Inventions
Are Spray-On Antennas the Future of Wearables?
The ultra-thin, flexible antennas can be applied to nearly any surface using an airbrush
How Center Pivot Irrigation Brought the Dust Bowl Back to Life
Crop circles saved the Great Plains when farmer Frank Zybach invented a new sprinkler system in the 1940s
A Brief History of the RV
In 1915, technology merged with the "back to nature" movement, leading to the invention of the motorhome
This Device Tracks How Well You Wash Your Hands
Biomedical engineers have developed a wall-mounted scanner that can detect microbes that cause foodborne illness
Inventing a Longer-Lasting Popsicle
A British design firm has used a half-forgotten World War II technique to create ice pops that don't melt as fast as the ordinary ones
Poster From One of the Earliest Public Movie Screenings Is Heading to Auction
The artwork advertised the Lumière brothers’ pioneering Cinématographe
A Brief History of the One-Size-Fits-All Tube Sock
Originally marketed as sportswear, the tube sock became a stylish accessory thanks to Farrah Fawcett and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The Computers That Changed the World
A Seattle museum keeps its vintage computers in working order, so that visitors can experience the evolution of the machine
Could These Glasses Cure Your Motion Sickness?
These odd-looking spectacles are the latest invention to try to resolve the common ailment
The Pickup Truck's Transformation From Humble Workhorse to Fancy Toy
From 'rusty rattletraps' to 'big black jacked-up' rides, the vehicles symbolize blue-collar identity while flaunting bourgeois prosperity
Personal Flying Machines of the Future Won't Look Much Like Jet Packs
Judging from the GoFly competition, they're much more likely to resemble flying motorbikes
Let Us Tell You S'more About America’s Favorite Campfire Treat
The gooey snack became popular thanks to technological advances of the Industrial Revolution, which brought cheap sweets to the masses
How Ketchup Revolutionized How Food Is Grown, Processed and Regulated
The condiment really is the perfect complement to the American diet
How Native Civilizations Innovated to Conquer the Wilderness
A new activity center at the American Indian Museum in NYC sheds light on the original know-how of the Americas
Scientists Built the World’s Smallest House
Even a mite wouldn’t fit inside this itty-bitty structure
A Brief History of America’s Obsession With Sneakers
Invented for athletics, sneakers eventually became status symbols and an integral part of street style
Could This New Tactile Font Help People Who Lose Their Sight Late In Life?
ELIA Frames may serve some blind readers better than braille, but the new system has its skeptics
The Story Behind Rube Goldberg’s Complicated Contraptions
In his time he was a world-famous cartoonist, but today he’s best known for these wacky inventions
This Conductive Paint Turns Walls Into Giant Touchscreens
The interactive surfaces could make "smart" home features much more subtle and affordable
Could This Futuristic Vest Give Us a Sixth Sense?
For starters, the new technology—appearing on 'Westworld' before hitting the market—could help the deaf parse speech and ambient noise
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