Fall 1993

George W. G. Ferris built his awesome wheel in six months, saw it come to symbolize the achievements of a newly confident America, and died broke and alone three years later

Aviators have tried dozens of ways to get rid of airport fog—from sand to laser beams—and have never had much success

Benjamin Holt invented a technology that fed millions. It was soon adapted into a technology that killed millions.

Going into World War II, other countries could not compete with America’s piston-driven airplanes. Instead they turned to the unproven idea of jets—and nearly left America behind.

A combination of accident, luck, and hard work produced nitinol, an advanced “intelligent” metal