Inventions
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
Take a Virtual Tour of Failed Designs, From the DeLorean to Google Glass
An online exhibition showcases 40 creative flops, including a curvy ping-pong table and a doll dubbed Little Miss No-Name
A Brief History of the Invention of the Home Security Alarm
A hardworking nurse envisioned a new way to know who was at the door
From Floating Cities to Biodegradable Burial Pods and Flying Cars, the Smithsonian Envisions a Multitude of Futures
The Arts and Industries Building will reopen this November with a thought-provoking exploration of what lies ahead for humanity
How a Railroad Engineer From Nebraska Invented the World's First Ski Chairlift
The device was part of an elaborate plan on behalf of Union Pacific to boost passenger rail travel in the American West
These Are the Highest-Resolution Photos Ever Taken of Snowflakes
Photographer and scientist Nathan Myhrvold has developed a camera that captures snowflakes at a microscopic level never seen before
How 19th-Century Activists Ditched Corsets for One-Piece Long Underwear
Before it was embraced by men, the union suit, or 'emancipation suit,' was worn by women pushing for dress reform
A New Device Tracks Lobsters as They Move Through the Supply Chain
Researchers hope the technology can be used to reduce the number of the crustaceans that die along the way
Ten Innovators to Watch in 2021
These visionaries are imagining an exciting future with chicken-less eggs, self-piloting ships and more
Ten Scientific Discoveries From 2020 That May Lead to New Inventions
From soaring snakes to surfing suckerfish, nature is an endless source of inspiration
How PEZ Evolved From an Anti-Smoking Tool to a Beloved Collector's Item
Early in its history, the candy company made a strategic move to find its most successful market
The Soviet Spy Who Invented the First Major Electronic Instrument
Created by a Russian engineer, the theremin has delighted and confounded audiences since 1920
How the 2020 Presidential Race Became the 'Texting Election'
Campaigns took full advantage of text-to-donate technology and peer-to-peer texting to engage voters this election cycle
The Intoxicating History of the Canned Cocktail
Since the 1890s, the premade cocktail has flip-flopped from novelty item to kitschy commodity—but the pandemic has sales surging
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