Winter 2002

A look at the Smithsonian’s vast and seldom displayed collection of machines for making pictures

How the electron microscope was invented to reveal things smaller than a wavelength of light.

WITH CREATIVE ENGINEERING AND HEROIC ENDURANCE, FREEZING, BELEAGUERED WORKERS PUSHED THE CANOL PIPELINE THROUGH THE BRUTAL ARCTIC WILDERNESS DURING WORLD WAR II. BUT IT WAS A PROJECT THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN STARTED.

THE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MASS PRODUCTION OF TATTOOS ORIGINATED AND QUICKLY MATURED IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. REMOVING THEM STILL HASN’T CAUGHT UP.

APPLE COMPUTER IS COMMONLY CREDITED WITH HAVING SIMPLY POPULARIZED SOMEONE ELSE’S IDEA-BUT IT WASNT REALLY LIKE THAT AT ALL