Inspired Inventions

Pratt Institute Engine Room

Haven for steampunks

Pratt Institute was founded in 1887, in the midst of the Industrial Revolution. Due to the advancements in technology, the school was able to build its own steam-powered electrical plant the... »

Inspired Inventions | Edited by HJHausman

Kali Persojo, Indonesia

Goal Bola-Bola

Concrete balls on wires constructed to stop train surfing in Indonesia

Along with electrocution, commuters who ride on top of trains in Indonesia now have to worry about Goal Bola-Bola; wires strung with concrete balls hanging above the train tracks. Implemented... »

Inspired Inventions | Edited by atimian and Seth Teicher

Хотел Мрамор, Macedonia

Skopje Hydro-meteorological Institute

Rooftop solar power on a Macedonian primary school

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Inspired Inventions | Edited by serflac and atimian

Seattle Heights, Washington, US

Hanford Site

Nuclear reactor created the plutonium used on Nagasaki

When the Cold War finally ended, weapon-production reactors at the Hanford Site had produced 53 million gallons of nuclear waste. During its 50-year stint as a major producer of plutonium, the... »

Inspired Inventions, Instruments of Science | Edited by atimian

The Amazing Robots of Wu Yulu

A chinese farmer builds robots from scrap

In 1986 the movie Short Circuit came out and hit number one at the box office. It was the story of lovable robot Johnny 5, and perhaps the first time a robot was the protagonist of a film. That... »

Inspired Inventions, Electrical Oddities, Retro-Tech, Amazing Automata | Edited by serflac and Dylan

World's Largest Ball of Paint

A massive ball of paint composed of over 20,000 individual layers

The title of "world's largest" anything is often a dubious distinction. It can be synonymous with "world's most useless" or "world's most exploited." But the world's largest ball of paint is an... »

Inspired Inventions, Instruments of Science | Edited by Mark_Casey and atimian

Brooklyn Old Trolley Cars

Four cars from the old system remain on display

The Brooklyn trolley cars went out of service in 1948, but they're still remembered both inside and outside of the city. The Brooklyn Historic Railway Association once owned 16 trolleys throughout... »

Inspired Inventions, Cultures and Civilizations | Edited by aboychuk and Nicholas Jackson

Rosslyn Metro Escalator

At 207 feet, one of the world's longest continuous escalators

According to Dante Alighieri, past the wall of flames after the 7th terrace of Purgatory, there is an immense stone staircase leading to the Earthly Paradise so big that Dante and his companions... »

Inspired Inventions, Electrical Oddities | Edited by A Facebook user, Nicholas Jackson and 2 others

Gerbrandy Tower

Tower that turns into world's tallest Christmas tree

A combination free-standing tower and guyed mast, the Gerbrandy Tower is the tallest broadcasting tower in the Netherlands. More impressive, though, is what the tower becomes during the holiday... »

Unusual Monuments, Inspired Inventions, Electrical Oddities | Edited by Nicholas Jackson

Madara Rider

Rock carving created 1,300 years ago 75 feet off the ground

In the 8th century, climbing something meant scrambling up it with your hands and feet. There were no climbing harnesses, and the first climbing carabiner was a thousand years away. It is... »

Inspired Inventions, Architectural Oddities, Incredible Ruins | Edited by atimian, Dylan and others