The relationship between war and scienceâ"as old as the wheelâ"entered a whole new realm with the Civil War, the first truly âtechnologicalâ conflict, as well as in the conflicts that rage across the world today. Secret Gadgets and Strange Gizmos traces this evolving connection from the deadly innovations of the Union and Confederate forces to the top secret, high-tech inventions that are making military history today. Chronicling the hits, the misses, and the important technological advances produced by the U.S. militaryâs high-tech hubsâ"aviation, wireless communication, the Internet, atomic energy, satellite technology, and space travelâ"this richly illustrated book takes readers from the ironclads, land mines, and ship-launched hydrogen balloons of the Civil War to the world-changing bombs of the Atomic Age; from the militaryâs first flirtation with flight to the conquest of space; from the acceleration of wireless communication during World War I to modern innovations like the mob-clearing Banshee grenade and portable medical suites outfitted for front-line surgery.
