Thomas Edison had a bizarre taste test for potential new materials—he would literally bite them. He believed that by chewing substances like rubber, metal, or even chemicals, he could assess their properties, such as texture and durability. This strange habit reportedly stemmed from his partial deafness, which heightened his other senses, making touch (and apparently taste) a key part of his scientific intuition.
Thomas Edison
Thinkopolis (video time 3:22)
Thinkopolis
Chas Holloway's Thinkopolis is about the people, events and oddities of the western world. Discover how the Faust legend was born, the history of dice, how Joseph Haydn lost his head, the Soviet spy who invented electronic music, and more. There’s no end to the weird, spellbinding, and dangerous ideas you’ll discover in Thinkopolis.
Chas Holloway's Thinkopolis is about the people, events and oddities of the western world. Discover how the Faust legend was born, the history of dice, how Joseph Haydn lost his head, the Soviet spy who invented electronic music, and more. There’s no end to the weird, spellbinding, and dangerous ideas you’ll discover in Thinkopolis.
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