Arthur C Clarke: an appreciation

Much more than a sci-fi writer: Dave Rothery pays tribute to Arthur C Clarke.

Early developments

The discovery of light sensitive chemicals was a huge step in photographic history.

Colour me impressed

Find out how an 18-year-old English chemist's accidental discovery led to the birth of synthetic dyeing.

Confused? You won't be

Part of the culture around the world, this is the history of soapmaking.

Making things smaller

Portable electronics were made possible by the creation of transistors.

Those who also crystalize

Inventing the bits that make new technology visible, the LCD, was a team effort. Meet the unsung heroes.

Construction time again

One of the many advances the new techniques with iron and steel allowed was the construction of different types of bridges and buildings.

On the hour

New machines - and transport between cities - needed proper regulation. Industrialisation changed forever the way we see time.

Tree to tyre

Brought to Europe from the midst of the Brazilian rainforests, the wheels of industrial change were based on rubber.

Tanning by gaslight

By extending the working day, artificial light increased output and drove industry towards 24-hour production, lighting the Industrial Revolution.

Working with iron and steel

It was innovations in raw materials that turned industry into revolution. There can be no heavy industry without quality iron and steel.

Raising the roof

The dome of Florence Cathedral is one of the greatest monuments of the Renaissance. Six centuries on, we're coming to appreciate the beauty of the dome.

A calculated victory

The ability to shift and analyse data has always been crucial in warfare - in the Second World War, that process became mechanised for the first time. It was the birth of modern computing.