howStuffWorks

In 1998, then North Carolina State University instructor Marshall Brain (1961–2024), started the site as a hobby. In 1999, Brain raised venture capital and formed HowStuffWorks, Inc. In March 2002, HowStuffWorks was sold to the Convex Group, an Atlanta-based investment and media company founded by Jeff Arnold, founder and former chief executive officer (CEO) of WebMD.[http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2002/09/02/story4.html HowStuffWorks sold to vulture fund] BizJournals 2002-09-02. The headquarters moved from Cary, North Carolina, to Atlanta. HowStuffWorks originally focused on science and machines, ranging from submarines to common household gadgets and appliances. After adding a staff of writers, artists, and editors, content expanded to a larger array of topics.

On October 20, 2004,{{cite web |title=Whois Record for StuffO.com |url=https://whois.domaintools.com/stuffo.com |publisher=DomainTools |access-date=23 December 2020}} Stuffo.com was created, and HowStuffWorks moved its entertainment section over to the new website.{{cite web |url=http://stuffo.howstuffworks.com/ |title=Stuffo: Movies, Games, Web, World Domination |access-date=23 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041206090624/http://stuffo.howstuffworks.com/ |archive-date=6 December 2004}} In 2005, the team disbanded Stuffo.{{cite web |last1=Coustan |first1=Dave |title=Stuffo (2004-2005) |url=https://www.extraface.com/ |website=Extraface |access-date=23 December 2020}}

The domain HowStuffWorks.com attracted at least 58 million visitors annually by 2008, according to a Compete.com survey.[http://siteanalytics.compete.com/howstuffworks.com?metric=uv HowStuffWorks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406111439/http://siteanalytics.compete.com/howstuffworks.com/?metric=uv |date=April 6, 2009 }} at Compete.com

There have been four HowStuffWorks books—two illustrated hardcover coffee table books, HowStuffWorks and More HowStuffWorks, and two un-illustrated paperbacks, How Much Does the Earth Weigh? and What If?. HowStuffWorks previously put out an educational magazine, HowStuffWorks Express, for middle-school students. The company has also released a series of HowStuffWorks trivia "LidRock" discs—CD-ROMs sold on fountain drink lids at Regal Theaters.{{cite web |title=Lidrock December 08 |url=http://www.ostechno.com.au/news/lidrock-december-08 |publisher=Optical Storage Technology |access-date=23 December 2020}}

In 2005, HowStuffWorks became the exclusive online publisher for Publications International, Ltd., Consumer Guide and Mobil Travel Guide.{{cite web |title=NYC Receives Mobil Travel Award |url=https://business.nycgo.com/press-and-media/press-releases/articles/post/press-release-nyc-receives-mobil-travel-award-11-09-06/ |publisher=NYC & Company |access-date=23 December 2020 |date=9 November 2006}}

Howstuffworks.com spun off its international division when it went public ([http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/hswi Nasdaq:HSWI]) via an acquisition of INTAC, a China-based company. In March 2007, HSW International launched its Portuguese website with headquarters in São Paulo, Brazil.{{cite web |url=http://hsw.com.br |title=HowStuffWorks - como tudo funciona |publisher=Hsw.com.br |date=2000-04-01 |access-date=2009-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905045949/http://hsw.com.br/ |archive-date=2008-09-05 |url-status=dead }} The Portuguese name of the site is Como Tudo Funciona ("how everything works"). In June 2008, the Chinese site was launched with new headquarters in Beijing, China. The URL roughly translates to "Knowledge Information Web".{{cite web |url=http://www.bowenwang.com.cn |title=博闻网 知道就好! |publisher=Bowenwang.com.cn |date=2000-04-01 |access-date=2009-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318112421/http://www.bowenwang.com.cn/ |archive-date=2009-03-18 |url-status=dead }}

On October 15, 2007, Discovery Communications announced it had bought HowStuffWorks for $250 million.[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119240620469258721?mod=rss_whats_news_technology "Discovery Buys HowStuffWorks.com"] by the Wall Street Journal The company later chose to use the name HowStuffWorks as the title of a television series on its Discovery Channel. The series, which focuses on commodities,- [http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/how-stuff-works/series.html "Precious Commodities"] . - Discovery Channel {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325003355/http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/how-stuff-works/series.html |date=March 25, 2009 }} premiered in November 2008 and is similar in style and content to other "how it works" programs, like Modern Marvels.Wasko, Janet and Calderon, Carlos. - [http://flowtv.org/?p=1299 "Modern Marvels: Celebrating How It Works"]. - University of Oregon. - May 7, 2008

On November 2, 2009, HSW International co-founded Sharecare, developing a social QA platform through which users ask health and wellness-related questions, receiving answers from industry experts. Other co-founders in Sharecare include Jeff Arnold, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Harpo Productions, Discovery Communications, and Sony Pictures Television.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&tkr=HSWI:US&sid=ac9dCGVDwxLU|title=Dr. Mehmet Oz and Internet Entrepreneur, Jeff Arnold, Announce Sharecare Inc., a Web 3.0 Platform, Organizing and Answering the Questions of Health|date=November 2, 2009|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=2011-04-02}}

On April 21, 2014, Discovery Communications announced that it had sold HowStuffWorks to Blucora for $45 million.{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-21/discovery-sells-howstuffworks-at-82-loss-after-seven-years.html | title=Discovery Sells HowStuffWorks at 82% Loss After Seven Years | work=Bloomberg | date=April 21, 2014 | access-date=April 22, 2014}} In July 2016, Blucora announced the sale of its Infospace business, including HowStuffWorks, to OpenMail for $45 million.{{cite news | url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/blucora-to-sell-infospace-business-for-45-million/ |title=Blucora to sell InfoSpace business for $45 million | work=Seattle Times | date=July 5, 2016}} OpenMail was later renamed System1.{{Cite web| title = System1 raises $270 million for 'consumer intent' advertising| work = L.A. Biz| access-date = 2017-12-01| url = https://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2017/09/20/system1-raises-270-million-for-consumer-intent.html}}

In 2014, HowStuffWorks moved its headquarters from Buckhead to Ponce City Market, a new mixed-use development in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta.{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_talk/2014/10/howstuffworks-moves-headquarters-to-ponce-city.html |title=HowStuffWorks moves headquarters to Ponce City Market |first=Douglas |last=Sams |work=Atlanta Business Chronicle |date=October 28, 2014}} In June 2017, it announced the hiring of Cracked.com founder and former editor-in-chief Jack O'Brien for its new comedy podcasting division.{{cite web |year= 2017|url = https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/cracked-founder-exits-to-create-comedy-division-at-howstuffworks-1202473006/ |title = Cracked Founder Exits to Create Comedy Division at HowStuffWorks |publisher = Variety | access-date = July 19, 2017}}

In 2017, System1 spun off the podcast department of HowStuffWorks as Stuff Media, retaining the HowStuffWorks website. In September 2018, Stuff Media announced its sale to radio broadcaster iHeartMedia for $55 million.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/iheartmedia-stuff-media-howstuffworks-podcast-acquisition-1202939938/|title=iHeartMedia to Buy HowStuffWorks Podcasting Parent for $55 Million|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2018-09-13|work=Variety|access-date=2018-09-15|language=en-US}}

HowStuffWorks maintained a large number of podcasts, hosted by its staff writers and editors, but now all former HSW podcasts are owned and operated by iHeartRadio.

• Stuff You Should Know: an audio podcast and video series on various topics from all fields of interest
• {{anchor|TechStuff}}TechStuff: dedicated to demystifying technology and discussing its impact on society, originally hosted by technology editor Chris Pollette and senior staff writer Jonathan Strickland. In January 2013, Chris Pollette was replaced as co-host by Social Media Editor Lauren Vogelbaum. Vogelbaum left the program in 2015 and Strickland became a solo host.
• Atlanta Monster: in cooperation with Tenderfoot TV, a crime podcast about the Atlanta murders of 1979–81, hosted by Payne Lindsey of podcast Up and Vanished
• Behind the Bastards: is a weekly comedic history podcast hosted by Robert Evans exploring the lives of deplorable historical figures.

• eHow
• How It's Made
• The Way Things Work
• wikiHow

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website}}
• {{IMDb title|qid=Q55761581|description=TV series hosted by Gabe Doran, Mike Senese and David Heber}}
• {{IMDb title|qid=Q7628529|description=Podcast series hosted by Josh Clark, Charles W. Bryant and Chris Pollette}}
• {{IMDb title|qid=Q123160603|description=TV series hosted by Charles W. Bryant, Josh Clark and Caitlin Bitzegaio}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130204011107/http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/how-stuff-works/how-stuff-works.html How Stuff Works] at Discovery Channel (archived 4 February 2013)

{{iHeartMedia}}

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Category:2002 mergers and acquisitions

Category:2007 mergers and acquisitions

Category:2014 mergers and acquisitions

Category:2016 mergers and acquisitions

Category:2018 mergers and acquisitions

Category:American educational websites

Category:Education companies established in 1998

Category:Internet properties established in 1998

Category:Former Discovery, Inc. subsidiaries

Category:How-to websites