To modern eyes, it’s hokey as heck. In the blurry black-and-white image, Douglas Engelbart, in his early 40s, wears a wired headset and speaks — mostly — to the camera before him. His eyes stray to ...

Local historian Martin Kane is never surprised to learn someone has never heard of Hudson Maxim. “It’s really funny. Hudson Maxim was very well known in his day. He was a real contemporary and very ...

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in ...