Inventions

Inventions can change the world in an instant. Inventions are thought of every minute but very few of them actually make it to market. In this section we'll examine amazing inventions from all throughout history.

Learn More

Learn about the Glass Armonica, a unique musical instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin. The glass armonica produces beautiful, haunting sounds by rubbing wet fingers on tuned glass bowls.

By HowStuffWorks

he Revolutionary Heating Invention That Changed America - Franklin Stove. Learn about the history, design, and benefits of this iconic stove.

By HowStuffWorks

The Revolutionary Writing Tool That Made Duplication Easy - Electric Pen. Learn about the history, design, and benefits of this iconic pen.

By HowStuffWorks

Advertisement

The Old-School Copy Machine That Revolutionized the Way We Communicate. Learn about the history, design, and benefits of mimeograph

By HowStuffWorks

The Revolutionary Recording Device That Changed the Way We Work - Dictaphone. Learn about the history, design, and benefits of dictaphone.

By HowStuffWorks

The assembly line didn’t kick off with Henry Ford and the Model T, but Ford played a big role in changing the landscape of manufacturing forever.

By Yara Simón

Everyone knows what a sandwich is. Most may even know how the snack got its name. But did you know who invented it? That's a tougher question to answer.

By Stephanie Watson

Advertisement

Primitive batteries date back a lot longer than you might guess. But when were scientists finally able to produce and store electricity and then use it to create a continuous, controllable current?

By Christopher Neiger

At one time, sharing files between computers meant carrying a box of punch cards from one machine to another. The Internet changed all that, but who's responsible for creating this network of networks?

By Jonathan Strickland

The grocery bag you're carrying breaks, and the eggs inside splat across your driveway. Yep, unloading groceries can be tedious, but that's nothing compared to the days before refrigeration, so grab a cold beverage and learn who you have to thank.

By Jonathan Atteberry & Desiree Bowie

Like so many other modern conveniences that we take for granted, the history of the elevator is more complicated than it may seem at first glance. Believe it or not, there's some controversy over who invented this commonplace contraption.

By Shanna Freeman

Advertisement

More than two-thirds of U.S. households play video games, according to the Entertainment Software Rating Board. Without the crazy ideas of a few pioneering folks, we might still be stuck playing marathon sessions of charades. So who do we have to thank?

By Jonathan Atteberry

We take X-rays so much for granted. We get them at the dentist's office and watch them while clearing luggage through security at the airport. But did you know they were discovered by accident?

By Josh Briggs

The ancient Chinese brought us many great innovations, including some that we take for granted in the modern world. Let's examine 10 of ancient China's greatest inventions.

By Josh Clark & Sascha Bos

Not every wonderful invention was created intentionally. Some of the products we cherish most were born because of clumsiness or lazy tendencies. While others were discovered by watching how others interact with things differently than we do. For researchers who spend months, or even years experimenting, this spontaneous discovery can be thrilling. While not every […] The post 15 Of The Coolest Accidental Inventions appeared first on Goliath.

By Rachel Despres

Advertisement

You're sure you have it in you to think of an invention, but you're not sure how to do it. Get some tips here on how to think of an invention.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

The heyday for Morse code is primarily over, but this communication method using dots and dashes still has its place in our digital world.

By Mark Mancini

Five metallic balls on slender threads sit side by side. As one on the end hits the rest, the one on the opposite end rises and falls. Why don't the balls in the middle move? It's complicated.

By Chris Schulz

Explore the ingenuity of Eli Whitney's cotton gin, a machine that transformed cotton processing, reshaped industries and influenced economies.

By Desiree Bowie

Advertisement

Learn how the invention of the world's first motorcycle in the 19th century shaped the future of mobility and revolutionized two-wheeled transportation.

By Desiree Bowie

Joseph Nicéphore Niépce is responsible for the first photo ever taken. Almost lost to time, the image used a process called heliography.

By Yara Simón

The flying shuttle was a transformative invention during the Industrial Revolution. Learn more about the device that revolutionized the weaving process.

By Reina Belardes

Explore the mechanics and inner workings of the internal combustion engine, an innovation of the Industrial Revolution that transformed transportation.

By Desiree Bowie

Advertisement

The phonograph transformed audio recording, leaving a lasting impact on how we capture and preserve sound. Learn about the invention's history and evolution.

By Desiree Bowie

The pneumatic tire revolutionized transportation and a number of other industries that rely on air-cushioned rubber tires.

By Nicole Antonio