Inventions & Science

From Ancient Egypt to America in the Civil War, the use of booby traps has been a long-held tactic to subdue an enemy.

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.

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.

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

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

Check out some of the Damascus swords that have been built by bladesmiths in this compilation from Forged in Fire.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Kevin Knight describes how a team developed a high-tech codebreaking AI called Carmel to crack the Zodiac cipher.

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.

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

On October 29, 1969, Stanford programmer Bill Duvall sent a single-word message—"login"—to UCLA student programmer Charley Kline, 350 miles away. Transmitted between two computers that each filled an entire room, this message marked the first communication between networked computers and is widely regarded as the birth of the internet.

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.

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

At 31, Henrietta Lacks unknowingly donated cells at Johns Hopkins; they became the first human cell line able to reproduce indefinitely.

The first electric chair execution did not go as planned.

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

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

On January 6, 1838, Samuel Morse demonstrated his telegraph at Speedwell Iron Works, using electric signals to send coded messages.

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

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

"Necessity is the mother of invention."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

A failed wallpaper cleaning product gets a second chance as a classroom craft and accidentally becomes one of America’s most iconic toys.

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

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

From dentures that could explode at the dinner table and stiff shirt collars that could strangle us, to toxic hair implants, the pursuit of the perfect look once pushed people to surprisingly dangerous lengths.

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.

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.

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.

A failed attempt to create a super-strong adhesive accidentally results in a weak, reusable one—leading to the unlikely invention of the Post-it Note, which goes on to become one of the world’s most recognizable tools for work and 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.

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.

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

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.

Beulah Louise Henry was an American inventor whose creations—including the double chain stitch sewing machine, vacuum ice cream freezer, hair curler, double-ended umbrella and improved can opener—helped revolutionize manufacturing technology.

By the 1990s, synthetic voices for computers and the disabled were mostly male until researcher Ann Syrdal helped develop the first functional female synthetic voice, paving the way for AI assistants like Siri.

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

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.

In 1959, AI and machine learning pioneer Arthur Samuel devised the Samuel Checkers-playing Program. This was one of the first instances of successful self-learning programs in the world, and a clear insight into the power and future of AI.

The first commercial transatlantic passenger flight was operated by Pan American on June 28, 1939.

A naval engineer’s failed attempt to stabilize sensitive ship equipment accidentally sends a spring tumbling down a shelf, sparking the creation of the Slinky, a simple misfire that bounces its way into becoming one of the most beloved toys of all time.

What do you do with superglue that instantly sticks to everything?

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.

Uncover the fascinating journey of nuclear technology, from its origins and weapons to its transformative impact on energy, medicine and global security.

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

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

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

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

Early driving was risky—rumble seats, built-in cigarette lighters and fire-prone cars made even short trips dangerous.

In 1803 Italy, a scientist tests the idea that the body runs on electricity using an executed prisoner, sparking eerie questions about reanimation.

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

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 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.

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?

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

Many everyday tools—from zippers to Super Glue to computers—originated as military inventions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Remember when playtime meant tempting fate? From toy belts that fired speeding projectiles to high-powered pogo sticks that sent us soaring, these perilous playthings were made for kids—but their risks were anything but child’s play.