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The Stories Behind 20 Inventions That Changed the World

Brian Mueller (super soaker), New Africa (light bulb and seat belt), Feng Yu (duct ape), los_jan (toilet), non123 (Walkman), 3DMI (Hubble), Areeya_Ann (birth control pills) // Shutterstock; Julia Lemba (backgrounds) // iStock via Getty Images Plus

The Stories Behind 20 Inventions That Changed the World

11 NASA Inventions We Use Every Day

OK fine, maybe you don't use this every day.

11 NASA Inventions We Use Every Day

Who Invented the Pencil?

Pencils have a long evolutionary history.

Who Invented the Pencil?

Amazon Has an Entire Section Dedicated to Shark Tank Products

Matt Doyle/Getty Images

Amazon Has an Entire Section Dedicated to Shark Tank Products

This Self-Rinsing Bowl Cleans and Refills Your Pet's Water While You're at Work

Cheerble/Kickstarter

Keep Reading All Night Long With This Unobtrusive Book Light

BOWIO/Indiegogo

8 Creative Ways People Kept Cool Before Air Conditioning

Air conditioning—and lighter clothing—have made summer days a bit more bearable.

Amazon Will Give You $10 to Use During Prime Day for Supporting Small Businesses

Growlerwerks/Amazon

Who's the Mason of Mason Jar Fame?

Mason jars solved a food storage problem.

20 of the Weirdest Inventions From the Past 20 Years

Not every invention has to change the world.

Organize Your Ingredients and Make Cooking Simpler With This Kitchen Prep Helper

Prepdeck/Amazon

10 African American Inventors Who Changed the World

President Barack Obama presents George Carruthers with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in February 2013.

Bolwoningen: The Golf Ball-Shaped Homes of Den Bosch, Netherlands

From some angles the bolwoningen appear to be caught in open-mouthed surprise.

ColdSnap Wants to Be the Keurig of Ice Cream for Your Countertop

The ColdSnap will transform both your kitchen and your waistline.

9 Things Invented By Accident

These sugary summer treats were an accidental invention.

Philadelphia Is Now Home to a Yarn Vending Machine

Emani Outterbridge with her yarn vending machine in Philadelphia.