We like to think that air travel today is long or even dangerous, but it’s nothing compared to sea travel a couple of centuries ago. Imagine getting on a massive boat with hundreds of passengers, and then waiting for 50 days. Or 100 days. Or even 150 days. Make it a return trip, and that’s most of the year gone.…
When we think of computers, we think of the twenty-first century. But did you know that India started using them back in the 1950s? Computers were the unexpected secret sauce for accelerating India’s economy after Independence. The government used them to process massive amounts of data and generate complex statistical models of the economy. How did the Indian government start…
A little over 3,800 years ago, humankind began to build the tallest structure ever known to the world until then—the Great Pyramid of Giza. Humans managed this feat without any modern technology or tools, using only ramps, ropes, levers and sheer muscle power. That too in an era where we were yet to discover the wheel, pulley or iron tools.…
On July 20, 2019, we complete fifty years since humans officially landed on the moon for the first time in 1969. This historic feat of accomplishment is often synonymous with two names—Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. That’s not the complete picture. While we celebrate the legendary astronauts who first stepped on the moon, their achievement wouldn’t have been possible without…
Ever wondered what led to humans taking over the skies? Sure, we all know the Wright brothers were the pioneers of controlled flight. However, do you know why two flight enthusiasts from Dayton, Ohio succeeded? This is the incredible story of two 20th century humans of data. Read on to find out how their historic accomplishment fueled the age of…