Child's Play
The brand's first box of eight Crayola crayons made its debut in 1903. The crayons were sold for a nickel and the colors were black, brown, blue, red, purple, orange, yellow, and green. Today, there over one hundred different types of crayons being made by Crayola including crayons that: sparkle with glitter, glow in the dark, smell like flowers, change colors, and wash off walls and other surfaces and materials.
How to Where to and Why to Patent an Idea
If you got it flaunt it. This is an introductory article I have written aimed at those of you who do not know how to patent it yourself. One hot tip, patent early, especially now when the first to file rule came into effect in the United States, and especially if your invention is in a highly competitive field. Illustration: Getty Images/Chad Baker
Capturing Light & Shadows
San Francisco photographer, Eadweard Muybridge conducted motion-sequence still photographic experiments and is often called the "Father of the motion picture" even though he did not make films in the manner we know them as today.
Photo Credit: Eadweard Muybridge, Daisy jumping a hurdle, saddled, preparing for the leap from Animal Locomotion Library of Congress 1887
I Scream For Ice Cream
Shout out to Michelle Barbara and Cowabunga Ice Cream for sending me the following tasty ice cream facts.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month (July 17, 2011) as National Ice Cream Day. Photo Credit: James Ross/Getty Images
Did you know?
Glow in the Dark Science
Photo-luminescence by definition is the emission of light from a molecule or atom that has absorbed electromagnetic energy: examples include fluorescence and phosphorescence materials. Photo-luminescence spectroscopy is a contact-less, nondestructive method of probing the electronic structure of materials.
The photo to the right depicts photo-luminescence materials spread on 7-inch wide roll. This is from a patent pending technology developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory that uses small organic molecule materials to create organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) and other electronics. Proof-of-principle of the technique has been demonstrated by successfully coating the small molecule Alq3 on a PET substrate (photo). The method may also be used to produce "patterned" electronic thin-film devices in which an active small molecule organic material is selectively deposited on a substrate to form a pattern appropriate for the operation of the device. Photo: Department of Energy
History of Glow in the Dark
Glow in the dark powders, glow sticks, ropes etc. are all fun examples of photo-luminescence. Phosphorus and its various compounds are phosphorescents, or materials that glow in the dark. Before knowing what phosphorus was, its glowing properties have been reported in ancient writings. The oldest known written observations were made in China, dating back to 1000 B.C. regarding fireflies and glow-worms. In 1602, Vincenzo Casciarolo, discovered the phosphorus glowing "Bolognian Stones" just outside of Bologna that started the first scientific study of photo-luminescence.
Phosphorus was first isolated in 1669 by German physician Hennig Brand. Brand was an alchemist who was attempting to change metals into gold when he isolated phosphorus. All glow in the dark products contain phosphor. To make a glow in the dark toy, toy makers use a phosphor that is energized by normal light and that has a very long persistence - the length of time it glows. Zinc Sulfide and Strontium Aluminate are the two most commonly used phosphors.
Scientists in Taiwan say they have bred three pigs that "glow in the dark".
Radioactive ATM
Well, just slightly radioactive. According to a BBC News report, the world's first ATM was installed in a branch of Barclays in Enfield, North London. At that time plastic atm cards did not exist. The Barclay atm machine took checks that were impregnated with carbon 14, a slightly radioactive substance. To learn about an invention with real radioactivity try the atomic bomb. Photo Credit: stock.xchng/Andy Culpin
MAY is Now National Inventors Month
National Inventors Month which used to be held in August is now being held in May. The senate had agreed to the switch after appeals made by Edison Nation and Inventors Digest, supporters and founders of National Inventors Month. August traditionally has been National Inventors Month. The move to May better aligns with the academic calendar, explained Inventors Digest Editor Mike Drummond.
"The move allows more opportunities for youth K-12 to become aware of the vital contributions inventors have made and continue to make to society," Drummond said, "as well as to more broadly celebrate and foster the spirit and practice of innovation."
So How Does A Telephone Work?
Some times it is the simplest things in life that we take for granted. For example, have you ever wondered just How A Telephone Works?
Bad Predictions
You might find this in some way encouraging, the facts are that many inventions that are now famous and have achieved a tremendous amount of success, were once ridiculed and laughed at. That's right. The telephone, television, radio, movies, computers, lightbulbs, and the airplane were all predicted to fail. So maybe, if they are laughing at what you are inventing today, tomorrow will prove them all wrong. Photo credit: Jeffrey Coolidge/Getty Images
Who Said The Following Quotes?
"All bibles are man-made."
"I know this world is ruled by infinite intelligence. Everything that surrounds us, everything that exists, proves that there are infinite laws behind it. There can be no denying this fact. It is mathematical in its precision."
And whose last words in life before dying were, "It is very beautiful over there."
The answer may surprise you. Find Out Who Now