Boomerangs, Barbecues, Pinball Machines & Strobe Lights
The boomerang is a throwback to primitive times. Back then, people threw sticks to hunt, and that's likely how they discovered that certain bent sticks would circle back. Boomerangs have come a long way since then, and are now works of art.
Meanwhile, the barbecue's origins are clouded in a bit of a smoky haze. But it's believed that native Caribbeans were the first to cook this way. Today, people still love a good cookout, but now we have better equipment.
Then, before video games, the pinball machine reigned supreme. As your flippers send the silver sphere flying, the machine comes to life with flashing lights and clanging bells. No wonder it's not yet "Game Over" for pinball!
And finally—strobe lights often conjure up images of discos, but you also find them on aircraft wings, in police lights, and on towers and tall buildings, to warn low-flying aircraft.
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Tires, Cheesecake, Canoe Paddles & Globes
Solid rubber tires are designed to conquer the toughest turf, the kind of rough terrain found at construction sites, landfills and mining operations. Even with a dozen nails sticking out of them, these big boys just keep on turning.
Meanwhile, people associate cheesecake with New York, but actually, it comes from Greece! The Roman conquest spread the dessert across Europe. And many centuries later, European immigrants brought it to North America.
Then, canoe paddles have been around so long, no one knows who invented them. Made with sophisticated craftsmanship, today's wooden paddles really go the nautical mile.
And finally—at the globe factory, production revolves around world events. As war and political upheaval redraw boundaries, these spherical maps have to be constantly revised.
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Wooden Bowl, Chainsaws, Stackable Potato Chips & Jet Compressor Blades
Today, with so much mass-produced tableware, handcrafted wooden bowls have become a specialty item, and this centuries-old, traditional craft is practically a lost art.
Meanwhile ... it's loud. it's powerful ... and it rules the forest. The chainsaw has revolutionized the logging industry, by replacing simple muscle power with mechanical might!
Then, unlike other chips that come in irregular shapes and sizes, stackable potato chips have a uniform concave shape that allows them to tightly interlock—and fit neatly in a tubular container.
And finally—jet compressor blades made of titanium compress the air in front of an engine's turbo chamber. In the back of the chamber, smaller blades made of a nickel alloy compress it even more. The air heats up to more than a thousand degrees, then combines with jet fuel creating a powerful mix that explodes out the back of the engine.
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Steel Wool, Ranges, Carved Candles & Slot Machines
With so many rough edges, steel wool is very abrasive—that's what makes it so useful for heavy-duty cleaning and other chores. By the early part of the 20th century, equipment was invented to mass-produce the stuff, and steel wool became a household name!
Meanwhile, the range is where we whip together meals—baked, broiled, roasted, or sautéed. The construction of a high-end range starts with a big sheet of galvanized steel.
Then, carving candles is an old German craft still practised by artisans. It involves layering different-colored wax, then carving designs to expose those luminous colors.
And finally—a San Francisco car mechanic invented the first slot machine in 1895. Its heavy, cast-iron cabinet housed three spinning reels. Each one had 20 playing-card symbols and an image of the Liberty Bell. If you were lucky enough to line up three bells in a row, you won the big jackpot—FIFTY CENTS!
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CCD Semiconductors, Airline Meals, Paper Cups & Trumpets
A CCD semiconductor is the image sensor in a digital camera or camcorder. When you snap the shutter or press record, you expose the CCD to patterns of light. It captures them electronically by converting them into millions of electrical charges. The camera's processor then reads these charges and translates them into pictures or movies.
Meanwhile, not all food fares well at high altitudes. That's why you don't see any soufflés at 30,000 feet. It's just one of the restrictions airline chefs need to consider when preparing a menu.
Then, the paper cup was invented around the turn of the 20th century to stop the spread of disease. Paper cups provide a convenient and hygienic way to serve food and beverages. And where would we be without our coffee cups?
And finally—the ancestor of the modern trumpet was a straight horn that could emit just a few notes. But by the 15th century, the instrument makers learned how to bend the horn allowing for more notes to be produced.
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