Inventions & Science
Science and inventions have propelled human progress, as well as led to human destruction. From the creation of the first stone tools to reusable space rockets to the atomic bomb, each step builds upon the history of human knowledge.
Start Here
The epic race to standardize the electrical system—later known as the War of the Currents—lit up 19th-Century America.
Here are the milestones and innovations that drove the automotive revolution.
Some of the modern world's most groundbreaking technologies emerged during this 30-year period.
Barcode tech was first patented in 1949, but engineers came up with the UPC code in the 1970s to answer a need for better efficiency in grocery stores.
Top 10 Kitchen Inventions That Changed Food Forever
Top 10 Kitchen Inventions That Changed Food Forever
From fire to the air fryer, humans have a remarkable history of innovating in the kitchen. Discover the 10 kitchen inventions that changed food forever, in this episode of History Countdown.
3 Important Inventions Discovered by Accident
Explore All Related Topics
From an oar-powered prototype to the original U.S. Navy submarine, here are nine undersea vehicles that were among the first in history to take the plunge.
These secret codes enabled secure communication—at least until others found ways to crack them.
Originally a second banana character in 'Donkey Kong' in 1981, Mario went on to conquer the video game world.
Coca-Cola’s disastrous attempt at rebranding Coke in 1985 delivered a painful lesson: Don't mess with a classic.
From the Batmobile to Mr. Bean's Minis...from KITT to General Lee...here are some of the coolest, most memorable small-screen car stars.
In 1886, German inventor Karl Benz patented what is generally regarded as the first modern car. Less than two decades later, in 1903, Massachusetts and Missouri became the first states to require a driver’s license, although it wasn’t necessary to pass a test to obtain one. In 1908, Henry Ford launched the Model T, the […]
Appearing in 1900, the first license plates in the United States were made of leather.
Seat belts came in simpler designs before safety concerns drove innovation, leading to the three-point version that is standard today.
Inventors have tinkered with self-driving cars for more than 100 years.
When Were Cars Invented? The 1901 Mercedes, designed by Wilhelm Maybach for Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, deserves credit for being the first modern motorcar in all essentials. Its thirty-five-horsepower engine weighed only fourteen pounds per horsepowe...
The Model T, sold by the Ford Motor Company from 1908 to 1927, was the earliest effort to make a car that most people could actually buy. It became so popular at one point that a majority of Americans owned one, directly helping rural Americans become more connected with the rest of the country and leading to the numbered highway system.
Here are the milestones and innovations that drove the automotive revolution.
Mistakes That Made America: Slinky
A naval engineer’s failed attempt to stabilize sensitive ship equipment accidentally sends a spring tumbling down a shelf, sparking the creation of the Slinky, a simple misfire that bounces its way into becoming one of the most beloved toys of all time.
