Topic

Technology & Innovation

A collection of 99 issues

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.

Operation Popeye: How the U.S. Secretly Weaponized the Weather in Vietnam

In 1967, the U.S. military secretly used cloud seeding to extend Vietnam's monsoon season. Codenamed Operation Popeye, the program was deemed 'outstandingly successful' at disrupting enemy supply lines, a fact confirmed in a declassified memo to President Johnson.

The Prime Meridian's 102-Meter Secret: Why Your GPS Says You're Not at 0° Longitude

Tourists flock to Greenwich to straddle the historic Prime Meridian. But the brass line marking 0° longitude is off! Due to modern GPS technology, the true Prime Meridian is now 102.5 meters to the east, a fascinating quirk of historical astronomy and modern satellite science.

Buried Beans: The 20-Year-Old Secret to Perfect Decaf Coffee That Never Reached Your Cup

Over two decades ago, Japanese scientists used genetic engineering to create coffee plants that produce naturally decaffeinated beans, promising superior flavor. This article explores the groundbreaking science and why this coffee has never made it to market, despite its potential.

Ironclads on Land: How the Royal Navy Invented the Modern Tank

The first battle tanks were developed not by the army, but by the British Royal Navy during WWI. Spearheaded by Winston Churchill's 'Landships Committee', this naval heritage is why tanks still use nautical terms like hull, turret, deck, and hatch to describe their parts.

From Thermostats to Theft: The Chilling Story of the 2013 Target Hack

In 2013, hackers orchestrated one of history's largest retail data breaches by targeting an unexpected weak link: Target's HVAC vendor. By stealing the vendor's network credentials, they gained a foothold into Target's system, ultimately compromising 40 million credit and debit cards.

The Pitch That Launched a Million Machines: How 'Artificial Intelligence' Got Its Name

In 1955, 'artificial intelligence' wasn't a buzzword but a clever phrase in a funding proposal. Computer scientist John McCarthy coined the term to secure a grant for a summer workshop, inadvertently naming and launching the entire field of AI research we know today.

Why is the Coronado Bridge Curved? The Genius Engineering Behind a San Diego Icon

The Coronado Bridge's iconic curve is a clever engineering feat. It extends the bridge's length to 2.12 miles, allowing it to reach the 200-foot height required for Navy warships to pass underneath while maintaining a safe, gradual incline over the short span of San Diego Bay.

MLB's Replay Nerve Center: Why Every Challenged Call Goes Through New York City

Ever wonder who makes the call during an MLB replay review? It's not an umpire in a booth at the ballpark. Every single challenged play is sent to a high-tech Replay Operations Center in New York City, where a dedicated umpire makes the final, binding decision.