History articles
When did Velcro become mainstream?
The familiar ripping sound of a detached fastener is one of the mundane background noises of modern life, appearing on e...
Who is the most famous female inventor in the world?
The idea of a singular "most famous" female inventor is perhaps an impossible title to bestow, given that many women who...
When did gas-powered cars become popular?
The early years of the automobile resembled a chaotic, high-stakes race where several propulsion technologies jostled fo...
Who made the pen in the world?
The creation of the modern pen involves a fascinating intersection of journalism, chemistry, and necessity, tracing back...
Who made the first car engine?
Tracing the lineage of the first true car engine requires separating the history of the internal combustion engine from ...
When was the first ironing board invented?
The simple act of removing creases from fabric has been a domestic necessity for centuries, yet the specialized tool we ...
Who invented a lock and key?
The genesis of the lock and key system is not attributable to a single person or moment in history; rather, it represent...
Did Benjamin Banneker invent anything?
The contributions of Benjamin Banneker span mathematics, astronomy, and civic service, creating a legacy that often over...
Who made the first wooden clock?
The history of timekeeping is filled with fascinating mechanics, and when discussing the very first wooden clock, the na...
How was bottled water invented?
The practice of preserving and consuming water from specific sources is far older than the modern plastic bottle, stretc...
In what year was the polygraph introduced into the computer age?
The movement of the polygraph from a mechanical instrument dependent on ink and smoked paper into the digital realm mark...
Who was the father of windmill?
The concept of inventing or harnessing the wind's power carries a weight of history, with figures across millennia deser...
What was the first machine used to record audio?
The concept of capturing sound waves and holding them in a physical medium is one of the most profound technological ach...
What is the history of the running man exit sign?
The universal symbol of the running human figure, universally green or white against a contrasting background, guides mi...
Who invented the first landfill?
The precise naming of the individual who invented the *landfill* remains an elusive historical detail, largely because t...
What did Kirkpatrick Macmillan invent?
The name Kirkpatrick Macmillan might not immediately spring to mind when discussing the origins of the modern bicycle, y...
Who patented the first ballpoint pen?
The lineage of the modern writing tool we casually call a ballpoint pen is not a single, straight path but a winding rou...
What was used before ballpoint pens?
The modern office desk, the student’s backpack, or the glove compartment of a car all share one common, unassuming tool:...
Who is the real inventor of cameras?
Pinpointing a single moment or individual responsible for inventing the camera is far trickier than consulting a simple ...
Did the Greeks invent the vending machine?
The notion that the convenience of modern automated retail has its roots buried deep in antiquity isn't mere fancy; the ...
Where is John Fitch buried?
The pursuit of the final resting place for an individual named John Fitch quickly reveals a fascinating historical curio...
What was the ballpoint pen invented to replace?
The primary object the ballpoint pen was developed to supersede was the **fountain pen** [^1][^4][^8][^9]. For decades l...