Earlier in this series, we made the case for copper being “the metal that built technology.” Some readers took issue with that statement, noting correctly that meteoric iron and gold were worked long ...

Although progress is often gradual and incremental, on occasion it is both rapid and transformational. More than 250 years ago, a new method for producing an expensive and niche material was developed ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Long ago—before humans, before Earth, before even the sun—there ...