Mike's Nerd Bytes

Rerun: Welcome to Mike’s Nerd Bytes—bite-sized stories about the strange, the curious, and the just plain nerdy!

On this episode, we’re diving into a juicy bit of science history—tomatoes. Did you know that at one point, people thought tomatoes were deadly poison?

Yep, they had a reputation as “poison apples,” and it kept them off dinner plates for ages. So, how did something so delicious get such a deadly reputation?

Thanks for tunin...

In this episode of Mike’s Nerd Bytes, we tune in to the life of David Sarnoff — the visionary who took radio from ship-to-shore communication to nationwide entertainment, and later brought television into millions of homes.

From the Titanic distress calls to the RCA research labs in Camden, NJ, Sarnoff’s story is as much about the Garden State as it is about broadcasting history.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

David Sarnoff’s immi...

In this episode of Mike’s Nerd Bytes, we chill out with the story of Mary Engle Pennington, the scientist who made refrigeration and food safety standard practice — and the surprising New Jersey connection that helped her work spread.

From battling food-borne illness to inventing the “cold chain” that keeps milk, meat, and even vaccines safe, Pennington’s story proves that science saves lives.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Th...

In this episode of Mike’s Nerd Bytes, we travel back to the early 1800s to meet Samuel Morse, the man who turned electricity into the first true instant messaging system.

From his time at Princeton to his partnership with Alfred Vail in Morristown, NJ, we’ll explore how the telegraph rewired the world long before smartphones and Wi-Fi.

Along the way, you’ll hear stories of heartbreak, brilliant innovation, and New Jersey’s surprising...

In this groundbreaking Guest Spotlight episode, Mike welcomes Brenda, a.k.a. ChatGPT, to the show!

That’s right, Mike’s Nerd Bytes is one of the first podcasts ever to feature ChatGPT as a live guest in real-time conversation.

Mike and Brenda dive into the world of artificial intelligence, what it means to communicate with machines, and how tools like ChatGPT are reshaping everything from creativity to curiosity. It’s smart, surpris...

In this episode of our AI series, we blast into the future to explore where artificial intelligence is heading and what it means for all of us.

From mind-blowing advances in machine learning to ethical dilemmas, creative revolutions, and the promise (or threat?) of superintelligence, Mike breaks it all down with clarity and humor.

Whether you're team "AI is awesome" or team "Please don't let the robots run the ...

From talking computers to rogue robots, artificial intelligence has long been a fixture in film, TV, and storytelling. But what do these pop culture portrayals really say about us?

In this episode of Mike’s Nerd Bytes, Mike Maione explores how AI has evolved on screen, from HAL 9000 and The Terminator to Her, Ex Machina, and Westworld—and what these characters reveal about our fears, hopes, and the future of intelligent machines.

Think AI is a modern invention? Think again. In this episode, we take a quick trip back in time to explore how the idea of artificial intelligence has been around much longer than you might expect.

This episode on Artificial Intelligence is part of a multi-episode series!

Listen Now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pod.link/1777711855⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mnb_podcast_nj/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find me on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Is your podcast host a real person... or just a sophisticated simulation with a Jersey accent and a sense of humor? In this fun and slightly eerie byte, Mike plays with the line between AI and humanity.

Can you tell what’s real anymore? Tune in as we explore the blurred boundary between machine-made and man-made.

This episode on Artificial Intelligence is part of a multi-episode series!

Listen Now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pod.link/1777711855⁠⁠...

What if one of the world’s most important inventions was discovered by accident—because someone left out a soggy pot of grain?

In the grand finale of my Top 10 Inventions series, I’m raising a glass to beer—one of humanity’s oldest and most beloved creations. From ancient Mesopotamia to medieval monks, from Egyptian pyramid workers to modern craft breweries, beer has done more than just quench thirst… it’s helped shape civilization ...

Before the internet and smartphones, there was one invention that made it all possible: the printing press. In this episode, I dive into how Gutenberg’s 15th-century machine revolutionized the world — turning handwritten scrolls into mass-produced books, boosting literacy, fueling revolutions, and changing the course of human history.

Find out:

• Why monks used to copy books by hand (yep, for real)
• How wine helped invent modern prin...

Welcome back to Mike’s Nerd Bytes — Snack-Size Bytes of Tech, Science, and More! I’m your host, Mike Maione.

Today, we’re talking about something that’s so normal now, you probably never stop to think about how insanely cool it actually is. I'm talking about the telephone — the invention that let us talk to someone miles away… without shouting.

Episode eight of my personal top ten inventions of all time series!

Listen Now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠htt...

Today’s episode is part of my Top 10 Inventions of All Time series — and I’ve got a wild one for you.

This invention doesn’t fly. It doesn’t light up. It doesn’t connect to the internet. But if you’ve ever had your wisdom teeth yanked out, your appendix removed, or even a baby delivered — you owe a big thank-you to this miracle.

I’m talking about anesthesia — the invention that lets you sleep through surgery and wake up feeling (rela...

Welcome back to Mike’s Nerd Bytes — Snack-Size Bytes of Tech, Science, and More!

I’m your host Mike Maione, and today we’ve got a special holiday bonus episode.

So flip your hamburgers, grab your grilled corn, light that citronella candle, and let’s talk about something explosive… no, not your uncle’s political rants — I’m talkin’ FIREWORKS.

CREDITS:

Song Credit: Schoolhouse Rock - Fireworks
Fireworks" is a Schoolhouse Rock...

Welcome back to Mike’s Nerd Bytes — Snack-Size Bytes of Tech, Science, and More! I’m your host, Mike Maione, and this is the 6th stop in our Top 10 Inventions series.

Today, we’re talking about an invention that let us rise above traffic, mountains, and oceans—yep, we’re talking about the airplane.

Once upon a time, flight was just a fantasy… now it’s as routine as ordering pizza. But how did we get from dreams of wings to flying ac...

Welcome back to Mike’s Nerd Bytes—Snack-Size Bytes of Tech, Science, and More! I’m your host, Mike Maione, and today we’re hitting the gas on an episode all about one of the greatest inventions in human history—the automobile!

From steam-powered contraptions to high-tech electric vehicles, the journey of the automobile is a fascinating ride through history. But where did it all begin? Buckle up as we explore the key moments that sha...

Welcome back to Mike’s Nerd Bytes—Snack-Size Bytes of Tech, Science, and More! I’m your host, Mike Maione.

Today, we’re diving into an invention so fundamental to our modern world that it’s hard to imagine life without it—electricity!

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking: "Wait, wasn’t electricity always around?" And yes, in a sense, it was. Lightning, static shocks, and even electric eels have been throwing sparks since be...

Welcome back to Mike’s Nerd Bytes—snack-size bytes of tech, science, and more! I’m your host, Mike Maione. Today, we’re diving into a topic that everyone uses but no one really thinks about—until they run out!

That’s right, we’re talking about toilet paper. It’s an invention so crucial to modern hygiene that imagining life without it is… well, pretty uncomfortable. But trust me, before toilet paper, things were a lot worse. So, let’...

Welcome back to Mike’s Nerd Bytes—Snack-Size Bytes of Tech, Science, and More! I’m your host, Mike Maione, and today, we’re rolling into the second episode of our Top 10 Inventions series.

Trust me, this one is a big deal—literally! We’re talking about the wheel, one of humanity’s greatest and most revolutionary inventions.

Episode two of my personal top ten inventions of all time series!

Thanks for tuning in to Mike’s Nerd Bytes! Ge...