Think for a moment about some of the pioneering developments from the earliest days of American aviation: The first pilot’s licence; the first flight from one city to another; the first airplane sold commercially. More than a century later, most people attribute these milestones to the Wright brothers. But the Wright brothers were responsible for none of the ... Show More
May 2019
Star Wars' Cinema Technology | 6842 Valjean Ave | S15-E1
<p>When STAR WARS debuted in May 1977, it gave rise to a pop-cultural phenomenon unlike any the world had ever seen. The movie was so singular and iconic, and so technically ambitious -- that it almost never came to be.</p><p>To bring Star Wars to the screen, new technology had t ... Show More
43m 15s
Jun 2019
The Birth Control Pill | But Can It Be Done? | S16-E1
<p>When Margaret Sanger opened her birth control clinic in 1916, she knew she was breaking the law. Distributing contraceptives, or even literature about birth control, was a jailable offense. But she didn’t care. As a nurse, Sanger had sworn to devote herself to the welfare of t ... Show More
40m 56s
Jul 2019
Innovation Fails: DeLorean | Driven to Succeed | S17-E1
<p>Normally on American Innovations, we look at the history of the science and technology that transformed the world we live in. These stories teach us about the vision, grit, competition, and teamwork required to conquer new frontiers and forge new pathways to the future. But eq ... Show More
40m 24s
May 2021
The Mystery of D.B. Cooper | The Man in Row 18 | 1
<p>On November 24th, 1971, a man on a Boeing 727 bound for Seattle handed a flight attendant a note that read, “Miss, I have a bomb here.” No one knew the man’s real name. But soon, the press was calling him D.B. Cooper -- and his hijacking of Northwest Orient Flight 305 would go ... Show More
35m 18s
Apr 2020
The First Flight Around the World
April 6, 1924. Four planes rest in the water, preparing for take-off. At 8:30 AM, they pick up speed and hit the air. Eight pilots have begun a dangerous mission: to be the first to fly around the world. This will change our future in a way that few could see in 1924. What did it ... Show More
23m 7s
Apr 2023
Amelia Earhart: Across the Atlantic | Solo | 2
<p>By 1929, Amelia Earhart was famous for her groundbreaking flight across the Atlantic, with pilot Bill Stultz and mechanic Slim Gordon. Now, she seemed to be living the perfect life: she was a rich and famous celebrity and could fly whenever she liked. But all that at ... Show More
46m 11s