00:00 This episode of "Stuff You Should Know" explains the concept of Daylight Saving Time and clears up false rumors about why it exists and how it started.

04:43 Benjamin Franklin proposed the idea of daylight saving time as a way to make better use of daylight, but it was generally dismissed as satire until it was later implemented by others.

08:58 Daylight saving time is a period of the year where the clock is adjusted to save daylight, and while it is observed by many countries, there are some exceptions and it can be a contentious issue.

13:54 Daylight saving time was proposed by George Vernon Hudson and William Willett, with Willett being the main advocate, and it was initially implemented during World War One to conserve coal supplies.

18:19 The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established guidelines for states to follow if they chose to observe daylight saving time, and it remained uninterrupted until 1986, except for a period during the Arab oil embargo where the U.S. extended daylight saving time to save energy.

22:35 Counterarguments to daylight saving time include studies that show minimal energy savings, but proponents argue that there are other benefits such as fewer traffic accidents and decreased crime in the evenings, as well as increased outdoor activities like golfing; however, skeptics argue that daylight saving time is primarily about consumer spending and that farmers, who used to be opposed to it, are now less affected due to automation, while airlines face difficulties with scheduling when flying to places that do not observe daylight saving time.

26:56 Daylight saving time has been found to lead to a 1% rise in energy demand and an increase in heating costs, as well as potential negative effects on children waiting for the bus in darker mornings and an increase in crime in the fall, although these findings are not widely supported by studies.

31:17 Proposals to eliminate daylight saving time altogether or to implement extended or double daylight saving time have been suggested as alternatives to the current system, which has been found to disrupt circadian rhythms and potentially lead to negative health effects such as heart attacks and increased suicide rates among individuals with bipolar disorder.

35:17 The hosts discuss a contest for listeners to win a trip to Atlanta, including a tour of the studio and lunch with the hosts, and explain how to enter the contest by liking the HowStuffWorks Facebook page and referring friends for a chance to win a Kindle Fire.