Neomano · est. 2014
Stories of science, the past, electronics and other curiosities.
The books · born from this blog
Atahualpa con su abrigo de pelo de murciélago
y otras 49 historias verdaderas que parecen mentira
The stories I tell here, gathered and expanded: 50 real episodes so incredible they sound made up. The same wonder of Neomano, now to read cover to cover.
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Tocar madera
Pequeña historia de las supersticiones que el mundo no ha podido soltar
Why do we knock on wood, fear Friday the 13th, or avoid walking under a ladder? A short, fascinating tour through the origins of the superstitions we still practice without realizing it.
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100 futuros
Cien escenarios del mundo que viene con la inteligencia artificial
A hundred short scenarios of how artificial intelligence could reshape work, love, war, even death. Not predictions but possible futures, to imagine where we are headed.
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249 articles
The Vacuum Pump That Made Modern Science Possible
Otto von Guericke's vacuum pump proved air has weight with horses that couldn't pull two hemispheres apart. How the modern vacuum was born.
How GPS Works and Why It Knows Where You Are
Your phone's GPS pinpoints you thanks to satellites 20,000 km up and atomic clocks. Here is how that everyday magic actually works, step by step.
The Origin of Unix: Why It Lives in Your Phone
Unix was born in 1969 on a forgotten Bell Labs computer. Today its descendants run your phone, your Mac and nearly every server on Earth.
When the Pregnancy Test Was a Frog
For decades, pharmacies kept their own frogs: if a client's urine made one ovulate, she was pregnant. And it worked 95% of the time.
Rhinoplasty: Plastic Surgery Is Older Than You Think
Rhinoplasty was born in India more than 2,500 years ago to rebuild noses cut off as punishment. That is how plastic surgery began.
The First Personal Computer Wasn't the One You Think
Almost everyone credits the 1975 Altair as the first personal computer, but several came earlier: from Olivetti in 1965 to the Kenbak-1 in 1971.
The History of the Compass: From Lodestone to GPS
The history of the compass, from the Chinese lodestone that pointed south to the GPS in your phone: how we learned to find our way without the sky.
The Origin of the Word “Disaster”: A Bad Star
Where does the word disaster come from? From astrology: dis- “bad” plus astrum “star.” A disaster was, literally, the fault of an ill-placed star.
The Origin of “Ojalá”: God Willing, in Arabic
Where does the Spanish word ojalá come from? From Andalusi Arabic law šá lláh, “if God wills it.” A Muslim prayer hidden inside everyday Spanish.
Why Power Plugs Are Different in Every Country
There are about 15 plug types worldwide and voltages from 110 to 240 V. Here is why power plugs are so different from one country to the next.
How a Lithium Battery Works and the 1% Myth
The lithium battery powers your phone and your electric car. Here is how it works inside and why the percentage you see is never quite exact.
The Origin of the Word “Salary”: Salt and Soldiers
Where does the word salary come from? From Roman salt. But the idea that soldiers were paid in salt is more myth than actual history.