Happy Birthday Texting!

Looking back to the first text message, few of us would have predicted its spread and impact during the past 30 years.

Why the East Coast Has Long and Skinny Butter But Not the West Coast

Comparing the butter we buy on the East and West Coast of the U.S., many of us could wonder why the shape and size are different.

The Little Cotton Swab That Had a Big Impact

Soon to celebrate its 100th birthday, the cotton swab is a seemingly small innovation that had a massive impact.

Learn With Elaine: Inventing Post-it Notes

An accidental innovation, Post-it Notes had a massive economic impact through the private and social returns that they created.

An Innovation That Stuck

Accidentally inventing the Post-it Note, two scientists and one large corporation demonstrated where an innovation can take us.

Why Hydration Was Invented

Decades ago, before anyone started thinking about hydration, we were okay. But now, we go nowhere without our water bottles. Why? Inventing Hydration Many of us have been told to drink eight 8-ounce cups of water a day. Known as…

How a Contest Can Encourage Ingenuity

In Taiwan, for two days, people whose name was “salmon” (and five of their friends) got all-you-can-eat sushi. Offered by a sushi restaurant chain, the promotion created “salmon chaos.” Because you just needed an identity card that included “gui yu” (the…

January 2021 Friday’s e-links: The Story of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

First among our January e-links, this feel good Flamin’ Hot Cheetos story is about a janitor, a CEO, and the American Dream.

The Vials That We Need For Vaccines

As a somewhat invisible part of COVID-19 science, we’ve been developing and producing billions of super strong vaccine vials.

Why We Could Have Twist Tie Tariffs

Just like Alaskans have many words for snow, Bedford Industries has a lot of names for twist ties. There are spooled ties and poly twists, clip bands and double wire tin-ties. And that was only the beginning. I copied some…