<p>400 years ago on the River Thames a mad genius showed off the world's first submarine. A crowd of thousands including King James watched as Cornelis Drebbel disappeared beneath the murky water, only reemerging after three whole hours had passed.</p><br><p>The same genius also came up with perpetual motion machines, self-regulating ovens, chemical air conditioning for Westminster Cathedral, and a project to provide central heating for all of London by building a perpetual fire on a hill outside the city, transporting the flames in pipes to people's houses.</p><br><p>Elon Musk eat your heart out.</p><br><p>Dallas's guest today is the amazing Vera Keller, historian of technology and author of a new book "The Interlopers: Early Stuart Projects and the Undisciplining of Knowledge"</p><br><p>Edited by Tom Delargy, Produced by Freddy Chick, Senior Producer is Charlotte Long</p><br><p>Get 50% off your first 3 months with code<a href="http://access.historyhit.com/checkout?code=patented&plan=monthly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u> PATENTED</u></a>. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at <a href="http://historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>historyhit.com/subscribe</u></a></p>
