5 M2B - Inventions that Changed People's Lives

Pippo the Fool

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The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence was a marvel of art, architecture, and engineering. But it lacked a finishing ornament, a crown--a dome! The city fathers had a solution: to invite the finest masters to compete for the chance to design a dome. The rumors of this contest reached the ears of Filippo Brunelleschi, better known in Florence as Pippo the Fool. As soon as he heard about the contest, Pippo knew it was the chance he had been waiting for. "If I can win the contest, I will finally lose that nickname once and for all!"

Pippo the Fool

The Day-Glo Brothers

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Learn about the extraordinary journey that led two brothers to the discovery of a whole new kind of color, one that glows with an extra-special intensity--Day-Glo.

The Day-Glo Brothers

Pop's Bridge

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The Golden Gate Bridge. The impossible bridge, some call it. They say it can't be built.

But Robert's father is building it. He's a skywalker—a brave, high-climbing ironworker. Robert is convinced his pop has the most important job on the crew . . . until a frightening event makes him see that it takes an entire team to accomplish the impossible.

Pop's Bridge

Ancient Roman Technology

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To this day, the Romans are admired for their technological know-how and massive, well-designed public works projects. Learn how the Romans ensured a clean water supply for their cities, used volcanic ash to make long-lasting concrete, created the world's first professional army, and much more. Photographs of structures that are standing to this day help demonstrate the ingenuity of Roman engineers and the skill of Roman workers.

Ancient Roman Technology