Jason M. Burns

Drums are the backbone of music. They provide the beat that carries the song, yet drums are as old as music itself. From simple skins stretched over a frame and played by hand to elaborate kits and spinning sticks, drums lead the way in both tradition and musical innovation. In this graphic history, learn about the earliest drums, how they’re...

Modern prosthetics are sophisticated wearable tech, but artificial limbs date all the way back to ancient Egypt! From the Greville Chester toe to modern-day running blades, prosthetics help people all over the world enhance their quality of life. In this graphic history, learn about the earliest prosthetics, their increased importance after the World Wars, the Paralympics, and how technology could...

Robots are the technology of the future. But even people in ancient times imagined autonomous creations that could play music, perform calculations, and predict events in the future. Far more than science fiction—they’re reality! In this graphic history, learn about the first robots, their role in pop culture and automation, their future as tools to aid humankind, and the risks...

Since humans first made them a reality, space vehicles have been vital to outer space exploration. From Sputnik I to Perseverance, spacecraft help astronauts, scientists, and explorers go far beyond Earth’s borders. In this graphic history, learn about the first space vehicles, the spacecraft that took humans to space, the Mars rovers, and the coming generation of vehicles that will...