Inventions & Science
Science and inventions have propelled human progress, as well as led to human destruction. From the creation of the first stone tools to reusable space rockets to the atomic bomb, each step builds upon the history of human knowledge.
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The epic race to standardize the electrical system—later known as the War of the Currents—lit up 19th-Century America.
Here are the milestones and innovations that drove the automotive revolution.
Some of the modern world's most groundbreaking technologies emerged during this 30-year period.
Barcode tech was first patented in 1949, but engineers came up with the UPC code in the 1970s to answer a need for better efficiency in grocery stores.
Top 10 Kitchen Inventions That Changed Food Forever
Top 10 Kitchen Inventions That Changed Food Forever
From fire to the air fryer, humans have a remarkable history of innovating in the kitchen. Discover the 10 kitchen inventions that changed food forever, in this episode of History Countdown.
3 Important Inventions Discovered by Accident
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The printing press, which allows for the mass production of printed matter, originated in China before Johannes Gutenberg perfected his version around 1450.
Nicolaus Copernicus was a Polish astronomer who developed a heliocentric theory of the solar system, upending the belief that Earth was the center of the universe.
As interest in cultural, intellectual and scientific exploration flourished, support for an all-powerful church diminished.
An 1838 photo that accidentally captured a man getting a shoe shine on a Paris street was almost lost to history. Twice.
The Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, were inventors and aviators who achieved one of the first flights with a powered airplane.
Coca-Cola’s disastrous attempt at rebranding Coke in 1985 delivered a painful lesson: Don't mess with a classic.
Multiple inventors deserve credit for the technology, which had its origins in the 19th century.
These inventions boldly go where “Star Trek” went before.
This 1960s chatbot was a precursor to AI. Its maker grew to fear it.
After inspecting burrs that had stuck to his dog’s fur, a Swiss engineer got an idea.
They have actually been around since ancient times.
Phones have transformed since Alexander Graham Bell’s first call. Sprawling box sets and rotary dials led to push buttons and smartphones.
When Were Cars Invented? The 1901 Mercedes, designed by Wilhelm Maybach for Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, deserves credit for being the first modern motorcar in all essentials. Its thirty-five-horsepower engine weighed only fourteen pounds per horsepowe...
Many people associate aspirin with willow bark, but the pills in your cabinet don’t come from a tree.
While standing near a magnetron in an aerospace research facility, an engineer noticed that a chocolate bar in his pocket melted—and he got an idea.
