INVENTIONS

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.

Elijah McCoy devised his first invention while working on the Michigan Central Railroad.

10 Little-Known Facts About Inventor Elijah McCoy

Elijah McCoy’s most famous creation, an automatic oil cup that lubricated steam engines on trains, may have spawned the phrase “the real McCoy.”

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.

Eadweard Muybridge: The Eccentric English Bookseller Who Created the First 'Motion Picture' Was Also a Murderer

In 1860, a tragic head injury helped turn a quiet bookseller into one of the world's most consequential photographers.

A tokay gecko demonstrates its climbing skill.

10 Modern Inventions Modeled After Nature

Sometimes the best tech is right in front of us, thanks to millions of years of evolution.

Toilets have been privy to some important events over the years.

11 Historically Significant Toilets

From Elvis's near-final resting place to the porta-johns that saved a pilot's life, these are the toilets that altered world events.

It's not so your plugs look like they have eyes.

Why Do Electrical Plugs Have Holes in the Prongs?

The original reason electrical plugs had holes isn’t the same reason they have holes these days.

Sweden's Oskar Eriksson delivers the stone during a mixed doubles match against Norway at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

What Are Those Red and Green Lights on Curling Stones?

Olympic curling stones are pretty self-policing—here's what those green and red lights can tell you.

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.

Create Some Cool Fart Licks With This Guitar Pedal Tuned for Toots

An enterprising Kickstarter campaign has introduced a fart pedal for guitarists. You'll never look at "Wind of Change" quite the same way again.

Professional boxer and culinary enthusiast George Foreman in 2001.

Knockout: When Famed Boxer George Foreman Traded His Gloves for a Grill and Sold the Sizzle

When George Foreman was approached to become a pitchman for a low-fat grill in 1994, he had a quick answer: No.

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.

Not every invention has to change the world.

20 of the Weirdest Inventions From the Past 20 Years

From clothing made from milk to selfie toasters, these are the products that had us doing a double take.

From some angles the bolwoningen appear to be caught in open-mouthed surprise.

Bolwoningen: The Golf Ball-Shaped Homes of Den Bosch, Netherlands

For golf (or ping-pong) enthusiasts, Netherlands’ ‘bolwoningen’ could be the coolest houses of all time.

The ColdSnap will transform both your kitchen and your waistline.

ColdSnap Wants to Be the Keurig of Ice Cream for Your Countertop

The countertop ColdSnap can make soft-serve or regular ice cream from aluminum pods in under 90 seconds.

Emani Outterbridge with her yarn vending machine in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Is Now Home to a Yarn Vending Machine

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.

The Evolution of the Presidential State Car

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

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

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

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).

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

10 Strange Weapons Invented During World War II

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

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