In 1912, an Austrian tailor jumped to his death from the first-level platform of the Eiffel Tower.  The jump had been an attempt to prove the value of his invention – a wearable parachute – then much in demand for the early days of aviation.  The Paris police had given permission for the test but on the understanding that a dummy would be thrown over, not a live human. For a parable of designing your tests in a responsible and appropriate manner, read on...

Why does copying someone in on an email use “CC” or “BCC”, what does that stand for?  Why does the “Settings” icon on a computer typically look like a cog wheel?  Read on for the strange design features that persist long after the thing that they represent and a phenomenon for which there’s even a name.

Alan Mathison Turing (1912–1954) is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of modern computing. A British mathematician, logician, and cryptanalyst, he revolutionized computer science and played a crucial role during World War II by breaking the German Enigma code. His personal life, marked by persecution due to his homosexuality, also made him a symbol in the fight for LGBT rights. Turing’s story demonstrates the intersection of scientific genius and courage in the face of

A total eclipse of the sun in the mid-19th century led to the discovery of Helium and the death of Rama IV, the King of Thailand, a self-taught polymath who had predicted the event several years before and to a degree of accuracy exceeding his European contemporaries.

Thinking of working in Switzerland/already here? Are you enjoying the quality of life and the easy access to the mountains for winter sports and summer hiking? If so then read on if you ever wondered how the heights of the Swiss peaks were determined in the pre-global satellite positioning era. An engineering challenge with an interesting history traced back to Geneva's harbour.

Linus Torvalds is one of the most respected and influential names in the world of computing. He is the creator of the Linux kernel, which is at the heart of many operating systems used worldwide, as well as Git, a revolutionary code management tool. Let's take a look back at the fascinating life of this innovator and the impact of his creations.

Ask anyone to name a famous English engineer and I’ll eat a stovepipe hat if nine times out of ten you don’t get the same name in reply.  He was voted the second greatest Briton of all time in a BBC survey in 2002 (pipped to the number one spot by Winston Churchill, and thrashing Newton who appeared sixth). Although he was, in fact half French and British (and bilingual) and lesser known on this side of the Channel now. The man in question is of course Isambard Kingdom Brune

In 2025, Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary, marking half a century of technological innovation. Since its founding in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, the company has constantly pushed the boundaries of technology, introducing solutions that have transformed the way we live and work. Among its many successes, Microsoft Azure stands out as much more than just a cloud service; it embodies Microsoft's technological evolution. Able to anticipate future needs, Azure offe

IT Easter Eggs are little surprises hidden by developers in software, video games, and operating systems. These secrets add a touch of fun and mystery to our digital interactions. In this article, we will explore some of the most famous and fascinating Easter Eggs, from Windows to Google to Linux. Let's dive into this playful world together and discover how these little treasures enrich our user experience.