Inventions
The Accidental Invention of the Slinky
The idea for the timeless toy sprung to mind when Naval engineer Richard James dropped some coiled wires
How Biology Inspires Future Technology
Bioengineers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute showcase their ingenious medical, industrial and environmental designs at the Cooper Hewitt
A Brief History of the Waffle Iron
Cornelius Swartwout’s invention, patented more than 150 years ago, helped feed America’s passion for waffles
You Can Thank Chemist Stephanie Kwolek for Bulletproof Vests and Yoga Pants
The long-serving researcher at DuPont invented kevlar and contributed to spandex
14 Fun Facts About Roller Coasters
For starters, one of the oldest coasters in America carried coal before it carried passengers
How the Wiffle Ball Came to Be
Patented in 1957, the lightweight ball saved players' arms and more than a few windows
These Lenses Zoom With a Couple Blinks of Your Eyes
Researchers have developed a soft polymer lens that changes shape based on electrical input
The Patents Behind Seven Classic Back-to-School Supplies
From backpacks to crayons, every piece of gear has an invention story
For 100 Years, KitchenAid Has Been the Stand-Up Brand of Stand Mixers
Even celebrity chef Julia Child said that the sleek appliance made mixing 'marvelous'
The 19th-Century Mania for Ice Skating in the Summer
Europeans sought to recreate the luxury of wintering in the Alps with an indoor rink attraction
Mark Twain's Quest to Bring Affordable Watches to the Masses
At one time, he even invested in a watch company that launched a signature 'Mark Twain' pocket watch
This Device Can Hear You Talking to Yourself
AlterEgo could help people with communication or memory problems by broadcasting internal monologues
Thirty Years Ago, Game Boy Changed the Way America Played Video Games
Nintendo's handheld gaming system proved to be a huge success, thanks to its durability and battery life
Why Lie Detector Tests Can't Be Trusted
Federal agencies embraced the polygraph in the 1950s to reassure the public that they could unmask spies
The Most Irish Town in America Was Built on Seaweed
After discovering 'Irish moss' in coastal waters, Irish immigrants launched a booming mossing industry in Scituate, Massachusetts
The Scientist Behind Some of Our Favorite Junk Foods
William A. Mitchell invented Cool Whip, Pop Rocks, Tang and other 20th-century treats
How Scientists Are Using Eggshells to Grow New Bone
People with bones damaged by accidents, cancer or aging could one day benefit from bone grafts strengthened with chicken eggshells
Mussels' Sticky Threads Could Inspire Ways to Clean Up Oil Spills, Purify Water and More
A new review shows the sticky threads the bivalves used to cling to rocks could have lot of potential engineering applications
Five Scientific Findings That Could Lead to New Inventions
From cat tongues to dandelions seeds, engineers often look in peculiar places for inspiration
When Twister Was Too Risqué for America
The hugely successful game, patented 50 years ago this week, had its critics at first
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