Transport
Discover facts about transport. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Transport
Why the Soviet space program chose stray dogs
While NASA preferred using specially trained chimpanzees, the USSR simply rounded up stray mongrels off the streets of Moscow. Scientists reasoned that if a…
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Did Napoleon decide which side Europe drives on
If you've ever wondered why the UK drives on the left and the rest of Europe drives on the right, blame Napoleon Bonaparte. Since he was left-handed, he…
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The first parachute jump came from a balloon
You don't technically need a plane to need a parachute. In 1797, André-Jacques Garnerin made the first successful frameless parachute jump by severing his…
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The Wright brothers flew together just once
Because nothing screams family bonding like mutually acknowledging that your shared invention is an absolute death trap. Wilbur and Orville promised their…
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Apollo astronauts could lease a Corvette for $1 a year
If strapping yourself to a giant bomb and shooting into the endless vacuum of space wasn't macho enough, General Motors made sure you looked unbearably cool…
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When trains had to board ferries
Because building a structurally sound bridge over a massive lake is hard, early railway engineers simply decided to make the trains float instead. They laid…
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Titanic was already burning before it hit the iceberg
As if hitting a giant rogue ice cube wasn't embarrassing enough, the supposedly unsinkable ship was already dealing with an internal inferno. A…
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Before radar, air traffic control used tabletop maps
It is wildly reassuring to realize that the dawn of commercial aviation was essentially managed by grown adults playing a high-stakes game of Risk. Before…
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The first escalator was an amusement-park ride
Nothing screams 'fun for the whole family' quite like standing completely still on a moving staircase. The first working escalator, patented by Jesse Reno in…
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The space shuttle got seven inches per gallon
If you routinely complain about your oversized SUV’s terrible gas mileage, take deep solace in the fact that you are not actively flying a space shuttle.…
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Why submarine crews work in deafening rooms
Movies depict submarine crews whispering dramatically to avoid detection, but the reality is deafening. While the exterior hull is acoustically cloaked to…
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Why a Bullet Hole Usually Won't Pop a Blimp
Thanks to Hollywood, we assume blimps erupt in spectacular fireballs at the slightest provocation. In reality, the internal pressure of a modern helium…
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Why submarine hatches are so narrow
If you ever wondered why entering a submarine feels like climbing through a doggy door, it's a brutal form of quality control. The military designed the…
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ZIP codes were created to make mail transport manageable
During WWII, so many experienced postal workers were drafted that the US post office was plunged into utter chaos. The government invented the Zone…
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Auto-rickshaws have their top speeds restricted for safety
Riding in a three-wheeled tin can through chaotic South Asian traffic is exhilarating enough without breaking the sound barrier. Manufacturers intentionally…
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How astronauts drove lunar rovers
Because wrestling a standard steering wheel in zero gravity while wearing a puffy suit is an ergonomic nightmare. The lunar rovers were controlled by a…
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When subway tokens became a shadow currency
Because physical brass coins were infinitely more reliable than whatever the volatile stock market was doing. In cities like New York, subway tokens were…
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The rocket-fuel ingredients in the Hindenburg's skin
Because coating a giant balloon full of explosive hydrogen with literal incendiary chemicals was somehow approved by engineers. The Hindenburg’s canvas skin…
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Pogo sticks were invented for elegant dancing
Bouncing around on a metal stick seems like a childish activity, but its origins were highly formal. The contraption was explicitly registered to allow…
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The wheelbarrow was once a military secret
Something as mundane as a bucket on a wheel was once considered highly classified military tech. The civilization that developed them realized moving supplies…
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Why Los Angeles sidewalks are so empty
The sprawling western metropolis features thousands of miles of pristine concrete pathways that practically nobody uses for actual walking. They exist purely…
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Why revolving doors save energy
Traditional swinging exits let massive amounts of conditioned air escape instantly into the street. Revolving barriers act as an airlock, saving huge amounts…
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The unicycle was once pitched as a bicycle alternative
The unicycle was incredibly close to being marketed as a completely sincere alternative to the bicycle, before society collectively decided that balancing on…
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Why the prime meridian runs through Greenwich
The invisible line dividing the eastern and western hemispheres could have been placed absolutely anywhere on the globe. It only runs through a specific spot…
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