Innovation / Video
Years of wheeling and dealing collectible cars have taught Robert M. Lee that it never hurts to ask.
How This Ship Handles Seas Loaded With Icebergs
The Ocean Endeavour is sailing toward a famous glacier near the Arctic town of Ilulissat. It’s a route packed with dangerous icebergs, giving the ship’s sonar and radar a tough …
How Do You Dock a Ship Into a Port That’s 200 Feet Short?
The Viking Sea is docking into the Scottish port of Lerwick. It’s a major challenge considering the port is over 200 feet shorter than the ship. Can the staff captain …
A Cruise Ship Chef Hunts for Big Fish. Will He Succeed?
As luxury liner Europa 2 docks into port, its chef de cuisine has a major challenge ahead: prepare lunch for his very discerning clientele, while also impressing his boss – …
This Train Hauls Fish Up a Mountain for a Living
The path of the North Rail Express from Norway to Sweden is a challenging one: starting at sea level, the train will have to climb 25 miles up into the …
The Daring Stunt That Put Bungee Jumping on the Map
In 1987, two adventurers from New Zealand made a daring—and illegal—televised bungee jump off the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Host Phil Keoghan meets one of those men, who shows us …
You Should Thank This Man for Inventing Jet Boats
In 1954, a man named Bill Hamilton invented the water-jet propelled boat, ideal for exploring the shallow rivers of his native New Zealand. This later revolutionized boating worldwide.
These Astronauts Drink Recycled Urine to Stay Hydrated
Astronauts themselves are important sources of water in outer space. With the help of a special centrifuge, their urine is distilled, then processed to provide clean drinking water.
This Engineering Job Is Not for the Faint-Hearted
The engineers working on 3 World Trade Center in New York are among the most daring around. Not only do they operate their machinery up to 1,000 feet above street …
This Marine Compares Flying the Harrier to Riding a Dragon
The Harrier’s unique takeoff style and agility owes a lot to its 47-foot frame and mere 15,000 pounds in weight—almost half the size of most modern fighter jets.
U-2 Dragon Lady Gives a Helping Hand to U.S. Troops
When a U.S. convoy in Afghanistan has vehicle problems and is forced to stop for repairs, a U-2 aircraft spots a Taliban ambush coming their way.
This Flying Gas Station Can Carry 200,000 Lbs. of Fuel
The KC-135 Stratotanker plays a crucial role in keeping U.S. fighter jets up in the air. That’s because this 136-foot long aircraft is a flying gas tank capable of performing …
Lifting an Unwieldy 75-Ton Hovercraft Out of the Water
When you’re crane-lifting a giant hovercraft into a ship’s hold, plenty can go wrong. If the supporting straps aren’t completely even, the vehicle could snap in half. Even a gust …
Dismantling a Huge Howitzer for a Precarious Move
This 200-ton howitzer artillery gun is too heavy to transport in one piece. The answer is to split it in two, with the barrel going on one truck and the …
The First Step to Shipping a Chopper? Remove the Blades
When a high-tech helicopter like the Sikorsky S-92 needs to be transported on a cargo plane, it’s crucial that every rotor blade is dismantled and stowed away with care. That’s …
Stephen Hawking Congratulates the LIGO Team | Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards
“They have given mankind a completely new way of looking at the universe.” Stephen Hawking, congratulates Kip Thorne, Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish and Ronald Drever, the first scientists to detect …
Need a New Organ? Surgeon Anthony Atala Sees a Future Where You Can Simply Print It Out
Anthony Atala | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winner for Life Sciences The director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Atala is a surgeon and leading expert …
Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards 2016
Smithsonian magazine honored innovators in nine categories: Technology, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Life and Physical Sciences, Education, History, Social progress and Youth Achievement, at its 5th annual American Ingenuity Awards.
Why Porsche Is Revisiting the Hybrid Car It Also Invented
Though Porsche isn’t naturally associate with hybrid cars, it actually invented them in 1900. Now, the luxury car brand is looking to the past for its new model.
The Expensive Material Behind the Huayra’s Incredible Speed
While much of the Pagani Huayra’s speed comes down to innovative design, one material used in its Formula 1-inspired monocoque is crucial.
The Pagani Huayra Is Faster Than a Jumbo Jet at Takeoff
The optimum effects of the Pagani-designed dual aerodynamic system are embodied by the Huayra. In just 25.8 seconds, it crosses the 185 MPH mark—faster than a jumbo jet taking off.
Could Star Trek’s Invisibility Cloak Become a Reality?
On Star Trek, the Romulans possess a cloaking device that renders its ship, the Bird-of-Prey, invisible. Now, years later, a group of scientists may have found a way to turn …
Laser Scientists Are Developing Star Trek’s Phaser
Some of the technology from Star Trek is already coming to life in the Lockheed Martin lab. One high-energy laser beam, similar to the phaser from the series, can even …
Page 4 of 10