What was 'The Thing'? (Weird Tech)

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Credit:
Created by Daniel Turner
Narrator:
Chris Kane
www.vocalforge.com
Music Credit
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (by Liszt)

[@Simplehistory]

Thank you to Dashlane for supporting us! Make your life easier when logging in to all your accounts, try them for free: bit.ly/2Gymm5w Here's a promo code for 10% off Dashlane Premium: youtube2018

[@ekmalsukarno2302]

Simple History, can you please make a video about the Indonesian National Revolution. Thanks.

[@m3a2uploads3]

Simple History could you make a video explaining and analyzing ww1 aircraft and their technology please? I think it would be great! Love your vids btw

[@mikkelelsignielsen]

DENMARK WW2

[@Kawin.]

Simple History SRI LANKA SIVILWAR NEXT

[@xxxuselesspricksxxx1481]

U used hungarian rhapsody by liszt god bless you by all the name of the hungarians! Please make a video about the trianon threaty of peace!

[@troycalhoun9233]

USSR: "You have been spying on us!" USA: *shows the seal* "No u"

[@salt_factory7566]

@Troy Calhoun Two superpowers with secret police forces spying on people? No way!

[@redline841]

The US dab back

[@hi-tech_soldier2558]

U2 was spying for years as well

[@StarLuke04]

It was that moment when they knew...... They're screwed up.

[@fennviktorvich]

The US used Adana, Turkey to launch countless and various spying missions to different spots around the globe for decades, notably the USSR and Egypt.

[@thewitheringproduction1761]

*scientists looks at the microphone inside the seal* scientist1: dafuq is this thing scientist2: it's a thing

[@bluefoxy6478]

the withering production scientists 3: not a thing, the thing.

[@aiman_oofed8186]

Lololololololololololololololol

[@richieThach]

I read this to the tune of “who lives in a pineapple under the sea”

[@Delgen1951]

Its a Thang!!! What Thang is it??????!

[@Astania08]

Hahahaha lol funny.😂

[@march7036]

Soviets: *Activate U-2 Incident spells card* US: *”The thing” spell trap card activated*

[@Kalay0Fox]

Yugioh is a dead game.

[@march7036]

Sad ;(

[@whynot-tomorrow_1945]

lol, Russian tech in a nutshell: 'The scientists were baffled by its simplicity.' xD

[@Bobinarea52]

Yup , in the space race a special pen was used by nasa cause pens didn't work in space , russia just took a pencil.

[@Kampfgorillagear]

@@Bobinarea52 that's a bs story which is unfortunately very widespread. the regular pencil has been considered by americans too, but the graphite breaking off (conducts electricity quite well) can get dangerous for the electrical equipment. The "fisher space pen" is used by the russians as well for this reason.

[@SharkyMcSnarkface]

Why make something complicated, when simple works anyway?

[@MrMrmcook2008]

@@Bobinarea52 yeah but pencils arent good in space. They are a risk because the graphite bits that come off.

[@finnishboo4192]

@@Bobinarea52 pencil is worse actually the small pieces of the black thingy ypu write whit will break and float around and damage machines

[@dapperr1619]

I like how specific the names of these "things" are.

[@adobotachibana732]

I see what you did there

[@LAV-III]

Adapper _Dilo perfect, just perfect 👌

[@richardlew3667]

Imagine the noises the Soviets must have heard if people were screwing around in the ambassador's office

[@Todsor]

only virgins would be excited about that.

[@Notmagickal]

yeah but it was activated, wasnt always on

[@srujan00]

@Svenson399 then it would be a bed bug

[@lasajnae9626]

@@srujan00 LMAO

[@jarnodatema]

Great blackmail material

[@noviammapping8226]

It was a massive microphone lol.

[@Aereto]

A microphone that doesn't need electric power but can still produce radio signsls.

[@fulcrum2951]

And yet it looks quite simple

[@devintariel3769]

An rfid chip

[@TaxPayingContributor]

I first learned that it was a tiny earbud type microphone carved into the edge, but later heard it was more of an antenne disk

[@barrydavis9492]

it really is a god dang huge microphone.lollollollol

[@slaughterghoul3662]

2 videos in a day? You are just the best excellent history channel!

[@appalachiahiker853]

Dominus Robloxer no he is not. Just Another pop culture propagandist

[@WhateverItTakes17]

@@appalachiahiker853 explain your logic here. I wanna hear your “deep state conspiracy” bullshit.

[@jouketeck717]

I'll challenge him to 3 videos.

[@niggleabductor]

@@appalachiahiker853 Please shut up

[@Demonade_]

Soviet: "you have been spying on us!" USA: *UNO reverse card* "the tides have turned"

[@someoneontheinternet1317]

No, I am pretty sure that both sides were spying. If you say that only my predecessors were spying, you capitalist pig will be turned into bacon.

[@matthewfinn8337]

Well, I was thinking someone would say this, and I did found it, Uno reverse card

[@zidniafifamani2378]

The turn have tabled

[@rolling-thunder1499]

Spy VS Spy

[@paulcateiii]

Airsoft Ranger always liked Mad

[@rolling-thunder1499]

Paul Cate III Me two

[@dickyadhadyanto4986]

*put two spidermans pointing meme here*

[@dudududu40]

the cold war basically

[@comradeurod9805]

Lmao

[@adyr940]

USSR(U2 incident): "you've been spying on us!" USA: "U2"

[@daheyter4968]

Lol

[@lukav3509]

i really love your ''simple history'' !

[@vyricxx8358]

The thing is a movie

[@jakubk.584]

True, but this is something entirely different, Vyricxx Vicxx.

[@bohdanJ0]

Please can you do the Chernobyl disaster

[@Simplehistory]

Yes

[@dylanovandekamp7223]

Add a rasputin video

[@americanlemon5990]

4 hours ago he commented?

[@iluvu4276]

Simple History is that all u said lel!

[@VeXGamingLSRP]

yes

[@wladi92]

What many people don't know, the technology for "the Thing" was based on Leon Theremin's works on demodulation of Doppler Reflections, this technology is still strongly present today in laser microphones or laser speed pistols used by police. Basically explained, when you aim a source of focused radiation(radio waves or laser) on a resonating membrane(radio: an antenna with a microphone, laser: a window or a mirror in the room) the reflected signal will return lower or higher depending on the movement of the membrane. Just like a ambulance not just passing by, but driving forward and backwards by the bystander. This reflections together with the source wavelength can be pretty easily demodulated back to audio. As always: the genius lies in the simplicity.

[@mix3k818]

*_The Ting went skrrrrrra_*

[@bagelsecelle9308]

pap pap, ka-ka-ka

[@c0mm1t68]

skippy kip ka-ka

[@Andy-pr1hs]

and a pu-pu-pudrrrr-boom

[@tyfgrt73rgyu70]

the thing went *censored by the U.S government*

[@alanamccourt5489]

And a pup pup pum

[@ktjmitchell7722]

Soviet Union: YOU HAVE BEEN SPYING ON US! United States: Uno Reverse Card

[@doso4782]

Wow! I love learning about the stuff that has kinda slipped off the radar in history, but I have never heard such a thing as The Thing, in my life, until now of course. Thank you for giving me this knowledge, and you made it simple and easy too understand too. You just earned yourself a knew subscriber!

[@ram61504]

Do a collab with extra history please!!

[@renewincelestian5007]

Yaasssss

[@invschematics]

Soviets confirmed cheeki breeki material

[@starmapperhdmr8226]

I LOVE your history videos they Allways Make me smile

[@borispavlov6891]

One of my relatives actually designed this bug. Léon Theremin. Thankyou very much for bringing this video to us. Its improtant to remember that shit like this was so new at that time no one ever thought of bugs back then. This "thing" created the entire modern spy world of putting bugs evrywere. Shame that such a great achivment is often forgoten.

[@orkkojit]

Is he the guy who created the theremin instrument ?

[@the_burger]

USSR:You are spying US:No you

[@user-kk9mq5ps7l]

*T H E T H I N G*

[@thedoortonowhere1228]

My family is impressed by how much I’m learning thanks to you (:

[@Captain23rdGaming]

Now this was never taught in world history and the fact that i even know about this up untill now is Simply astonishing! Thank for Sharing this video with us Simple History! :D

[@tylersbagofmagicandfun2744]

Simple history thank you for teaching me a lot of important history and you are the best!

[@theothertoddg]

My favorite espionage story is when the Russians bought Xerox machines for all their embassies with a contract that stated only Xerox employees could service them. The CIA would plant cameras in the machines to read anything that was faxed/scanned and would simply send in agents dressed as Xerox employees to service the machines and swap the camera films.

[@theothertoddg]

The technology was so new at the time that the normal Russian couldn't tell the difference between the camera and the rest of the machine's inner workings.

[@aneggselentfellow5607]

Was there a Thing 2? (Just waiting for someone to get the reference...)

[@Michael-if9qj]

jaden ross 2 cat in the hat **facepalm**

[@jankovac9621]

A well needed and a well done change, keep it up!

[@senorkimmich4520]

This channel should have like 10M subscribers. You see they show us with simple cartoon and they explain it so well that we could understand easily. This channel is the first history channel I subscribed to... :D

[@nguyenduyphuc3924]

So this is what my mom mean when she say: "give me the thing"

[@matthewmckenna248]

Could you do a video on Vasily Zaystev?

[@Simplehistory]

Yes

[@natalieorlando6583]

Who dat?

[@claytonsullivan9324]

Natalie Orlando soviet sniper

[@ElCap1van]

Natalie Orlando watch enemy at the gates

[@franzibe5620]

Simple History chris kyle first

[@mrtracyut]

Excellent short video. Do you have any additional information about the frequency that it worked on, or more specifics about how the modulation occurred?

[@bunbunthebunny7793]

Love ur channel, keep it up!

[@Simplehistory]

Who guessed what it was before the reveal?

[@coyoterenzo2203]

Can you do a history video of George S. Patton

[@holypineapplearsenalhistor2710]

Great video love your work

[@wowee_3117]

imagine just 2 people in the room and they hear rumbling and they look up at the sign person 1: "Hey do you hear that?" person 2: "Yeah sounds like rumbling" the sign: *soviet yelling and arguing* person 2: "uhh"

[@gt-oz4oh]

Awsome video! Could you do a video about the finnish continuation War?

[@ZeDoXapeu]

Incredible history, almost deserves a movie for itself

[@kennet7837]

I never knew about this. Very interesting story!

[@RNBOrkney]

never missed a video!

[@wesleyrivera192]

Well this had some *great timing*

[@Trash-Bambino]

Could you do one on the afghan soviet war or the French Vietnam war

[@Drew791]

Whoa! This is wild! Thank you for an awesome video!

[@EduardoEscarez]

I read a lot of time about that, so is really an unexpected but great video!

[@pirateofthesus8255]

The background music reminds me of Tom & Jerry 😂

[@Gojiro7]

thats because its one of the most famous T&J cartoons, it used that music in a piano battle between Tom & Jerry which won them an academy award in 1947

[@imperialscout8570]

Did you know that Hugo Boss designed the SS and the SA uniforms?

[@Canguro2010]

Yes

[@glyndaholman4751]

Honestly, I didn't expect to be so early. Nor to see such a strange yet cool video that you usually don't do.

[@NathanBarnes03]

Can you guys do a video on the crusades? I love your guys videos!!

[@veggiecunt3175]

You should do a video on the Gulf War.

[@jona5678]

Yugoslav wars please? Or maybe Croat, Serb and Slovene partisans?

[@imjustheretochatshitlmfao9100]

Jona Persic why not both 👌

[@jona5678]

Heroj Balkana nemogu

[@drbosnia779]

Thanks for the great videos

[@tomlol6323]

The best “thing” is that I watch Simple History every upload! :D

[@Scandalous-bn2dv]

It’s always sus when Soviet’s give the US ambassador a seal of democracy

[@JamesBond-ns8di]

You are the best. Can you do a video about rommel, afrikakorps or al alamein ?

[@ChrisKane-]

James Bond - Rommel is confirmed! 😀

[@JamesBond-ns8di]

Chris Kane aaah yes

[@JamesBond-ns8di]

Chris Kane your the voice over guy right?

[@JamesBond-ns8di]

Chris Kane your voice is beautiful

[@ChrisKane-]

That's me! I recorded Rommel and it's coming!

[@jibril7940]

I've never been this early before, I love your channel!

[@kingalpha4755]

WHY DOES THE THING A THING?

[@critictactic7090]

Espionage was so cool back then! Now you just hack someone’s email or a server, while drinking coffee at your house.

[@alexanimating3117]

One of the most purest channels on youtube I stg

[@grandeconsagrado2865]

Awesome video man

[@backfiredplans5351]

USSR: "You're spying on our territory!" US: *Shows The Thing* US: "No u" USSR: "Erm..."

[@unclenogbad1509]

How about covering that time in the '80s when the USA decided to save costs by having their new Moscow embassy built by local contractors? You can't really blame the KGB for filling it with bugs when the opportunity was just handed to them. I do like your posts, keep up the good work.

[@broganplayz153]

Cooool dude keep it up love the content

[@canyilmaz6129]

Talk about the hollow nickel case the rudolf abel case

[@jemmi4209]

hello

[@lilnut1355]

Jemixer 2207 Hi

[@siyacer]

Ding ding.

[@GG_Tyson]

Thanks for educating me

[@loki2379]

Hey love your channel wish you guys all the best and keep the videos goin as they are always awsome! Here is topic suggestion foto next vids Balkan wars in 90s. Cheers!

[@AW-ui3qz]

The thing is in the fantastic four He is called the thing cause he has no thing(balls) So we call him the thing

[@Mothlord03]

10/10 description

[@saddamhussein3849]

Hmmm, if I were a totalitarian dictator I'd stick a camera in that thing... 0:50 I'm not disappointed.

[@GunsNGames1]

Ain't you dead?

[@Ricky-jr7io]

Saw this video in my feed before going to bed. Nah, sleeping can wait.(Seriously though, I love this channel.)

[@verdatum]

The Thing is on display at the National Cryptologic Museum in Ft. Meade, Maryland. If you are ever out there, it is a _fantastic_ free museum with tons and tons of spy stuff.

[@beaniemeanie4204]

Notification squad at the ready!

[@mattyaqin7501]

"The Thing"

[@harrisonboyt7060]

The painting on the wall at 0:35 is "A bigger splash" by David Hockney.

[@blauwesmurf007]

Great video!

[@mikkelelsignielsen]

DENMARK IN WW2!!! PLEASEEE

[@liamsitgreaves2479]

Why? They did nothing and were weak. Denmark fell under 6 hours

[@BST-ri6gf]

That would be a minute long video, let me break it down: 8 seconds: intro with sponsorship 22 seconds: “Germany beat them so easily because they were too busy choking on their language” 30 seconds: outro with sponsorship

[@youri369]

Is this what Sleepy Joe keeps talking about??

[@bigmeme8464]

Woah i didnt know about that thx Simple History!

[@ZK-ff2ru]

Soviet propoganda

[@Simplehistory]

What

[@ZK-ff2ru]

Simple History Hah I got you to reply for the first time!

[@vladimiradidas1945]

GOT EM. GOT EM GUD

[@VariksTheLast]

Dead Meme LOL

[@BackdoorPlumber]

Well played!

[@gfoog3911]

that is so smart and tricky, MOTHER RUSSIA ha!

[@afng4882]

nice video 👏🏻👏🏻

[@roggydawg5480]

another great video keep it up :)

[@markusmatt7209]

first comment

[@FergieFergTf2]

Could you maybe do a video on the "war of the bucket" in medieval Italy? It's quite funny.

[@kuoseis]

great video as always

[@cameronjodoin309]

I would really appreciate it if you guys and gals at Simple History could make some videos about the Boer Wars. I really love your cold war videos, thanks for reading my comment.

[@that1guy335]

This channel is so awesome

[@Real-Agent-Meta]

I need this. This is just amazing

[@Christopher-N]

I remember seeing this on TV. I don't remember if it was on PBS, or "Mysteries at the Museum," or some other program/channel.

[@thejackandtomshow2776]

Yay, another video !

[@roundhousesmash5340]

Hey Simple History could you do a video of the Caspian Sea Monster I learned that the soviet's made it and it might be one of those weird technology video's thanks guy's and I love your video's keep up the good work

[@TheLastArbiter]

Wow that's crazy. Haha I like the message at the end. I use Dashlane. It's great!

[@sinabawangcornbp4968]

keep doing the good work.Oh wait keep doing the great work.Keep it up

[@TheComedyButchers]

Keep up the good work.

[@hippiekofi]

Hey can you make a video on the u-2 incident thanks love your videos

[@effigyfaraj7689]

Omgggg this is amazing!!!!