If Robert Watson-Watt’s name doesn’t immediately ring a bell with you, you aren’t alone. It didn’t mean anything to the Canadian police officer who was running radar one day in 1956 and […]
No Speeding Under the Radar for the Inventor of Radar
Frisbee Creator Takes a Spin As His Own Invention
Walter Frederick Morrison (January 16, 1920 – February 9, 2010) was the inventor of the Frisbee. One of the most successful toys ever made, Morrison’s invention went on to generate nearly 300 […]
Much More Than Just Another Pretty Face
Hedy Lamarr (November 9, 1914 – January 19, 2000) was once billed as the World’s Most Beautiful Woman. The Austrian-born actress landed a contract with MGM in 1937 and achieved stardom with her […]
The Darwinian Evolution of the Office Chair
Charles Darwin is credited for the invention of the modern office chair. Tired of having to constantly get up to move from one of his exhibits to another, Darwin attached wheels to […]
The Shady History of Sunglasses
Sunglasses can make the wearer look cool, and they certainly can help on sunny days, but that was not their original intent when they were invented.
How Bad Scheduling and a Misguided Con Scheme Changed the World
Johannes Gutenberg (circa 1400 – February 3, 1468) was responsible for one of the pivotal inventions in all of history: the moveable-type printing press. That invention, more than any other, allowed mankind […]
Meet the Baby Cage: the Mother of All Bad Ideas
What do you do when you live in a high-rise city apartment building and your infant wants to get some fresh air? Why, you set the little crumb cruncher precariously in a […]
Keep One Hand Free to Slap the Inventor
We all know that pulling a fire alarm as a prank shows serious lack of judgment. When it comes a lack of judgment, however, few could surpass the inventor of the Fire […]
Whether You Have ADD or Are an Introvert, the Isolator May be For You
Ritalin has only been available since the 1950’s, but people have had difficulty with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) forever. Inventor Hugo Gernsback offered his solution for highly-distractable people when he invented The […]
Close Doesn’t Count in Patent Race
February 14, 1876 was a big day for Elisha Gray. That was the day he filed his application for a patent for his revolutionary new invention. His device promised to unite the […]
Strangled Science
There is a perception among many that scientists collect facts in a calm, dispassionate manner and do not give in to bouts of irrational reaction. That perception is wrong. A perusal the […]
Wiping Away Doubt About How to Hang Toilet Paper
It has been listed as one of the top causes of marital strife. It has divided families, torn friendships asunder, and generated more letters to advice columnist Ann Landers than any other […]
Take a Shot at a Better Mousetrap
James A. Williams of Fredonia, Texas applied for a patent for a better mousetrap. Not content with something as mild as poison or a spring trap, Williams devised a means by which […]
The Greatest Things Since Sliced Bread
The next time you use the phrase “the best thing since sliced bread,” you might want to consider how recent of an invention that is. The first commercially-available device that made it […]
Easy Phone Number to Remember
1877 brought a new President to the White House and a new presidential perk: the Executive Mansion’s first telephone. President Rutherford B. Hayes had the phone installed in the White House telegraph […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 