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Found 82 Stories
A whole Margherita pizza
Blog

An Innovative Pizza Place

We asked Mozzeria, a newly opened Deaf-owned, Deaf-led pizza shop in Washington, DC, about being innovative during a pandemic.

Detail of Figure 1, US Patent 1,242,872, showing entrance signage
Blog

One-Way Supermarket Aisles

The return of an invention from the 1910s.

Rectangular black-and-beige plastic box with keypad on right and register tape on left.
Blog

When Technology Disrupts the Vibe

Growing pains in the digital age from the not-so-distant past . . .

Block print in black and white, showing stylized tree, river, house, sun, and clouds
Beyond Words

Inventing Green: Inventor Profiles

Contemporary inventors in diverse fields are committed to "inventing green." Here are a few of their stories . . .

A handwritten recipe for puffed rice cakes and crisps, by Alexander Anderson, 1904
Blog

Alexander Anderson and the Cereal Shot from Guns

How one inventor’s explosive discovery made a lasting impact on breakfast.

George Foreman Grill with lid open, about 1995
Blog

Who Invented the George Foreman Grill?

No, it’s not a trick question. Learn about Michael W. Boehm and the invention story behind the famous infomercial product.

Lithographed color coffee labels by Price Bros. and Co.
Blog

Coffee in an Instant

Made in the cup at the table—instant coffee and one inventor's research

Tappan Model RL-1 microwave oven
Blog

The Devil Is in the Details: Researching an Inventor’s Biography

The quest to confirm biographical details about the life and work of Percy Spencer

Photograph of morel mushrooms
Invention Stories

Fungi in Focus

Do recent innovations using mushrooms have the promise to save the world?

Vending machine potato chip options.
Invention Stories

Potato Chip Inventions

Today they come in all flavors—salt and vinegar to prawn and ham. Here's the story behind the potato chip.

A moka pot.
Invention Stories

The Elusive Perfectly Roasted Cup

The proliferation of specialty coffee shops has fundamentally changed how the world consumes coffee. But can there really ever be a perfect cup of coffee?

Charlotte Cramer Sachs
Invention Stories

Charlotte Cramer Sachs

Charlotte Cramer Sachs invented many things throughout her life, including instant mixes for muffins, frostings, puddings, and breads.

Stock photo of tomatoes
Places of Invention

Inventing the Modern Organic Farm

Without Eliot Coleman's innovations, the White House probably wouldn’t be growing greens in December.

Stock photo of ice cream sundae
Places of Invention

Disputed Culinary Invention Locations

There is intense community pride in inventing a culinary dish, especially if it becomes iconic for a country.

Color woodcut of a turkey in profile, with a farmer sharpening his knife in the background
Invention Stories

Innovating New Traditions

A look at the tech behind some popular Thanksgiving traditions.

Color woodcut of a turkey in profile, with a farmer sharpening his knife in the background
Invention Stories

Innovating to Avoid Turkey Trauma

About 30 million turkeys are sold each year with built-in pop-up timers designed to tell cooks when the bird has reached that magic temperature. Here's the story behind the pop-up timer's inventor.

Martha Stewart and Mario Batali in 2007
Invention Stories

Innovations in "FOOD"

The kitchen is definitely a place of invention. Here are five invention stories from our food exhibition, "FOOD: Transforming the American Table, 1950 – 2000."

A pair of high-tech cooking spoons.
Invention Stories

Just Like Mom's: Will an Invention Finally Reveal her Secret Ingredient?

Will a new gadget finally let me recreate my favorite dish? Or is the secret ingredient really "love"?

Lemelson Lightbulb Graphic Identity
Invention Stories

Starting the Day Right: Coffee Innovations

While I can’t remember the first great cup of coffee that I ever had, I can certainly remember the last.  It was brewed here in our offices earlier this week with freshly ground coffee beans, the perfect amount of cream & sugar, and a strong caffeine kick that cleared my early morning brain f

Archival photo of an early cup holder
Invention Stories

I’ll Take That Drink To Go!

Today we take cup holders in vehicles for granted, but this indispensable feature wasn’t common in the early 1960s.

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