An ancient Greek hand-powered geared device from the 2nd century BC that modelled the Sun, Moon and calendars and predicted eclipses. It is often called the oldest known analogue computer.
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The transistor, built at Bell Labs in 1947, replaced bulky vacuum tubes with small, reliable, low-power switches and amplifiers, enabling modern computers and electronics.
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A pin tumbler lock uses spring-loaded pin pairs that block a rotating plug until the right key lines them up. The idea echoes ancient Egyptian locks; Linus Yale Jr. shaped the modern form.
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No. Electric light existed decades before him. Edison's achievement was a long-lasting, commercially practical incandescent bulb and the power system around it.
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Yes. Alexander Bain patented the core idea of the fax in 1843, about 33 years before Bell's telephone patent, though it was not yet practical for everyday use.
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