The Long, Strange History of Teflon, the Indestructible Product Nothing Seems to Stick to
Chemists accidentally discovered the material in 1938, and since then it has been used for everything from helping to create the first atomic bomb to keeping your eggs from sticking to your frying pan
How a Blue SUV Named Stanley Revolutionized Driverless Car Technology
Almost 20 years ago, a Volkswagen Touareg, now on view at the National Museum of American History, won a competition and led to the “birth moment” of self-driving cars
Automakers Are Making New Steels for Stronger and Lighter Cars
Novel materials are hitting assembly lines with just the right properties to build cars that are both safer and more fuel-efficient
Can the Noise in Sports Arenas Be Turned Into Electricity?
Seventeen-year-old Gyeongyun Lily Min is hopeful it can someday, after testing the concept on a scale model of an NBA stadium
Six Innovative Ways Humans Have Kept Cool Throughout History
From sleeping porches to coastal escapes, these tips and tricks helped people deal with extreme heat before the advent of air-conditioning
From Sleek Swimsuits to Specialized Running Shoes, These Five Innovations Transformed the Olympics
Technology has advanced sports including fencing and pole vaulting
From Corsets to Singlets, the Olympics Have Driven the Evolution of Women’s Sportswear
The bold choices of female athletes like Serena Williams have pushed brands, including Nike and Speedo, to produce better gear
How the Rise of the Camera Launched a Fight to Protect Gilded Age Americans’ Privacy
Early photographers sold their snapshots to advertisers, who reused the individuals’ likenesses without their permission
Tired of Diplomacy as Usual, This Congressman Flew Solo to Promote World Peace
Representative Peter F. Mack’s soaring diplomatic ambitions made aviation history as he traveled through Europe, South Asia, Japan and then across the vast Pacific Ocean
Preemie Sharks Get by With a Little Help From an Artificial Uterus
Scientists manufactured a womb that could potentially help bolster populations of endangered shark species
Galveston’s Texas-Size Plan to Stop the Next Big Storm
In the wake of Hurricane Ike, engineers have been crafting a $34 billion plan to protect the city. Will it work when the next disaster arrives?
How Dungeons & Dragons Sparked a Revolution in How We Play Just About Everything
Created more than 50 years ago, the game has captured the imaginations of generations of Americans, and not just the nerdy ones
Meet the Forgotten Woman Who Revolutionized Microbiology With a Simple Kitchen Staple
Fanny Angelina Hesse introduced agar to the life sciences in 1881. A trove of unpublished family papers sheds new light on her many accomplishments
How a New Line of Expedition Ships Is Turning the Tides on Polar Seas
High-tech features are making treacherous ocean passages feel tame
Untold Stories of American History
Twenty-Five Years Before the Wright Brothers Took to the Skies, This Flying Machine Captivated America
First exhibited in 1878, Charles F. Ritchel’s dirigible was about as wacky, dangerous and impractical as any airship ever launched
These Innovative Landers Will Examine Coral Reefs in the Gulf of Mexico
Scientists plan to use what they learn to help restore communities harmed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
These Chefs Are Elevating African and Caribbean Cuisines From Carryouts to Fine Dining
More Americans are eating and learning about dishes such as fufu and curried goat in establishments recognized by the highest echelon of the culinary world
Can Virtual Coworking Platforms Make Us More Productive?
Membership services like Flow Club, Flown and Caveday offer online study halls complete with proctors and goal setting
The Supermarket Scanner Changed the Way We Buy Groceries Forever
Invented 50 years ago, the curious box deciphered an arcane kind of code to offer shoppers a trip into the future
How the Airstream Hit the Open Road
This space-age sensation kicked the American road trip into high gear
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