101: Supercharged's 100th Episode (Also Batteries)

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about Microsoft Build, Japanese Kit Kats, and batteries! Questions/comments/whatever? Visit awkward.email or just call/text 509-AWKWARD!

This week on Supercharged we’re talking about Microsoft Build, Japanese Kit Kats, and batteries! Questions/comments/whatever? Visit awkward.email or just call/text 509-AWKWARD!

Links for this episode:

Justice Department Officially Drops Lawsuit Against Apple in Ongoing iPhone Unlocking Dispute
Apple's ongoing fight with the U.S. government over an order that would require the company to unlock the iPhone 5c used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook has come to an end, after the Justice Department today announced plans to drop its case against Apple.
All the Important Things Microsoft Announced Today at Build 2016
Microsoft’s Build conference is always full of news about Windows, Office, Xbox, and other Microsoft products, and Build 2016 was no exception. We got a look at the newest Windows 10 update coming this summer, new features for the Xbox One, and updates the Windows Store. Here’s the best new stuff we saw.
Why All the Best Kit Kat Flavors Are Only in Japan
Wasabi, strawberry cheesecake, green tea, dark chocolate, sweet potato. What do these flavors have in common? They’re all KitKat varieties exclusive to Japan. But how did the crispy, break-associated candy get so popular overseas?
How Batteries Work
Batteries have been around longer than you may think. In 1938, archaeologist Wilhelm Konig discovered some peculiar clay pots while digging at Khujut Rabu, just outside of present-day Baghdad, Iraq. The jars, which measure approximately 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) long, contained an iron rod encased in copper and dated from about 200 B.C. Tests suggested that the vessels had once been filled with an acidic substance like vinegar or wine, leading Konig to believe that these vessels were ancient batteries. Since this discovery, scholars have produced replicas of the pots that are in fact capable of producing an electric charge. These "Baghdad batteries" may have been used for religious rituals, medicinal purposes, or even electroplating.
Why must you alternate plus and minus when inserting batteries?
Why do electronic devices require you to insert batteries so that you alternately have the plus and minus ends on top? In other words, why do you never see (except in a flashlight) all of the "+" signs at the top and the "–" signs at the bottom or vice versa?
How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries
Discover what causes Li-ion to age and what the battery user can do to prolong its life.
Battery Myths vs. Battery Facts
Several battery myths and facts, including whether or not freezing batteries is useful (it's not).

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