INVENTIONS

Benjamin Franklin, whose ghost was said to have contributed some of the instructions for the New Motive Power

When 19th-Century Spiritualists Believed a "God Machine" Would Save Humanity

John Murray Spear said the spirits told him how to create a perpetual motion machine. But things didn't go quite according to plan.

MJC Plumbing, Wikimedia Commons // Public domain

5 Facts About Thomas Crapper

You may have heard some tales about Thomas Crapper, the Victorian-era inventor and sanitary engineer, but there’s a good chance those stories are untrue. In honor of Thomas Crapper Day on January 27, we want to set the record straight.

The $13,000 Epiphany That Made Orville Redenbacher a National Popcorn King

Happy National Popcorn Day!

Clarence Birdseye, the Father of the Frozen Foods Industry

Thank him for making tasty frozen pizza a reality.

Julius Neubronner/Jennavecia, Wikimedia Commons // Public domain

When Pigeon Photographers Offered a Real-Life Bird’s-Eye View of the World

An ingenious way to take aerial photos.

How Polygraphs Work—And Why They Aren't Admissible in Most Courts

Even its inventor was worried about calling it a "lie detector."

Pipe Dream: The Wacky Plan to Pump Antarctic Ice into Australia

Horse-powered cars, bombs with cat flaps, self-steering golf balls: Arthur Paul Pedrick may not have been the world's most successful inventor, but he was undoubtedly one of the most creative.

Ji-Elle, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

Benjamin Franklin and History's Most Dangerous Musical Instrument

The glass armonica was Benjamin Franklin's biggest contribution to the world of music—and then it started to kill people.

12 Facts About Guglielmo Marconi

His invention saved <em>Titanic</em> passengers.

10 Electrifying Facts About Michael Faraday

Michael Faraday's formal schooling was limited, but his work as a bookbinder allowed him to learn about chemistry, physics, and a mysterious force called "electricity."

How a Hairdresser Found a Way to Fight Oil Spills With Hair Clippings

Hair booms sop up oil in a way that's gentle on the environment.

This Waterless Toilet Made of Mushrooms Could Be Key for Refugee Needs

It turns poop into compost.

Clumsy? This Faux Airbag Will Protect Your Dropped Phone

Spring clips deploy and absorb the shock.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

7 Giant Machines That Changed the World—And 1 That Might

From a 17-mile-long particle accelerator to a football field–sized space observatory, these machines are marvels.

Bottle Service: This Water Container Decomposes in Weeks

Both the shell and the inner waterproof lining are biodegradable, which could be a game-changer for ocean pollution.

This Ketchup Will be Sold by the Slice

Food innovation takes a bold step.

A Juicy History of Steak-Umm

"Nobody is ever going to buy this sh*t!"

The Top 10 Science Stories of 2017

Science can't stop, won't stop.

Maine Residents Celebrate the Inventor of Modern-Day Earmuffs

As a teenager, Chester Greenwood of Farmington, Maine, had sensitive ears and a creative imagination.

11 Things We Learned About Hedy Lamarr From Bombshell

The actress invented a technology that would become the basis for Wi-Fi, but it wasn’t until 1990 that her accomplishments were recognized—which is the subject of a new documentary.

Scientists Create Three Puppy Clones of 'Snuppy,' the World's First Cloned Dog

They're now more than a year old.

Hole Punch History: 131 Years Ago Today, a German Inventor Patented the Essential Office Product

The industrial device has remained relatively unchanged over the years.

Frances Benjamin Johnston, Library of Congress // Public Domain

10 Inspiring Facts About George Washington Carver

The botanist and inventor devised hundreds of uses for peanuts. Peanut butter wasn’t one of them.

10 Surprising Facts about Alexander Graham Bell

The telephone was invented for love.

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