Editing HowStuffWorks (section)

== History ==
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]].<ref name ="BizJournals">[http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2002/09/02/story4.html HowStuffWorks sold to vulture fund] BizJournals 2002-09-02.</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite web |title=Whois Record for StuffO.com |url=https://whois.domaintools.com/stuffo.com |publisher=DomainTools |access-date=23 December 2020}}</ref> Stuffo.com was created, and HowStuffWorks moved its entertainment section over to the new website.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2005, the team disbanded Stuffo.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Coustan |first1=Dave |title=Stuffo (2004-2005) |url=https://www.extraface.com/ |website=Extraface |access-date=23 December 2020}}</ref>

The [[Domain name|domain]] HowStuffWorks.com attracted at least 58 million visitors annually by 2008, according to a [[Compete.com]] survey.<ref>[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]]</ref>

There have been four HowStuffWorks books—two illustrated hardcover [[coffee table book]]s, ''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-ROM]]s sold on [[fountain drink]] lids at [[Regal Theaters]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In 2005, HowStuffWorks became the exclusive online publisher for Publications International, Ltd., Consumer Guide and [[Mobil Travel Guide]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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".<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

On October 15, 2007, [[Discovery Communications]] announced it had bought HowStuffWorks for $250 million.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119240620469258721?mod=rss_whats_news_technology "Discovery Buys HowStuffWorks.com"] by the [[Wall Street Journal]]</ref> The company later chose to use the name HowStuffWorks as the title of a television series on its [[The Discovery Channel|Discovery Channel]]. The series, which focuses on [[Commodity|commodities]],<ref name="howstuffworks series page">- [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 }}</ref> premiered in November 2008 and is similar in style and content to other "how it works" programs, like ''[[Modern Marvels]]''.<ref name=WaskoJ-flowtv-2008-05-07>Wasko, Janet and Calderon, Carlos. - [http://flowtv.org/?p=1299 "Modern Marvels: Celebrating How It Works"]. - ''[[University of Oregon]]''. - May 7, 2008</ref>

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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

On April 21, 2014, Discovery Communications announced that it had sold HowStuffWorks to [[Blucora]] for $45 million.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In July 2016, Blucora announced the sale of its Infospace business, including HowStuffWorks, to OpenMail for $45 million.<ref>{{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}}</ref> OpenMail was later renamed System1.<ref name=BizJsys1>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="variety1">{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>