AFAD 540

The Kite that Launched the Wireless Communications Era

In 1901 Marconi used a Hexagon kite to transmit the first radio signals across the Atlantic, the kite line was used as the aerial. He used the kite to support an antenna on the North American (receiving) side of the transmission which originated from a tall tower or mast in Europe.

Government debt around the world

AFAD 539

David “Dick” Byerly was a P & G scientist who was determined to develop the world’s first heavy duty detergent which would allow for a clean better than any other product available. After 7 years of experimenting the project was cancelled but he kept working on it in his spare time. After 14 years he finally created a prototype product that was quickly named Tide. Tide launched in 1946 and was called The Washday Miracle.

AFAD 538

Japan’s getting an iconic new taxi courtesy of Toyota. The new, aptly named ‘Japan Taxi’ (or Jpn Taxi for conveniently fitting on a rooftop sign) is already on roads, and bears a slight resemblance to London’s signature black cabs.
The Japan Taxi is gearing up for widespread presence in Tokyo in time for 2020, when the city will host the Olympic Games.

RIP John Mollo, who created the iconic costumes of Star Wars

Mollo was a military history expert who acted as a historical advisor on several films, including The Charge of the Light Brigade and Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, before progressing to costume design. 

His work for Star Wars earned him his first Oscar in 1977 and he would go on to receive his second alongside Bhanu Athaiya in 1983 for Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi starring Ben Kingsley. He also worked on other classic films such as Ridley Scott’s Alien, The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, Air America, Hanna’s War, Chaplin, and Event Horizon.