October 2022

Steel is a form of refined iron that contains a small percentage of carbon and other elements. It can be forged, hammered, tempered, and annealed to become harder and more ductile.

Steel is very strong and has increased resistance to rust when compared with iron. It is also relatively easy to weld pieces of iron together.

It became common after efficient production methods were devised in the 17th century and became a mass-produced material from the mid-19th century.

Today steel is one of the most common elements in the world and is used in the construction of many buildings and products.

Think of ships, buildings, vehicles, tools, appliances, bridges, weapons, heavy equipment, wire, pots, pans, etc.

It’s a major innovation in its own right and a major building block to many important innovations.

By by Drequaisha
(Del Vvalle Texas)

Have some belief in yourself. Pay attention to even the smallest of ideas that pop into your mind. Thinking that you are not creative can be a strong barrier to the flow of creative ideas.

Record all your ideas in a notebook or on an electronic device and then experiment with moving these ideas forward to fruition.

Believe in yourself, believe in your ideas, and above all be persistent.

June 1963…

Spinning wing lifts plane.

A rotating annular wing, according to this recent Lockheed patent, would act as a gyro to stabilize a plane in supersonic flight.

The wing’s upper and lower surfaces would provide lift, and centrifugal force would deliver fuel to ramjet engines in the wings.

Intake air flow would be smoothed as it broke around the nose.

November 1963…

To replace the large number of floodlights usually needed to illuminate a wide area, this recent patent would mount a single high-powered light on a revolving, motor-driven yoke. Although the beam would light only a portion of the area at a time, by rotating fast it would give the effect of complete coverage.

Take some hair gel and pour it under where your target is about to sit.

Catch a spider, preferably a big one, and place it in your target’s bed. Then, as they lay down, the spider will crawl all over them. Perfect revenge is to hear them scream!

By Sean, Pontefract, UK

Go to your local library and read a story about space. Perhaps try Aliens in Underpants Save the World by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort. While you’re there also research moon landings and visits to space.

Return home and draw a space scene. Get your child to think about the setting and the characters. Ask them what kind of characters they may find.

Create a spaceship, using things you can find around the house. Kitchen foil, plastic bottles, and cardboard rolls are all excellent building blocks.

Alternatively, build your child their own spaceship or rocket using cardboard boxes, tin cans and lots of kitchen foil.

If you have a telescope, encourage your child to look at the stars and planets on dark nights. What do they see? Talk about what you see when you look at the sky.

There are plenty of opportunities to go outside in the autumn and winter months. Look for the International Space Station and track its progress in the sky, and use your telescope to look at any of the stars or planets.

If you do not have a telescope, encourage your child to use their imagination and look at the stars and planets.

July 1963…

Socket extends bulb life.

Inserted between an ordinary bulb and socket, this adapter would lower circuit voltage (through a resistance wire in the tip) so bulbs would last much longer than they do now.

It would also cut illumination slightly, but you’d make up for this by using a bulb with a higher wattage rating.

I am writing a report where I have been asked to list the innovations of a paramedic.

My thinking is that smart devices such as the iPhone, iPad, or android based devices are great examples of innovations that improve the ability of paramedics to do their job.

Instant Internet, communications, and a host of applications that give instant access to a wealth of knowledge, experience, and information.

In some parts of the world, applications are being developed where a patient’s medical records can be pushed out to a tablet device en route to the emergency.

This is particularly useful where the paramedic crew may not trust the medical history that the patient is giving them or where the patient is unable to recall or relay their medical information.

by Smalls
(California)

November 1963…

A delivery van or other truck might carry a bigger load in better order on this slide-out platform. The simple mechanism, similar to a file drawer in operation, would eliminate the need for walk-in space, simplify loading and handling of the cargo, and make any part of the load accessible in any order.