Inventions
How a Squid's Color-Changing Skin Inspired a New Material That Can Trap or Release Heat
The stretchy 'thermocomfort material' has potential energy-saving applications in buildings and wearables
Meet Marion Donovan, the Mother Who Invented a Precursor to the Disposable Diaper
The prolific inventor with 20 patents to her name developed the "Boater," a reusable, waterproof diaper cover in the late 1940s
A History of Cribs and Other Brilliant and Bizarre Inventions for Getting Babies to Sleep
Generations of parents have relied on contraptions, both clever and crazy, to give their infants—and themselves—some rest
These Drones Can Perch and Dangle Like Birds and Bats
Scientists have designed adaptable landing gear that enables UAVs to "rest" and save power
How Origami Is Revolutionizing Industrial Design
Scientists and engineers are finding practical applications for the Japanese art form in space, medicine, robotics, architecture and more
A Brief History of Solar Panels
Inventors have been advancing solar technology for more than a century and a half, and improvements in efficiency and aesthetics keep on coming
This Transparent Wood Could Be an Energy-Saver in Green Buildings
Researchers in Sweden have developed a material, able to store and release heat, that could potentially be used in windows
The Motorized Scooter Boom That Hit a Century Before Dockless Scooters
Launched in 1915, the Autoped had wide appeal, with everyone from suffragettes to postmen giving it a try
Thank One of America's Most Prolific Inventors for the Hinged Plastic Easter Egg
Donald Weder holds some 1,400 U.S. patents for inventions, including the ubiquitous egg and a process for making plastic Easter grass
Inside Professor Nanayakkara’s Futuristic Augmented Human Lab
An engineer at the University of Auckland asks an important question: What can seamless human-computer interfaces do for humanity?
Drones’ Newest Cargo Might Just Be Human Organs
Surgeon Joseph Scalea is developing a cooler, biosensors and an online platform with GPS to monitor organs in transport in real time
Charles Sanna's Cocoa Packets Changed the Way We Drink Hot Chocolate
Sanna invented Swiss Miss, the first instant hot chocolate mix that could be made with hot water instead of milk
Temple Grandin's Pig-Stunning System Came to Her in a Vision
Patented 20 years ago, the invention never took off. But the renowned animal science professor still thinks its time may come
Thank This World War II-Era Film Star for Your Wi-Fi
As the National Portrait Gallery acquires a film poster of Hedy Lamarr, it’s worth reflecting on her double life as an actress and a pioneering inventor
This New Material Acts Like a Giant Mute Button
The metamaterial silences noise while allowing for airflow, making it a potential soundproofing material for airplanes, HVAC and more
The Patents Behind Basketball
This March Madness consider how the sport has evolved in its 128-year history, through innovations in ball design, hoops and training devices
Meet the Female Inventor Behind Mass-Market Paper Bags
A self-taught engineer, Margaret Knight bagged a valuable patent, at a time when few women held intellectual property
The Original 'Dumbo' Story Would Have Had More Twists and Turns
Before soaring into theaters, Disney’s flying elephant was about to be published as a scrolling children’s book
The Madcap Chemists of Booze
At Lost Spirits Distillery in Los Angeles, high-tech instruments accelerate the aging process of precious whiskeys and rums
Seven Innovations That Made a Splash at This Year's SXSW
The massive Austin event has become the place for unveiling cutting-edge tech, from educational apps to virtual reality art
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