Technology Portal | Britannica

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Thanks to human curiosity and technological research, many significant inventions have been made throughout history that in turn made a difference in our daily lives.</div> </div> <div class="text-hr text-hr-right border-navy label mt-30 ls-lg">Browse Subcategories</div> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 mt-20 category-snap-slider"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex font-14 overflow-hidden text-nowrap mx-5"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Agriculture" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Agriculture & Agricultural Technology</a> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Cars-Vehicles" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Cars & Other Vehicles</a> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Computers" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Computers</a> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Engineering" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Engineering</a> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Industry" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Industry</a> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Inventions" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Inventions</a> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Web-Communication" class="link-white ">The Web & Communication</a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <h2 class="label my-30 text-center">Featured content, May 09, 2024</h2> <div class="qa-pinboard-items js-pinboard grid gy-20"> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/story/what-is-known-and-not-known-about-area-51" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/96/213796-050-2A2DCD32/area-51-gate.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Area 51 Gate" class="col-100"/> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/story/what-is-known-and-not-known-about-area-51" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">What Is Known (and Not Known) About Area 51</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Area 51 has spawned more conspiracy theories than perhaps any other military facility in the world. Here’s what we know (and... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/story/what-comes-after-terabyte" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/53/189553-131-E3087991/symbols.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="green digital binary symbols" class="col-100"/> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/story/what-comes-after-terabyte" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">What Comes After Terabyte?</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Kilo-, mega-, giga-, tera-, ??? </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/story/7-accidents-and-disasters-in-spaceflight-history" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/71/190771-131-1F266466/launch-spectators-glimpse-column-Space-Shuttle-Columbia.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="After a perfect launch, spectators try to catch a last glimpse of Space Shuttle Columbia, barely visible at the top end of the twisted column of smoke." class="col-100"/> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/story/7-accidents-and-disasters-in-spaceflight-history" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">7 Accidents and Disasters in Spaceflight History</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> It doesn’t take rocket science to understand why space travel can be a little tricky. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/list/10-inventions-that-changed-your-world" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/04/24404-131-BA7B1B4F/Apple-II.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="The Apple II" class="col-100"/> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/list/10-inventions-that-changed-your-world" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">10 Inventions That Changed Your World</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Things you <em>really</em> can’t live without. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/history-of-technology" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/83/96083-050-CF773EBD/International-Space-Station-space-shuttle-crew-member-July-28-2005.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="International Space Station" class="col-100"/> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/history-of-technology" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">history of technology</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> History of technology, the development over time of systematic techniques for making and doing things. The term technology,... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/railroad" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/28/233928-050-CC617C2B/high-speed-railway-commuter-train.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="high-speed train" class="col-100"/> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/railroad" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">railroad</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Railroad, mode of land transportation in which flange-wheeled vehicles move over two parallel steel rails, or tracks, either... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/machine" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/20/93320-050-ABA827ED/machines-energy-work.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="simple machines" class="col-100"/> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/machine" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">machine</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Machine, device, having a unique purpose, that augments or replaces human or animal effort for the accomplishment of physical... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/nuclear-reactor" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/01/95901-050-49DFA760/Czech-Republic-operation-Temelin-Nuclear-Power-Plant-2003.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Temelín Nuclear Power Plant, South Bohemia, Czech Republic" class="col-100"/> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/nuclear-reactor" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">nuclear reactor</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Nuclear reactor, any of a class of devices that can initiate and control a self-sustaining series of nuclear fissions. Nuclear... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="qa-quizzes"> <h2 class="h3 mt-30 mb-20 font-weight-bold">Technology Quizzes</h2> <div class="m-n10 "> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 card-snap-slider col-100"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex col-100"> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/quiz/computers-and-technology" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/63/166063-131-0E023062/computer-chip-processing-unit-history-society-science.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="computer chip. computer. Hand holding computer chip. Central processing unit (CPU). history and society, science and technology, microchip, microprocessor motherboard computer Circuit Board" class="col-100"/> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/quiz/computers-and-technology" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Computers and Technology Quiz</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Computers host websites composed of HTML and send text messages as simple as...LOL. 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Agriculture has often been conceptualized narrowly, in terms of specific combinations of activities and organisms—wet-rice production in Asia, wheat farming in Europe, cattle ranching in the Americas, and the like—but a more holistic perspective holds that humans are environmental engineers who disrupt terrestrial habitats in specific ways.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/topic/agriculture">origins of agriculture</a> <div class="font-serif"></div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/money/collectivization">collectivization</a> <div class="font-serif">agricultural policy</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/topic/terrace-cultivation">terrace cultivation</a> <div class="font-serif">agriculture</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Cars-Vehicles"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/49/127149-050-0C1C9430/train-subway-station-London-Underground.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="London Underground" class="col-100 mb-20"/> </a> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Cars-Vehicles" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Cars & Other Vehicles</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Automobile, byname auto, also called motorcar or car, a usually four-wheeled vehicle designed primarily for passenger transportation and commonly propelled by an internal-combustion engine using a volatile fuel.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/taxicab">taxicab</a> <div class="font-serif">vehicle</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/road">road</a> <div class="font-serif">transportation</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/carriage-vehicle">carriage</a> <div class="font-serif">vehicle</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Computers"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/resources/encyclopedia-placeholder.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="subcategory placeholder" class="col-100 mb-15"/> </a> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Computers" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Computers</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Have computers replaced dogs as man's best friend? They've certainly become an indispensable part of daily life for most people in our modern society. The first modern computers used analog systems, which were especially useful for solving problems and simulating dynamic systems in real time. By the 1960s, digital computers had largely replaced their analog counterparts. Later there was a similar transition from mainframe computers to personal computers. The advent of personal computers brought computers into the individual consumer's home for the first time. Rapid developments in computer and Internet technology powered an ever-expanding selection of handheld digital devices such as the Palm Pilot, BlackBerry, iPhone, and iPod. Computer chips were increasingly embedded in consumer devices of all sorts, including cars, cameras, kitchen appliances, toys, watches, and much more, reinforcing the interconnected nature of the world in which we now live.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/zombie-computer">zombie computer</a> <div class="font-serif"></div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/artificial-intelligence">artificial intelligence</a> <div class="font-serif"></div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/money/Bill-Gates">Bill Gates</a> <div class="font-serif">American computer programmer, businessman, and philanthropist</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Engineering"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/49/160349-050-FCE6B9E3/side-gold-medal-winner-Charles-Stark-Draper.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Obverse side of the gold medal given to the winner of the Charles Stark Draper Prize, awarded annually by the U.S. National Academy of Engineering." class="col-100 mb-20"/> </a> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Engineering" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Engineering</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Engineering, the application of science to the optimum conversion of the resources of nature to the uses of humankind. The field has been defined by the Engineers Council for Professional Development, in the United States, as the creative application of “scientific principles to design or develop structures, machines, apparatus, or manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them singly or in combination; or to construct or operate the same with full cognizance of their design; or to forecast their behaviour under specific operating conditions; all as respects an intended function, economics of operation and safety to life and property.” The term engineering is sometimes more loosely defined, especially in Great Britain, as the manufacture or assembly of engines, machine tools, and machine parts.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/machine-tool">machine tool</a> <div class="font-serif"></div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/canal-waterway">canals and inland waterways</a> <div class="font-serif">waterway</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/bridge-engineering">bridge</a> <div class="font-serif">engineering</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Industry"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/resources/encyclopedia-placeholder.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="subcategory placeholder" class="col-100 mb-15"/> </a> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Industry" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Industry</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Industry, a group of productive enterprises or organizations that produce or supply goods, services, or sources of income. In economics, industries are customarily classified as primary, secondary, and tertiary; secondary industries are further classified as heavy and light.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/manufacturing">manufacturing</a> <div class="font-serif"></div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/automotive-industry">automotive industry</a> <div class="font-serif"></div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/technology/materials-testing">materials testing</a> <div class="font-serif"></div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Inventions"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/56/156-050-7C1C1C60/Thomas-Alva-Edison-tinfoil-phonograph-photograph-Mathew-1878.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Thomas Edison" class="col-100 mb-20"/> </a> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Inventions" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Inventions</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Without the efforts of famed inventors such as Thomas Edison, James Watt, Alexander Graham Bell, and the Wright brothers, our daily life today would look a lot different. Landmark inventions like the printing press, steam engine, telephone, incandescent light bulb, and airplane heralded new stages of progress in technology and spurred further innovation.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Les-Paul">Les Paul</a> <div class="font-serif">American inventor and musician</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/money/George-Eastman">George Eastman</a> <div class="font-serif">American inventor, entrepreneur, and manufacturer</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nikola-Tesla">Nikola Tesla</a> <div class="font-serif">Serbian-American inventor</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Web-Communication"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240509194224im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/69/217969-050-87561CD2/Twitter-founders-Biz-Stone-Evan-Williams-2009.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Biz Stone and Evan Williams" class="col-100 mb-20"/> </a> <a href="/web/20240509194224/https://www.britannica.com/browse/Web-Communication" class="font-weight-bold font-16">The Web & Communication</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">The development of the World Wide Web had a massive impact on the ways in which people interact and communicate, ultimately paving the way for the heavily interconnected world that we live in today. 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