Famous Inventions

The Wright brothers' incredible first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, is famously associated with the invention of the airplane. But in order to achieve their high-flying feat, the Wright brothers studied the successes and shortcomings of earlier inventors' experiments with flight. And to this day, engineers continue to build upon this history of invention, resulting in the safe, routine network of air travel many people rely on today. From Leonardo da Vinci's ornithopters to today's Bombardier Global 8000, this book explores the invention and evolution of the airplane.

In the early 1900s, Philo T. Farnsworth and Vladimir Zworykin were each separately working on ideas to send pictures using radio signals and vacuum tubes. The result of their work was the television, a device that would change the way people around the world receive news and entertainment. To this day, engineers continue to build upon Farnsworth and Zworykin's inventions, resulting in the smart TVs of today. In clear, concise language, this book explores the invention and evolution of the television.

John Starley built the first modern bicycle, a pedal-powered contraption with two wheels of about the same size that stayed upright more easily than earlier models. But in order to achieve this feat of innovation, Starley had to study the work of other inventors who came before him. And to this day, engineers continue to build upon this history of invention, resulting in the sleek road bikes and rugged mountain bikes ridden today. From Baron Karl Drais Von Sauerbrun's draisine in the early 1800s to the BMX bikes ridden in the X Games today, this book explores the invention and evolution of the bicycle.

Guglielmo Marconi is sometimes called the father of the radio, because he was the first person to send radio waves over a long distance. But in order to achieve this feat, Marconi had to study the successes and shortcomings of earlier inventors' experiments. To this day, engineers continue to build upon this history of invention, resulting in the radio technology of today. From Heinrich Hertz to Nikola Tesla and more, this book explores the invention and evolution of the radio.

In the late 1800s, Thomas Edison created a lamp that could glow for more than 13 hours, solving a problem that had defeated many inventors in the past. But in order to invent the light bulb, Edison had to study the work of other inventors who came before him. And to this day, engineers continue to build upon this history of invention, resulting in the long-lasting light bulb technologies available today. From Sir Henry Davy's early discoveries about electricity's potential to produce light, to the LEDs of today, this book explores the invention and evolution of the light bulb.

Henry Ford envisioned designing an automobile that anyone could buy. Because of Ford's innovations in car manufacturing, the automobile became a popular and commonplace means of transportation. But in order to achieve this world-altering feat, Ford had to study the work of other inventors who came before him. And to this day, engineers continue to build upon this history of invention, resulting in the variety of automobiles driven today. From Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot's steam-powered vehicle in the 1700s to the fully electric cars in production today, this book explores the invention and evolution of the automobile.

Throughout history, many inventors were fascinated by the problem of how to capture an image. These innovators built upon each other's work, eventually resulting in the commonplace digital cameras that are built into today's smartphones. But the history of the camera is long and eventful, tracing back to Louis Daguerre's daguerreotype camera, which captured images on copper plates; and to George Eastman's first film camera, the Kodak; and to Edward Land's first instant camera, the Polaroid. From the history of the ancient Greeks' camera obscura to the ever-present phone cameras of today, this book explores the invention and evolution of the camera.

Alexander Graham Bell first successfully spoke to Thomas Watson over his telephone device in 1876. But in order to invent the telephone, Bell had to study the work of scientists who came before him. And to this day, engineers continue to build upon this history of invention, resulting in the sleek, powerful smartphones in use today. From Charles Bourseul's early idea to send sound waves through wires, to the cell towers of today, this book explores the invention and evolution of the telephone.