Curated category
Chinese inventions
- GunpowderIn the year 808, a Taoist alchemist in China mixed sulfur and saltpeter with birthwort herb inside a small laboratory. The resulting formula appeared in a…
- Natural gasDeep beneath the Earth's surface, layers of organic matter from marine microorganisms have been transforming for millions of years.
- Blast furnaceA blast furnace operates on the principle of chemical reduction where carbon monoxide converts iron oxides to elemental iron.
- SilkThe word silk comes from the Chinese term sī, which traces back through Mongolian and other Asian sources to ancient linguistic roots.
- KeroseneA clear liquid with a density between 0.78 and 0.81 grams per cubic centimeter, kerosene flows easily at room temperature.
- Oil refineryAs early as the first century, Chinese civilizations were refining crude oil for use as an energy source. Between 512 and 518, during the late Northern Wei…
- Puddling (metallurgy)The Eiffel Tower stands as a monument to puddled iron, its lattice structure relying on the malleable metal produced by this process.
- ExplosiveA match ignites a small pile of powder on a marble base, sending a flash of light and a sharp crack into the air. This moment captures the essence of an…
- Land mineA land mine is an explosive weapon often concealed under or camouflaged on the ground. It waits to destroy or disable enemy targets as they pass over or near…
- PorcelainThe Shang dynasty began its rule in 1600 BCE, marking the start of centuries-long ceramic experimentation that would eventually yield true porcelain.
- PrintingA cylinder seal from antiquity pressed ink onto clay to create a repeating pattern. This technique predates paper by millennia and established the first…
- AcupunctureThe earliest documented system of diagnosis and treatment for acupuncture appeared in the Inner Classic of Huang Di around 100 BC.
- ArtilleryThe first known catapult appeared in Syracuse in 399 BC. This ancient machine relied on mechanical energy to launch projectiles, a stark contrast to the…
- CannonThe word cannon derives from the Old Italian term meaning large tube, which itself traces back to the Latin and Greek words for reed.
- Cast ironIn 1948, engineers developed a new form of cast iron that changed the material's behavior forever. This ductile cast iron contains graphite in the shape of…
- HandgunThe Heilongjiang hand cannon emerged in 1288 as the oldest known bronze barrel handgun. This artifact measures 34 centimeters without a handle and weighs…
- Lock (water navigation)In 274 BC, engineers serving Ptolemy II of Egypt constructed a device to keep salt water out of the Nile River. This early lock was part of the Canal of the…
- FirearmThe first firearms emerged in 10th-century China when bamboo tubes containing gunpowder and pellet projectiles were mounted on spears to create the portable…
- Armillary sphereA brass framework of graduated rings stands at the center of an armillary sphere. This metal skeleton represents lines of celestial longitude and latitude.
- RocketGunpowder-powered rockets evolved in medieval China under the Song dynasty by the 13th century. The Song navy used these weapons in a military exercise dated…