Not just parcels: when the Post Office sent children
In the early 900s, in the USA, people trusted postmen so much that they would entrust their children to the post office for a short trip.
When people were afraid even of artificial ice
180 years ago, artificial ice was considered evil. Today we cannot live without it. The story of a battle between the past and the future.
'It'll be a drug': that '90 piece about the virtual world understood everything
In 1990, there was talk of "computer cocaine" and simulations that gave artificial happiness. Today we live in the virtual world we feared.
PlayStation, the story of a triumph born out of revenge
From Audio Chip to World Domination: How a Sony Engineer Created the Future by Watching His Daughter Play. The Story of the PlayStation.
The “smartwatch” of antiquity: the history of the “ham” of Portici
"Portici Ham" Is Not Food But A Sophisticated Roman Sundial: The Discovery That Challenges Everything We Knew About Time
MySQL, the database that changed your life turns 30
The database that made Web 2.0 possible turns 30. MySQL has powered Facebook, YouTube, and thousands of startups, leaving an indelible mark on modern technology.
Roller ship, when ships had wheels
In the 19th century, roller ships were supposed to revolutionize maritime transport with impressive speeds, but the dream vanished. I'll tell you why.
Angelo Dalle Molle, a RAI podcast rediscovers the forgotten genius
From Cynar to the first electric car to AI research centers: the podcast on Angelo Dalle Molle reveals the Italian who anticipated the future.
First in the sky: When Amazon patented the flying warehouse
Was the patent for a warehouse-airship that floats at 13.700 meters and launches drones for deliveries in less than 2 minutes a revolution or madness? Neither. Read here.
These predictions of Asimov are coming true before our eyes
These predictions by Asimov from 1965 become very current: the idea that robots will become organic and humans will transform into machines no longer sounds absurd.
The Lost Adventure of Windows 1.0: When Microsoft Dared to Dream
Windows 1.0 turns 40 in 2025, and it reveals surprising parallels to Microsoft’s current challenges. From “vaporware” to criticism, how the first graphics system failed (but gracefully) on its way to success.
Josephine Cochrane: The Woman Who Invented the Dishwasher in 1886
The incredible story of Josephine Cochrane, who invented the modern dishwasher in 1886 despite gender bias. Her water pressure device is the direct ancestor of our current dishwashers.
Gateway Process, when the CIA tried to travel beyond the body
Gateway Experience, or: The Story of the CIA’s Crazy Plan to Hack Consciousness. A Declassified Report from 1983 Is a Controversy.
Project Delilah: The Lost Story of Turing's Invention
Behind the Scenes of Project Delilah: How Alan Turing Pre-empted Modern Technology with a Cutting-Edge Voice Encryption Device.
Parcae, the spy satellites that kept the Cold War “cold”
Between gravity and secrets: the Parcae Program and its satellites that listened to the USSR. Until 2023, no one knew anything about it.
From Startup to Global Leader and Back Again: The Absurd History of Nokia
In the 90s, Nokia bet on the future of mobile telephony. And it won, changing our lives forever.
Anti-theft? When in South Africa cars had flamethrowers
Tired of car thefts, South Africa installed flamethrowers under car doors. It worked, but at what cost? The inventor won a "Nobel"…
Radio Alarm Clocks and Escalators: The Future Imagined in 1925
Remote controls, television and escalators: the future imagined by Professor Low in 1925 has become our daily life. The story of a visionary.
Syria, the future after Assad: hypotheses and prospects
The collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime opens a labyrinth of hypotheses: here's how different scenarios could affect regional stability.
X-29: The Plane With Backward Wings That Defied the Laws of Flight
Nightmare aerodynamics, inverted wings, only computers could tame it: it was the X-29. Strange to see, very fast in flight, legendary in history.
I'll tell you about Ivrea: Adriano Olivetti's workers' paradise
Ivrea, 50s: Adriano Olivetti realizes the dream of a factory-city where technology and humanity blend in perfect harmony
