How the Etch A Sketch Etched Itself Into Pop Culture
Sixty-five years after it first hit store shelves, the iconic, red-framed drawing toy continues to enchant kids, artists, and collectors alike
Can a Medical Device Restore Your Balance?
Nearly two million people worldwide have lost the simple ability to feel steady. Now researchers have developed an experimental medical implant that promises to restore the sensory machinery responsible for balance
Over 600 Years, the Golf Ball Has Evolved From a Primitive Wood Sphere to a Smart Ball With Cutting-Edge Sensors
Tracing the centuries of innovation that sent the golf ball on a wild ride through history
The Effervescent History of Seltzer, From the Early Days of Home Delivery to Today’s Trendy Cans
A century before LaCroix or Spindrift were refrigerator staples, factories in New York City were carbonating gallons and gallons of tap water each day
Engineers Are Racing to Harness the Dazzling Magic of Feathers. They Haven’t Solved the Mystery Just Yet
The natural marvels, which do everything from enabling acrobatic flight to insulating against Antarctic cold, continue to inspire new designs and technologies
This 14-Year-Old Built an App That Detects Heart Diseases in Seconds
Siddarth Nandyala wants to put his tool in the hands of medical professionals so that they can catch cardiovascular abnormalities in their early stages
This Simple but Ingenious Instrument Helped the World Measure Carbon Dioxide Levels in the Atmosphere
Scientist Charles Keeling’s invention had a profound effect on scientists’ understanding of the severity of the climate change crisis
The Innovative History of the Artificial Limb Stretches as Far Back as Ancient Egypt
Today, the technology has come so far that anyone with a 3D printer can create highly engineered and artful prostheses
This 17-Year-Old Scientist Is Making an Acetaminophen Alternative That Is Less Damaging to the Liver
Chloe Yehwon Lee’s research could change the painkiller, known by the brand name Tylenol, for the better, ultimately reducing emergency room visits and cases of liver failure
Learn the Secret Histories of These Fascinating CIA Artifacts, From Pigeon Cameras to Cufflink Compasses
With the launch of its new website, the CIA Museum is bringing its sprawling collection of spy artifacts out of the shadows and into the public eye
Australian Man Makes History by Living With a Titanium Heart for More Than 100 Days Before Receiving a Transplant
The man, who was in his 40s and suffering from severe heart failure, was also the first person to leave the hospital with a titanium heart. He is recovering well after getting a new, donor heart
The QWERTY Keyboard Will Never Die. Where Did the 150-Year-Old Design Come From?
The invention’s true origin story has long been the subject of debate. Some argue it was created to prevent typewriter jams, while others insist it’s linked to the telegraph
Five Unusual Ways People Used Lead—and Suffered For It
Cultures throughout history have put lead to use for wacky and often deeply poisonous purposes
Could This Space Oven Allow Astronauts to Finally Cook in Space?
An aerospace engineer has invented an appliance that can whip up quiches, pizzas and more in a zero-gravity environment
The Otherwise Unremarkable ‘Rock Boxes’ That Brought Pieces of the Moon Back to Earth
Far from ordinary, it took a cutting-edge NASA design to safeguard these treasures during the Apollo missions
Meet the Black Inventor Who Developed the Ice Cream Scoop, Revolutionizing a Beloved Frozen Treat
While working as a porter, Alfred L. Cralle witnessed how hard it was to serve ice cream cones one-handed. He saved the day with his mold and disher tool, patented on this day in 1897
The Eight Coolest Inventions From the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show
A needle-free injection system, a bug-watching garden camera, a wearable that helps with memory lapses and more were unveiled at the annual Las Vegas trade show
On This Day in 1785, Two Men Braved Death When They Flew Across the English Channel in a Balloon
Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries’ harrowing journey was the first aerial crossing between France and Britain
Seven Scientific Discoveries From 2024 That Could Lead to New Inventions
From indestructible tardigrades to body-merging comb jellies, animals can teach humans so much about medicine, robotics, aging and survival
How an Experiment to Amplify Light in Hospital Operating Rooms Led to the Accidental Invention of the Snow Globe
The origins of the decoration lie in Vienna’s 17th district, where the inventor’s descendants are still making them for collectors around the world
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