Topic

Technology & Innovation

A collection of 133 issues

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.

History Technology & Innovation

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.

Entertainment & Media Technology & Innovation

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.

Science & Nature Technology & Innovation

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.

Music Entertainment & Media Technology & Innovation

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.

Wars, Conflict & Heroes History Technology & Innovation

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.

Geography & Places History Technology & Innovation

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.

Science & Nature Technology & Innovation Business & Economics

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.

History Technology & Innovation Wars, Conflict & Heroes

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