Inventions & Inventors

In December of 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a shocking discovery: When placed next to radioactive material, a Uranium atom split in two. That simple discovery launched a scientific race that spanned three continents....

One day in 1882, Thomas Edison flipped a switch that lit up lower Manhattan with incandescent light and changed the way people live ever after. The electric light bulb was only one of thousands of Edison’s inventions, which include the phonograph and the kinetoscope....

This audiobook tells the story of Louis Pasteur's invention of the pasteurization process and the effects of this invention on the spread of disease....

The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. That was Thomas Edison's philosophy....

Amazing Facts to Blow Your Mind unveils a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. This isn't just a collection of trivia; it's a meticulously curated portal to the wonders of our universe, tailored for the eternally curious of all ages.

Accidents happen. Sometimes that’s a good thing. Did you realize cheese puffs, Coca-Cola, Bubble Wrap, and the Post-it note were all invented by accident? This audiobook covers fascinating origin stories of 60 everyday items that were invented by accident....

This adaptation of New York Times best-selling author Steven Johnson's adult book and popular PBS series explores the fascinating and interconnected stories of innovations - like clean drinking water and electricity - that changed the way people live....

Jaw-Dropping Facts and Some Silly "You Be the Judge" Trivia That Kids Can't Get Enough Of! Tired of boring facts? Want to know mind-blowing information that will make learning fun and spark imagination? Watch as amazing facts become unforgettable, and silly trivia gets kids thinking!

As young boys, Orville and Wilbur Wright loved all things mechanical. As adults, the brothers worked together to invent, build, and fly the world's first successful airplane. This is the fascinating story of the two inventors and aviation pioneers....

Before Isaac Newton became the father of physics or a leader of the scientific revolution, he was a boy living in an apothecary's house, observing and experimenting....

Did you know that the ice cream sundae was invented because of a law forbidding the sale of ice cream on Sundays? Arranged in alphabetical order, this fascinating book is packed with the stories behind these and over 100 more inventions. Listen for more....

Welcome to Physics Nerd! In this exciting book, you will: Discover the building blocks of matter and the quantum weirdness that defies common sense...

Karl is an Abyssinian ground hornbill with a special challenge. His lower bill had broken off and made eating difficult. Karl did a great job of adapting and finding new ways to eat, but he wasn't getting all the food he needed....

From New York Times bestselling author Raymond Arroyo comes a picture book biography, adapted for audio, of one of America’s most famous inventors, Thomas Alva Edison, and a story about how a small spark can create a big light....

Go on an illuminating journey through the evolution of knowledge and communication with the debut non-fiction book by best-selling author Chris Haughton.

From Karyn Parson' comes the little known story of Garrett Morgan, an African American inventor who created the traffic signal....

History's amazing secrets and codes - and how to crack them yourself....

Both Thomas Edison and Henry Ford started off as insatiably curious tinkerers. That curiosity led them to become inventors - with very different results....

You have a start-up idea but ... where do you go from there? Two teen entrepreneurs bring together 51 influential business leaders for Q&As about starting a business, finding success, and, yes, making money....

With X-rays, doctors detect problems human eyes can't see. X-rays are a form of invisible radiation. This powerful medical technology helps experts look inside the body and even treat illnesses. But early on, X-rays caused harm too, as people used them without enough protection....

The future is here. Explore the world of robots and artificial intelligence in this kids’ STEM book by robotics professor Dr. Henny Admoni.

Winner of the Caldecott Medal, this stunning audiobook depicts Louis Bleriot's historic first cross-Channel flight. Listen to learn more....

You sit on it every day, but how much do you really know about your toilet? Discover the history of pooping and peeing in this frankly disgusting nonfiction audiobook....

Here is the little-known history of Otto Lilienthal, a daring man whose more than 2,000 successful flights inspired the Wright Brothers and other aviation pioneers....

Si alguna vez te has preguntado por qué el cielo es azul, de qué están hechas las nubes o por qué las serpientes duermen con los ojos abiertos, este es tu libro. Prepárate para convertirte en un experto en cosas raras, disparatadas y maravillosas.

Vollis Simpson was a man with a curious mind—always eager to know how things worked and how to fix them. Growing up on a farm in North Carolina, he loved to tinker with machines. And when he served in the Army Air Corps during WWII, Vollis kept right on tinkering. His ingenuity allowed him to build things no one would have thought to create from scraps—a washing machine out of airplane parts and a motorcycle out of a bike. After the war, his passion for metal creations picked up speed—turning into a whirlwind of windmills as far as the eye could see.

Writing is very important to all of us! But did you know that people in the past did not have the same kind of writing instrument that we use today? Instead of using plastic or metals to create pens, people in the past used feathers to create pens! This story gives a brief history of what people used to write with and how they eventually developed the feather pen! Not only will you have a history of writing, but you will also learn how to create your very own feather pen!

¿Sabes cuál es el verdadero color de un oso polar? ¿O que los ojos del avestruz son más grandes que su cerebro? En esta fascinante guía de nuestro planeta descubrirás fascinantes acontecimientos históricos, asombrosos hechos científicos e intrigantes detalles sobre el cuerpo humano. Sorprende a tu familia y amigos con nuevos conocimientos.

In ancient China, an alchemist mixed an exploding medicine and accidentally invented gunpowder. Learn about the development of gunpowder and other explosives, like nitroglycerin and dynamite, in this fun feature.

Have you ever wished you could have Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak? At some point soon, you just might be able to get one! Scientists are experimenting with a special material that bends light so the material is concealed. They still have a long way to go, but if they succeed, it could be one of the coolest inventions of the century!

Have you ever looked at a skyscraper and wondered how it was built? Do you ever look up at a tall building and wonder how it does not fall down? This story helps you explore the changes that have led to the creation of skyscrapers! You will get to see the different materials that have been developed to allow for better stability. You will get to understand how things like iron, steel, and concrete have revolutionized the way buildings are built and designed. By the end of this story, you will have a new appreciation for the skyscrapers that are all over the world!

Can you imagine having to sit still for 30 minutes just to have your picture taken? Or having to send film away to be developed? Technology has come a long way since then! Listen to learn about photography inventions like flashbulbs, Kodak and Polaroid cameras, and more!

Kids have always had amazing ideas, like how to keep your ears warm on a cold winter day or an icy treat to enjoy on a hot summer day. Learn about four young inventors and their inventions that helped to change people's lives.

Some kids are born missing a hand or fingers, others lose them because of accidents. Find out how people are printing artificial hands on 3-D printers to help those who need a hand. They are cheap, easy to build, and really work!

Have you ever heard of a bed that dumps you out if you try to hit snooze on your alarm clock? The “early rising machine” was one of John Muir’s many inventions. He loved to use his innovation and creativity to come up with new technology. If you could invent anything you want, what would you make?