Category Archives: Inventions

Super Glue

By | |
Leave a comment
Super Glue

Messing around with super glue will result in sticky situation… literally!

  • Super glue is a particularly strong adhesive that is made primarily of the chemical compound cyanoacrylate, and technically it is an acrylic resin.
  • While ‘super glue’ is a generic term for the product, it is a brand name for the adhesive as well, and the glue is also  known as ‘power glue’ and ‘instant glue’, or by other brand names ‘Krazy Glue’ and ‘Eastman 910’.
  • Super glue bonds with surfaces due to a reaction with water, which causes strong bonds to be formed with most surfaces touching the glue.
  • Urban legend tells of super glue’s origins being accidental and purposed for the military to seal wounds during a war, however this is mostly untrue, though the glue was used during the Vietnam war for this purpose.
  • Super glue was first discovered in 1942 by American scientist Harry Coover and his co-workers, in an attempt to create a particularly clear plastic for firearm scopes, however the product was disregarded.
Super Glue, Adhesive, Invention, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Tool, Cap,
Super Glue
Image courtesy of Earl/Flickr
  • Due to air moisture, super glue’s life is shortened significantly, to a month after opening, compared to a year when unopened, however the life of the adhesive is said to be able to be extended by placing the product in the freezer.
  • In 1951, the super glue mixture discovered years prior, was rediscovered by Harry Coover along with Fred Joyner during a different scientific experiment, and together they noticed the commercial opportunity; and in 1958, the product became available for purchase under the name ‘Eastman 910’.
  • Super glue can generate large amounts of heat when applied to natural textiles, even causing combustion in materials such as wool and cotton.
  • Super glue is often used for hobby crafts or models, or to fix broken objects, and a variation of the product is used medically to seal wounds, and in forensics, to make fingerprints visible.
  • Super glue can be suitably removed from many surfaces using acetone, a chemical found prominently in nail polish remover, while the adhesive is naturally shed from skin surfaces in around four days.
Bibliography:
Cyanoacrylate, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanoacrylate
Hiskey D, Super Glue Was Invented By Accident, Twice, 2011, Today I Found Out, http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/08/super-glue-was-invented-by-accident-twice/
Was Super Glue Invented to Seal Battle Wounds in Vietnam?, 2004, The Straight Dope, http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2187/was-super-glue-invented-to-seal-battle-wounds-in-vietnam

Amazon:        

Zoetrope

By | |
Leave a comment
Zoetrope

As hard as you try, your eyes cannot break free from the zoetrope illusion.

  • A zoetrope is an invention that creates the appearance of a moving picture, even when the images used are still, and while they were popular in the mid to late 1800s, they were ultimately replaced by film projectors.
  • ‘Zoetrope’ comes from the Greek words ‘zoe’ and ‘trope’, which mean ‘life’ and ‘turn’ respectively, and when combined are said to have the meaning ‘wheel of life’.
  • Zoetropes are of a cylindrical shape with vertical slits placed systematically around the side of the cylinder, above a sequence of images that are found inside.
  • If one peers through the slits on the sides of a zoetrope while the cylinder spins, the images inside appear to be animated.
  • An Iranian bowl with images of a goat leaping to a tree to forage, dating back to 4000 to 3000 BC, is the oldest known predecessor of a zoetrope.

Zoetrope, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Invention, Animation, Spinning, Monkey, White, Slits

  • Zoetropes work due to an illusion, known as ‘persistence of vision’, as the brain sees images flashing before one’s eyes, that move at less than a tenth of a second, as continuous, and while ever there is enough speed, and an interruption in the light by a slot or black line or similar, the pictures will seem to be animated, and without the line or slot, the images will blur.
  • The modern zoetrope debuted in the 1830s, and was invented by William George Horner, an English mathematician; however slits were placed between images and he called the invention a ‘dædaleum’.
  • In the 1860s, zoetropes were made differently to the original dædaleums, which had slits placed slightly above the images, rather than between them, which were more practical as they allowed for the image strips to be easily replaceable while still functioning properly.
  • As of 2015, the largest zoetrope ever built, known as the ‘BRAVIA-drome’, spread 10 metres (33 feet) in diameter, and was made for Sony in 2008, in Italy, Europe.
  • A zoetrope is likely based on the phenakistoscope that was designed before it, which was effectively a flat disc with images and slits, spun on a stick and viewed in front of a mirror, so that the viewer could peer through a slit at the reflection of the ‘moving’ images in the mirror.
Bibliography:
Hayes R, Pre-cinema Animation Devices, 2011, Random Motion, http://www.randommotion.com/html/zoe.html
Zoetrope, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoetrope
Zoetrope History, n.d, Zoetrope & Praxinoscope, http://zoetrope.org/zoetrope-history

Amazon:       

Button

By | |
Leave a comment
Button

Is everyone buttoned up?

  • Buttons are small inventions typically used on textile items to fasten two pieces of fabric to each other, though they may purely be used for decorative purposes.
  • Buttons are most frequently used on clothing, although they are often used on bags, cushion covers and other fabric items.
  • The oldest known button relic was found in modern day Pakistan, in Asia, and is believed to have belonged to the ancient Asian civilisation of the Indus Valley, dating back to almost 3000 BC.
  • Buttons were used for the purpose of decoration, or fastening fabric that was used for clothing, in Ancient China, Ancient Rome, and also Ancient Greece.
  • Buttons come in all shapes and sizes, traditionally circular, but also square, triangular, and other shapes, and they usually have two or four holes in the top, or a shank that is moulded or attached to the base.

Button, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Invention, Assorted, Collection, Fashion

  • Seashells, bones, horn, metal and wood were used to craft buttons in ancient times, however in modern times, they are generally made from plastic, though shell, wood and metal are sometimes used.
  • The first predominant modern use of buttons originates in Europe around the 13th century, possibly in France or Germany, and they quickly became popular, as did the newly invented buttonhole.
  • Buttons are typically secured to an object with thread, either through the holes on the top or in the shank hidden underneath the invention, although some are riveted.
  • A measurement system, known as ‘lignes’, is often used to determine the size of buttons, where 40 lignes are equivalent to one inch (2.54 centimetres).
  • Buttons are available in a wide variety of patterns and colours, and traditionally, some artists have used them as a platform for their art, generally decorating the top face.
Bibliography:
A Brief History of Buttons – Sewing Button Origins, 2010, Sewing Mantra, http://www.sewingmantra.com/index.php/sewing/sewing-button-history/
Button, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button
The History of the Button, 2007, h2g2, http://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A23623616
Stewart J, The Simple, Humble, Surprisingly Sexy Button, 2012, Slate, http://www.slate.com/articles/life/design/2012/06/button_history_a_visual_tour_of_button_design_through_the_ages_.html

Amazon:       

Insect Repellent

By | |
Leave a comment
Insect Repellent

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. That’s insect repellent for you.

  • Insect repellents are a compound that is put onto a surface, typically the skin, to deter insects from the surface and the immediate surrounding area.
  • ‘Insect repellent’ is also known as ‘bug spray’, and the best repellents ward off insects like mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, flies, and mites.
  • Both natural and synthetic ingredient versions of insect repellents are available; however synthetic versions, in general, produce better results; and while ultrasonic technology has been experimented with as a form of repellent, studies have proven it to have a lack of effectiveness.
  • Typically, insect repellents are available as an aerosol spray; roll-on liquid; a cream; or a gel, although some repellents are in the form of an object, like candles; wrist bands; mosquito coils; and clothing or nets typically treated with permethrin.
  • Various communities have utilised natural insect repellents since ancient times, typically obtained from vegetation or other insects, or by burning a natural chemical or plant material.

Insect Repellent, Bug Spray, Mosquito, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Invention, Chemical, Can, Tube

Insect Repellents
Image courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture/Flickr
  • Synthetic exploration of insect repellents began in the 1920s, and it wasn’t until 1944 when a particularly effective repellent was discovered, known as DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide also known as ‘diethyltoluamide’), first used by United States military in World War II; and it has been the main active ingredient in most repellents sold since the 1950s, due to its ability to deter most disease-ridden biting insects; its notable safety record; and its long-lasting effects.
  • How insect repellents exactly repel insects is uncertain, although it is hypothesised that the repellents masks certain human molecules that are detected by and attract insects.
  • While a product like DEET, in rare circumstances can cause undesirable reactions, it is considered fairly safe, especially in the adult population, however, insect repellent can be hazardous, especially if used for extended periods in high doses, and it may cause adverse effects to the human body, especially in very young children and potentially in unborn babies.
  • Insect repellents can provide protection from three to twelve hours, with shorter lengths typically attributed to lower active ingredient concentrations, while longer times usually result from higher concentrations of the active ingredient.
  • Substantially more effective insect repellents than the commonly used DEET are presently in testing processes, while the relatively new picaridin (also known as ‘icaridin’) has become a rival on the market; while lemon eucalyptus oil has been discovered to have an effectiveness similar to DEET, unlike the once commonly used citronella oil which needs reapplying every half hour or so to remain effective.
Bibliography:
A Brief History of Insect Repellents, Part 1, 2010, Incognito, http://www.avoidingbites.com/a-brief-history-of-insect-repellents-part-1/
DEET, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEET
Insect Repellent, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect_repellent
Katz T, Miller J & Hebert A, Insect repellents: Historical perspectives and new developments, 2008, Journel of the American Academy of Dermatology, http://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622%2807%2901467-3/pdf
Keim B, DEET Mosquito Repellent Could Lose Its Bite, 2010, Wired, http://www.wired.com/2010/05/deet-resistance/

Amazon:       

Zipper

By | |
Leave a comment
Zipper

You can’t get more zippy than a zipper.

  • Zippers are an invention used to secure and close the edges of two pieces of material, commonly textiles.
  • A ‘zipper’ is also known as a ‘zip fastener’, ‘zip’ and ‘fly’, and it was once called a ‘clasp locker’.
  • Popularly zippers are utilised on clothing such as trousers, jackets or dresses, along with fabric camping items and baggage.
  • Zippers consist of two strips of teeth that link together or separate, when a central slider is moved across the strips.
  • Both plastic and metal materials can be used to produce a zipper, and the zip is typically attached to a fabric tape which allows it to be sewn or adhered to an item.
Zipper, Invention, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Information, Metal, Slider, Teeth, Fashion
Zipper
Image courtesy of Clare Bell/Flickr
  •  The term ‘zipper’ is said to be derived from the ‘zip’ sound the invention makes when zipping, first used in 1923 by the American B. F. Goodrich Company, an aerospace company.
  • Zippers are notorious for breaking easily after significant use, such as when the slider fails to zip; it jams while zipping; or it detaches from a strip of teeth entirely.
  • An early zipper was first patented in 1851 by American Elias Howe Jr, a major innovator of the sewing machine; however the invention, known as a ‘fastening for garments’ was not commercially successful.
  • Some zippers are visible, however others are hidden from view under special textile flaps, and these zips are particularly useful for dresses or camouflage clothing.
  • The first patented zipper with a slider, filed in 1891, was designed by American Whitcomb Judson and it was called a ‘clasp locker’, and originally invented for use on shoes.
Bibliography:
Invention, n.d, The Zipper, http://thezipper.umwblogs.org/invention/
Zipper, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zipper

Amazon:        

Wedding Ring

By | |
Leave a comment
Wedding Ring

A wedding ring is virtually part of many a person’s identity.

  • A wedding ring is a jewellery item, generally given and worn as a symbol of a person’s marriage.
  • Wedding rings are most frequently made of a metal such as platinum, gold or palladium, and are sometimes decorated with jewels or precious stones, and/or engraved with words or patterns.
  • ‘Wedding rings’ are also known as ‘wedding bands’, and they are typically exchanged during a marriage ceremony.
  • Wedding rings are thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt, made of reeds or other plant material, but later leather, ivory or bones became more common due to their durability, and in Roman times, iron became a popular choice.
  • It is traditional for a wedding ring to be placed on the fourth, or ring finger, more commonly on the left hand, and some people rarely remove their ring, wearing it both night and day.

Wedding Ring, Trivia, Invention, Jewelry, Assortment, Band

  • In a number of countries, wedding rings were originally exclusively given to the female of a wedded pair, and this is still the case in some places; though, in the United States, by the end of the 1940s, rings given to both genders became the norm, particularly due to the ongoing public promotion by jewellers.
  • Historically, the value of a wedding ring often symbolised the extent of love the giver had for the receiver, and commonly the cost of the ring was associated with the means of the giver.
  • Wedding rings, or more specifically circles, were a symbol of eternity in Ancient Egypt, describing eternal love between the partners, however on its adaption into Roman culture, the ring’s meaning grew into a symbol of a man’s possession over a woman.
  • According to popular legend, the fourth finger is believed to contain the mythical ‘love vein’ (Vena amoris), hence the wedding ring’s traditional position on the left hand; however, the position possibly originated from the Christian practice of a priest touching the first three fingers with the ring to symbolise the holy trinity, and then placing the ring on the fourth finger; or it may simply be that the ring was traditionally placed on one of the least used fingers on the least dominant hand to avoid wear of the material.
  • Some cultures consider the wedding ring to be the final gift in a series of wedding gifts, and it may be the second ring given, the first being an ‘engagement ring’, however, for some people, it may be the only ring given.
Bibliography:
Fox C, History of the Wedding Ring, 2010, America’s Collectible Network, http://www.jtv.com/library/wedding-ring-history.html
The Origins of Wedding Rings and Why They’re Worn on the 4th Finger of the Left Hand, 2010, Today I Found Out, http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/09/the-origin-of-wedding-rings-and-why-theyre-worn-on-the-4th-finger-of-the-left-hand/
Wedding Ring, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_ring

Amazon:        

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...