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HOST BIO: Don Bleu

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How's That Work?
Episode HWW-105

Smoke Detector, Dehumidifier, Bug Zapper
First, the first fire alarms date back to the mid 1800s. They used two metal strips that bent when heated. When the strips became too hot, they touched, which created an electrical connection that triggered a bell. Next, the invention of the dehumidifier can be traced back to a Brooklyn print shop. The owners complained that the air in the shop was so moist, it made the colors on their prints bleed and ruin the work. In 1902 they hired Willis Carrier to come up with a solution. His machine pulled moisture from the air by passing it over a cold surface. Finally, in an effort to gain the upper hand on flying pests like mosquitoes and flies, the first electrical bug zapper was patented in 1934. Originally developed for industries with sanitation issues, these devices quickly proved to be an effective way to reduce contamination of food in factories.

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