INVENTORS

Do DIY Air Purifiers Really Work to Combat Wildfire Smoke, COVID, and Other Pollutants?

Can your MacGyver air scrubber do the work of a purifier costing hundreds of dollars? Science says yes.

Elizabeth Magie created 'The Landlord’s Game,' a precursor to 'Monopoly.'

20 Things You Might Not Know Were Invented by Women

Here are some of the best inventions by women throughout history, from the paper bag to windshield wipers, circular saws, and more.

Ive Got A Secret - Philo Farnsworth, Buster Keaton 1957

Philo Farnsworth, Pioneer of Television, Appeared on TV Only Once

The man who made electronic television signals a reality made only one on-camera appearance. No one knew who he was.

Madam C.J. Walker Is Mattel’s Latest ‘Inspiring Women’ Barbie Doll

America’s first female self-made millionaire is joining the likes of Jane Goodall and Ida B. Wells in the ‘Inspiring Women’ Barbie series.

John Harvey Kellogg, enthusiastic irrigator of colons.

11 of John Harvey Kellogg's Strangest Inventions

John Harvey Kellogg, one of the minds behind Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, spent much of his life devising ways to improve human health and vitality.

The technology isn't quite this advanced.

Coming Soon: Lickable TV Screens

Smell-O-Vision never quite caught on. Will “Taste the TV”—a flatscreen you can lick—have more success?

Without Ed Lowe, we might not be so friendly with cats.

Ed Lowe, the Inventor Behind Kitty Litter

With kitty litter, Ed Lowe changed how cats and humans bonded. But not everyone understood the idea: One woman tried feeding it to her cat.

Pencils have a long evolutionary history.

Who Invented the Pencil?

French engineer Nicolas-Jacques Conté created what is considered the modern pencil, though many have since made improvements.

Amazon Has an Entire Section Dedicated to Shark Tank Products

Discover Amazon Launchpad's 'Shark Tank' Collection, featuring products from the show like the Saucemoto dip cup and Basepaws' cat at-home DNA kits.

Mason jars solved a food storage problem.

Who's the Mason of Mason Jar Fame?

John Landis Mason revolutionized food preservation in 1858. Too bad he didn't see jack in terms of money for it.

Vintage illustration of Thomas Edison and the phonograph.

11 Surprising Facts About Thomas Edison

You may know that Thomas Edison was a prolific inventor who revolutionized the electric light bulb. But have you heard about his creepy talking dolls?

Kenya's Wangari Maathai isn't a household name, but she should be.

Meet Nina Chhita, the Artist Celebrating Diverse Female Scientists With Her Instagram Illustrations

From ‘Hidden Figure’ Katherine Johnson to female Nobel Laureates you may not have heard of, Nina Chhita's Instagram is giving us some important history lessons.

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

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

13 Inventors Killed By Their Own Inventions

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

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

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.

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

“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.

Alexander Graham Bell

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

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

Who Is '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.

A Teenage Inventor May Have Solved the Problem of Car Blindspots

Trying to see around a car pillar can be frustrating. Thanks to a Pennsylvania teen, we might not have to deal with it for much longer.

Left: Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons; Right: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

When Thomas Edison Tried Besting Nikola Tesla by Building a "Spirit Phone"

One of Thomas Edison's final inventions was a machine he built to contact spirits—and to show up his rival Nikola Tesla one last time.

Thomas Edison

Inventor Thomas Edison's life was about more than just the light bulb. Find out more about this 20th-century trailblazer.

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

6 Inventors Killed by Their Own Inventions

From the man who died because of a failed parachute suit to the daredevil who perished in a stunt gone wrong, sometimes brilliance comes with a price.

A photo of inventor Thomas Edison, who was born in Milan, Ohio, on February 11, 1847.

17 of the World’s Oldest Films, Captured by Thomas Edison

From the first recording of a kiss to the greatest cat video on the internet, Thomas Edison captured the history of America.

English actress Jenny Hanley shows off her Frisbee skills in 1971.

How an Empty Dessert Plate Inspired the Frisbee

On January 23, 1957, the Wham-O toy company began producing their first Frisbees. But the flying plaything's history goes back even 20 years earlier, to a couple of bored teenagers.