Inventions & Science

From the BB gun to actual radioactive material, some of the most popular toys of the past century have also been the most hazardous.

Alan Hart pioneered X-rays for TB detection and was the first documented trans person in the U.S. to have a hysterectomy.

In 1966, Marie Van Brittan Brown felt unsafe in Queens, so she invented the first video home security system.

The race between Tesla and Marconi to be the first to open up wireless communication continues as experiments take unexpected turns.

The ice cream cone is one of America's favorite summertime treats, but it was actually a happy accident that gave us this beloved dessert.

In 1894, two brothers opened NYC’s “Kinetoscope Parlor,” sparking the rise of movie theaters across America and the world.

Find out how Henry Ford's Model T revolutionized transportation.

Thomas Edison's most famous invention, the lightbulb, paved the way for modern life.

When coos turned to cries, this shocking ingredient was once used to help soothe infants to sleep.

Peyton Manning and guests take us through the greatest cars of all time.

"Necessity is the mother of invention."

Flying may have once felt glamorous, with white gloves and cocktails in tow, but let's be honest: the journey was anything but smooth.

Welcome to the unreal truth about everyday products of the past that were way more dangerous than meets the unsuspecting eye.

Born from supermarkets' need to speed up checkout, the bar code revolutionized market research and boosted production efficiency.

Ancient civilizations used advanced engineering techniques to access water for both health and luxury.

The Dymaxion House, invented by Buckminster Fuller, lead to the geodesic dome concept. See how it rocked the world of architecture.

Some things you might not know about this vital transportation system and role it plays in supporting the backbone of American industry.

Thomas Edison gave us the light bulb, but it wasn't easy. See how multiple failures lead to a revolution that helped light up the world.

A look at some common, and not so common contraceptives.

The first radio signals beamed across America In the early 20th century. See how this cultural revolution began.

Thomas Edison had over 400 patents in just 8-years, but not all his ideas took off. See some bizarre failures from the Wizard of Menlo Park.

The race to construct the first underwater telegraph intensifies after pressure to connect the U.S. to other countries increases.

Find out why Galileo's beliefs in a heliocentric solar system threatened the Catholic Church and caused him to stand trial for heresy.

Henrietta Lacks’ cells became the first human cell line to reproduce indefinitely.

Explore the history of using salt to keep roads safe during winter.

Check out the most popular cars of every decade, from the Ford Model T to the Tesla Model S.

Survivors describe the invisible wounds sustained after Pearl Harbor, and the measures they took to heal them.

Get the full story behind the aches, pains and dangerous history of the flu.

What would happen if the world's oil supply suddenly dried up? Fordham University Professor Christiana Peppard imagines what a world without oil would be like.

While Daylight Savings is fairly harmless today, it's origins lie in one of the most violent episodes of world history.

Engineers once believed flying at the speed of sound would be impossible, but on October 14, 1947 U.S. Air Force pilot Chuck Yeager’s sonic boom changed history.

In 1908, the Wright Brothers began testing what would become the first U.S. Army airplane. Many people who witnessed these tests had never seen a man take flight. Within ten years, entire battles would be fought in the sky.

Many inventions that we use today were invented by the military - from zippers to Super Glue and even computers. Find out more in this episode of History Countdown.

Isolated in his family home from the Black Plague, Isaac Newton devised some of the most important scientific concepts of his time.

The ambitious Albert Einstein challenges centuries of scientific thought with his new controversial idea, the General Theory of Relativity.

Although a popular concept since the 1960s, this flying invention never quite got off the ground. Find out why.

History takes a closer look at one of the greatest minds the world has ever seen. Find out what you have always wanted to know about Albert Einstein.

Albert Einstein began his career as a patent clerk in Switzerland and was known for being a daydreamer.

On November 23, 1954, General Motors celebrated their 50 millionth car by throwing a massive parade in Flint, Michigan – the home of Chevrolet's Motor Division. The celebration featured bands, dancers, floats, and the 50 millionth car itself, a gold-plated Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe.

Eli Whitney's idea for interchangeable parts led to the second wave of industrialization across the United States. Find out more about his life (and his cotton gin) in this video.

Snowmobiles are a common winter sight, but there was a time when driving in the snow took a bit more creativity.

History takes a closer look at one of the greatest minds the world has ever seen. Find out what you have always wanted to know about Albert Einstein.

In 1922, Albert Einstein finally proves his General Theory of Relativity and that same year wins the Nobel Prize, but surprisingly not for his famous theory.

History takes a closer look at one of the greatest minds the world has ever seen. Find out what you have always wanted to know about Albert Einstein.

In a Mail Call video, R. Lee Ermey answers a question from Rusty of Laurel Hill, Florida, who wants to know what the first helicopter used in combat was. Ermey explains that Russian emigrant Igor Sikorsky was the inventor of this helicopter, called the R-4. The year of 1943 was when Sikorskys R-4 became the worlds first helicopter to go into mass production; it was also the first helicopter in U.S. Military service and the first to operate from a ships deck. After a few modifications, the helicopter became the YR-4B and on April 25th, 1944 it became the first helicopter to ever fly in combat. Pilot LT. Carter Harmon used the YB-R4 to rescue 4 men who had crash landed in extremely rough terrain.

In this video clip of History's Mail Call, host R. Lee Ermey takes a look at what kind of rockets were the first used in combat. In 1807 William Congreve created the Congreve Rocket which was used in the Napoleonic Wars. It weighed 32 pounds and could fire 2,000 yards in about 29 seconds.

Hedy Lamarr, Hollywood actress, is known for more than her acting—she invented a signal-hopping technology used in Wi-Fi.

The first USB flash drives hit the market in the late 1990s and were a game-changer. No more bulky floppy disks or slow CD-Rs—USB drives were small, portable and lightning-fast.

Dr. Maurice Hilleman was already an expert in viruses and vaccines when a strange flu broke out in Hong Kong in 1957. But only he saw the threat it could pose around the world.

The census has been around since the beginning of the United States, which meant the entire population had to be counted by hand. Until one inventor saw a better way forward.

Thomas Edison wasn’t the only inventor to lay claim to the light bulb, so whose bright idea was it? Ask History finds out.

Marie Curie, Nobel prize winner, also invented mobile radiology units and saved numerous lives in World War I.

We love marshmallows in hot chocolate and s'mores, but before they were a campfire treat, these fluffy pillows were used as medicine!

Stranded in space, the Apollo 13 astronauts managed to find their way back home by using technology invented centuries earlier.

Inspired by a childhood toy, Orville and Wilbur go on to design and fly the world's first powered airplane.

Nuclear bombs played a key role in the planning and building of the Interstate Highway System.

Frustrated with the time spent cleaning his ice rink, Frank Zamboni did what any good inventor would do, and went to the drawing board.

Shots of a test nuclear explosion in Hawaii. | Courtesy of the Department of Energy Nevada Operations Office

Love it or hate it, the beer can is an iconic part of American culture. But there was a time when the beer can was almost made extinct.

Albert Einstein published four important scientific papers in 1905, referred to as his Miracle Year.

Before his death, Nikola Tesla was reportedly working on what the press called a "Death Ray." It was a weapon so powerful it could obliterate military targets from hundreds of miles away, but did it actually exist?

American history author David McCullough explores the near fatal accident Wilbur Wright had while testing an airplane.

History Uncut The History Channel: 1987 - A young Gates, donned with oversized glasses that refuse to stay in place, answers questions from the press about his dazzling new software Microsoft Excel, which "really improves the quality of your output." This video clip is courtesy of The History Channel.

After much trial and error, Alexander Graham Bell finally invents the first telephone, which connects the universe in more ways than one.

During the height of the Industrial Revolution, Josephine Cochran invented the first commercially successful dishwasher.

Grace Hopper, pioneer of computer science, lived in Virginia later in life and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

In 1969, Stanford programmer Bill Duvall sent the first inter-computer communication, which many consider to be the birth of the internet.

In the 1800s, factory work was perilous—until 12-year-old Margaret Knight stepped in and revolutionized worker safety.

Harley-Davidson changed the motorcycle industry and created a subculture like none of its competitors.

Hear the first verbal messages to travel by wire and through the air.

Take a look at some of the most luxurious cars ever manufactured, including the Cadillac v16.

The awe-inspiring Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s from enough concrete to create a two-lane highway from Los Angeles to Boston.

Who inspired Henry Ford to get into the car business? See why motorized wheels have been called one of history's greatest inventions.

Nuclear submarines are priceless military assets, owned and operated by only a handful of countries. Find out what it takes to operate one.

Coffee is one of America's favorite drinks. As shown in this caffeinated tribute, the 1960s were no exception.

Thomas Edison, America’s greatest inventor, was also deaf—a trait that sharpened his focus and fueled his groundbreaking innovations.

The invention of charcoal briquets came about thanks to a camping trip by Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.