Topic

Technology & Innovation

A collection of 98 issues

From Metropolis to Lucy's Living Room: The Unseen Genius of Karl Freund

Karl Freund, the visionary cinematographer behind German Expressionist masterpieces like Metropolis and Hollywood horrors like Dracula, was also the technical innovator who developed the multi-camera system for I Love Lucy, forever changing how television sitcoms were made and looked.

From Literal to Legendary: The Real Reason We Call It the 'Silver Screen'

The term 'Silver Screen' isn't just a metaphor. Early movie theaters literally used screens coated with silver or aluminum paint. This metallic surface was highly reflective, making the dim projections of the era bright enough for audiences to enjoy.

Not Just Random Debris: The Surprising True Story of the Man Named Shrapnel

Did you know 'shrapnel' isn't just any piece of metal from an explosion? The term comes from its inventor, Henry Shrapnel, a British officer who created a revolutionary exploding cannonball filled with musket balls, forever changing the face of warfare and etching his name into history.

Beyond the Piston: Rediscovering the Ingenious World of External Combustion Engines

We all know internal combustion engines, but their counterpart, External Combustion Engines (ECEs), are a fascinating and distinct category. From classic steam trains to modern solar power, ECEs generate power by heating a fluid from an outside source, offering unique fuel flexibility.

A Known Flaw: How 57 Tire Blowouts Led to Concorde's Tragic End

The fiery crash of Concorde Flight 4590 wasn't a freak accident. It was the catastrophic culmination of a known design flaw that had caused 57 previous tire blowouts. This is the story of the warnings that were tragically ignored, leading to the demise of a supersonic icon.

Faster Than The Sun: The Story of Concorde's Unbeaten 2-Hour, 52-Minute Atlantic Crossing

In February 1996, a British Airways Concorde flew from New York to London in a staggering 2 hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds. This record for the fastest passenger transatlantic flight remains unbroken, a testament to a golden age of supersonic travel that has since vanished.

From Cardboard to Code: How South Park's Animation Revolutionized TV Satire

South Park's 1997 pilot took three months to create with stop-motion cardboard cutouts. A switch to computer animation enabled a legendary six-day production cycle, transforming the show into a real-time satirical engine that can parody news as it happens, a feat impossible with its old method.

The $30,000/Gram Problem: How a Rare Isotope Is Shaping the Future of Fusion Energy

Tritium, the essential fuel for fusion projects like ITER, is critically scarce. With a global supply of only a few dozen kilograms and a $30,000/gram price tag, scientists must develop technology to breed this rare isotope from lithium to make fusion power a sustainable reality.

Hey, Hey, You, You: How Avril Lavigne's 'Girlfriend' Became YouTube's First 100 Million View Video

In 2007, Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" made history as YouTube's first video to hit 100 million views. Amid controversy over view inflation and a race against "Evolution of Dance," the pop-punk anthem's success cemented the platform's power in the music industry and defined a new era of virality.