story. Subscribe to ... more

04 Aug 2026

31 MINS

31:44

04 Aug 2026

#813

100 Objects #11: Brannock Device

In 1925, the world saw the birth of what just might be the greatest gadget in American His... more

31 Jul 2026

27 MINS

27:42

31 Jul 2026

#812

The Finnish Baby Box

A simple cardboard box helped transform Finland into one of the best places in the world t... more

28 Jul 2026

33 MINS

33:00

28 Jul 2026

#811

100 Objects #10: Nunchaku

In the early 1970s, Bruce Lee made nunchaku (nunchucks) cool — kids were building their ow... more

24 Jul 2026

36 MINS

36:25

24 Jul 2026

#810

The Original 100 Objects

Neil MacGregor reflects on creating the landmark series that changed how people think abou... more

21 Jul 2026

44 MINS

44:59

21 Jul 2026

#809

100 Objects #9: Missing Children Milk Carton

In 1982, a twelve-year-old paperboy, Johnny Gosch, vanished from a quiet Iowa street and s... more

17 Jul 2026

33 MINS

33:53

17 Jul 2026

#808

If Mosquito Hawks Can Fly

A Louisiana man born into slavery designs an airship with hopes to take flight. Those plan... more

14 Jul 2026

41 MINS

41:56

14 Jul 2026

#807

100 Objects #8: Billy Possum

In 1902, an American classic was born: the teddy bear. Named after President Theodore Roos... more

10 Jul 2026

36 MINS

36:10

10 Jul 2026

#806

The Score

We keep score of everything these days. But what happens when the numbers start changing w... more

07 Jul 2026

26 MINS

26:08

07 Jul 2026

#805

100 Objects #7: The Otis Pamphlet

Before the Declaration of Independence was even a twinkle in the founding fathers' eyes, t... more

03 Jul 2026

37 MINS

37:26

03 Jul 2026

#804

Transatlantic Fiber-Optic Expialidocious

Before the internet went global, one undersea gamble made it possible. Jane Ruffino’s sto... more

30 Jun 2026

31 MINS

31:56

30 Jun 2026

#803

100 Objects #6: "Sharpened Screwdriver"

In this episode, Roman and historians Heather Ann Thompson and Elliot Williams tell the st... more

26 Jun 2026

40 MINS

40:28

26 Jun 2026

#802

The Most Exciting Change America Has Ever Seen

Billions of state quarters disappeared from circulation...and that was exactly the plan. S... more

23 Jun 2026

43 MINS

43:28

23 Jun 2026

#801

100 Objects #5: Blue Back Speller

In this episode, Roman and historian Imani Perry follow the Webster Blue Back Speller from... more

19 Jun 2026

45 MINS

45:55