During the 1970s, Williams International built a one-man vertical take-off and landing machine known as “The Flying Pulpit.” This strange flying car stood four feet high and was capable of flying in any direction for as long as 45 minutes. It could speed up, hover in the air, and rotate as well as reach a…
Back in 1935, Everyday Science and Mechanics published what just might be the world’s first attempt at an electronic reading device geared toward the individual. In other words, the first iPad. The First iPad? The so-called first iPad consisted of a microfilm reader mounted on a pole, complete with readily-accessible controls to adjust the screen…
During his remarkable life, Leonardo da Vinci designed versions of many extraordinary things that we use today – a calculator, a tank, and even a helicopter. But he also designed something that never quite cracked modern society – the monowheel or the one wheeled car. The Dynasphere: Leonardo da Vinci’s Monowheel? In 1932, Dr. John…
A group of scientists at the Space Biosciences Division at NASA recently made an astounding discovery using carbon nanotubes. What is it? And could it be “the most significant breakthrough in medical history?” Carbon Nanotubes & the NASA Biocapsule: The Most Significant Breakthrough in Medical History? Imagine a bundle of carbon nanotubes implanted under your skin….
In 1887, L.L. Zamenhof published Unua Libro in which he detailed a new language of his own creation. His goal was to have this language, since dubbed Esperanto, go global, fostering peace and international understanding in the process. Obviously, he didn’t succeed, at least not yet. But how popular is Esperanto today? The Invention of…
In 1921, the cinemagazine Eve and Everybody’s Film Review was launched. In Issue 41, a strange invention was showcased, one that wouldn’t come to practical fruition for almost a century. Did someone nearly invent the first iPhone…in 1922? Chaos! So, as many of you know, I released my first novel, Chaos, on Monday. It’s an adventure thriller along…
Thomas Edison is rightly known as one of the most brilliant inventors in history. After his death, he left behind a strange metal ring which was later found in his laboratory. Its purpose remained unknown…until now. Thomas Edison’s Talking Doll? Thomas Edison is the third-most prolific, patented inventor in American history, behind Kia Silverbrook and…
On September 7, 1776, a sudden explosion rocked New York’s East River, causing a tower of water and chunks of wood to soar high into the air. The cause behind this bedlam? America’s Turtle, an invention of David Bushnell and the world’s first submarine deployed in combat. It’s one of the most significant crafts of…