Inventions
The National Weather Service Began as a Crowdsourcing Experiment
Smithsonian Secretary Joseph Henry used an army of volunteers in what would eventually become the nation's weather forecasting operation
A Brief History of the Sonogram
In the mid-1950s, a Scottish obstetrician became the first to apply ultrasound technology to a pregnant human abdomen
The Rugged History of the Pickup Truck
At first, it was all about hauling things we needed. Then the vehicle itself became the thing we wanted
Scientists Design a Robotic Chameleon That Crawls and Changes Color
A new artificial skin can sense its surroundings and create a camouflage coat
How the Adirondack Chair Became the Feel-Good Recliner That Cures What Ails You
The furniture piece has gone through countless permutations, but it all started at a time when resting outdoors was thought to be a matter of life or death
'Star Wars'–Like Running Robot Finishes 5K on Two Legs
The untethered bipedal bot made history by completing the outdoor course in 53 minutes
Sharks' Intestines Spiral Like a Valve Invented by Nikola Tesla
Tesla's ingenious valve promoted a one-way flow of fluid without the need for moving parts, but, it turns out, evolution got there first
This Straw Is Designed to Instantly Cure Hiccups
The 'HiccAway' stopped cases of hiccups 92 percent of the time during an early trial
The First Mobile Phone Call Was Made 75 Years Ago
The evolution of the cell phone illustrates what it takes for technologies to go from breakthrough to big time
How 'One Hundred and One Dalmatians' Saved Disney
Sixty years ago, the company modernized animation when it used Xerox technology on the classic film
This Compact PCR Test for Covid-19 Could Give Accurate Results in 15 Minutes
The speed and ease of the DASH testing platform would be a boon for screening efforts
A Brief History of the Cheez-It
America's iconic orange cracker turns 100 this year
Master Lock Has Had a Hold on the Industry for 100 Years
A century ago, Harry Soref made his Milwaukee-based company into a world leader with his invention of the laminated steel padlock
Inflatable Origami Structures Could Someday Offer Emergency Shelter
An applied mathematics team created origami-inspired tents that can collapse to the size of a twin mattress with ease
The Surprising Success Story of Fish Sticks
The 1950s convenience food has enjoyed a winning streak—no less so than during the Covid-19 pandemic
This Ultra-White Paint May Someday Replace Air Conditioning
Developed by researchers at Purdue University, the paint reflects 98.1 percent of sunlight
This High Schooler Invented Color-Changing Sutures to Detect Infection
After winning a state science fair and becoming a finalist in a national competition, Dasia Taylor now has her sights set on a patent
A Brief History of the Harmonica
How the world’s handiest instrument took over American music
Eight of Literature's Most Powerful Inventions—and the Neuroscience Behind How They Work
These reoccuring story elements have proven effects on our imagination, our emotions and other parts of our psyche
How Scientist Jennifer Doudna Is Leading the Next Technological Revolution
A new book from Steve Jobs biographer Walter Isaacson offers an incisive portrait of the gene editing field that is changing modern medicine
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