inventions

Emani Outterbridge with her yarn vending machine in Philadelphia.

The vending machine, which lives in a barber shop, is full of brightly colored yarn skeins created by a local crochet designer.

FDR's Lincoln K Sunshine Special at the now-closed Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Michigan.

From FDR’s modest Lincoln to Obama’s massive Ground Force One, here’s how the president’s car has changed over the years.

Homemade face masks can look cute, but feeling like you’re breathing in stale air isn’t exactly fun.

Forget deep-fried Oreos and deep-fried butter—thanks to Mark Zable, you can now have your beer and eat it, too.

Get swept away in the tale of how Henry Winstanley was swept away in the lighthouse he designed (and other fascinating yet tragic tales).

"Bat bombs" were just one of the unusual weapons developed during the Second World War.

Bat bombs, exploding rats, wind cannons, and a smelly spray were just some of the bizarre weapons invented during World War II.

Joseph Lee was sick of seeing slightly stale bread get tossed in the trash, so he found a way to give it a second life.

Sadly, Congress voted 'No' on using Thomas Edison's voting machine.

“If there is any invention on earth that we don't want down here, that is it,” a Congressman said about Edison’s voting machine.

Design expert Sara Little Turnbull was consulting for 3M in 1958 when she was tasked with creating a better bra cup. Eventually, her design would inspire the N95 mask.

Explore the life of inventor Alexander Graham Bell, the man responsible for giving us the telephone.

Franz Reichelt is now remembered as the "flying tailor."

In this episode of 'The List Show,' we take a look at experiments throughout history that definitely did not go according to plan.

The Smartduvet's Smart Layer fastens between your own duvet cover and top sheet.

The Smartduvet’s merits far outweigh any visual similarities it may have to the titular antagonist of the 1977 horror film ‘Death Bed: The Bed That Eats.’

Residents stand on bright orange tiles spaced a safe 6 feet away from each other while they wait to fill their bags with free rice.

The apparel arms race at sporting events began when the San Antonio Spurs mascot wanted to blast people in the upper deck with free stuff.

The serrated-chain blade we associate with striking down trees was originally invented to slice through pelvic bone during deliveries.

Anze Furlan/psgtproductions/iStock via Getty Images

The tiny plastic disc costs less than a penny, but the number of pizzas it has saved from a cheesy demise is incalculable.

Inventor Elijah McCoy is may or may not be "The Real McCoy."

The popularity of the surname McCoy makes it difficult to pinpoint one origin on the phrase, but here are the leading theories.

In the late 1970s, three Vermont women saw a need for more athletic support. Their invention—the sports bra—changed athletics forever.

Waze is making driving safety even easier with a feature that shows you (and lets you report) dangerous and icy roads.

The motorized attachment can be placed on most municipal garbage bins. It uses a timer to drive itself out for collection.

With this early film of a staged cat fight, Thomas Edison may have inadvertently predicted our viral cat video obsession.

The ubiquitous packaging is everywhere, from cereal to deliveries to impromptu cat beds. But where did it come from?

The Ferris line of personal item organizers allows you to grab only the things you need, leaving behind the things you don't.

When an expensive bill came due and Tesla was broke, the famous scientist and inventor got creative.

Philadelphia Is Now Home to a Yarn Vending Machine

The Evolution of the Presidential State Car

LG’s New Wearable Air Purifier Is the Face Mask of the Future

Fried Beer Exists—and We Have Texas to Thank (or Blame) for It

13 Inventors Killed By Their Own Inventions

10 Strange Weapons Invented During World War II

Joseph Lee: The 19th-Century Black Baking Pioneer Whose Bread-Crumbing Machine Revolutionized Hotel Kitchens

Thomas Edison’s First Patented Invention—a Voting Machine for Congress—Was a Total Flop

Remembering Sara Little Turnbull, Whose Bra Cup Design Became the N95 Mask

Alexander Graham Bell

14 Experiments Gone Wrong

Say Goodbye to Making Your Bed Every Morning—the Smartduvet Will Do It for You

Vietnam Installs Innovative ‘Rice ATMs’ to Give Food to Local Residents

An Explosive History of the T-Shirt Cannon

The Unkindest Cut: The Chainsaw Was Invented to Assist With Difficult Childbirths

How the Pizza Saver Transformed Pizza Delivery

Who Is 'The Real McCoy'?

A Show of Support: The Creators of the Sports Bra Are Now in the National Inventors Hall of Fame

Waze Just Added a Feature to Help Drivers Steer Clear of Unplowed Roads

This Garbage Can Will Take Itself Out to the Curb

This Caturday, Watch Two Kitties Duke It Out in the World’s Oldest Cat 'Video'

Who Invented the Cardboard Box?

This Magnetic Key and Wallet Organizer Will Get You Out the Door Faster

The Time Nikola Tesla Paid for His Hotel Room With a 'Death Ray'