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1901
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The first wireless transatlantic signal is sent from Cornwall, England, to Newfoundland, nearly 2,000 miles over the curve of the earth's surface.
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1903
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William Harley, Arthur Davidson, Walter Davidson, and others develop the Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Milwaukee.
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1908
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MODEL T
Henry Ford produces the Model T and inaugurates the era of the mass-produced automobile.
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1914
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PANAMA CANAL
The Panama Canal opens.
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1915
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AT&T engineers experiment with transmitting the human voice across the Atlantic ocean via radio.
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1923
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Model T production reaches a peak of 1.8 million units.
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1927
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A five-minute call between New York and London costs $75, or three times the average weekly earnings of a production worker.
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1927
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Charles Lindbergh flies solo from New York to Paris.
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1930s
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RADAR
Radar is developed in the U.S., Britain, and elsewhere.
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1931
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George Washington Bridge opens.
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1937
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JET ENGINE
The first jet plane engine is produced.
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1937
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The German dirigible Hindenburg explodes at Lakehurst, N.J., killing 36 people.
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1939
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Igor Sikorsky builds the first successful helicopter prototype.
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1943
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The first portable FM two-way radio, or "walkie-talkie," is developed and used for battlefield communications in the South Pacific.
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1956
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INTERSTATE
The U.S. begins building the interstate highway system.
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1956
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TRANSATLANTIC CABLE
The first transatlantic submarine telephone cable is laid.
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1957
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SPUTNIK
The Soviets launch Sputnik, the first satellite to orbit the earth.
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1957
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SATELLITES
Since Sputnik, hundreds of satellites have been launched for everything from eavesdropping to transmitting live TV signals.
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1958
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Ford introduces a new model, the Edsel, which bombs.
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1959
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German Felix Wankel successfully tests rotary-piston engine.
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1964
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The first "bullet" train in Japan travels at top speed of 130 mph; later trains will exceed speeds of 190 mph.
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1969
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MOON
America successfully completes the first manned mission to the moon.
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1970
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FIBER-OPTIC CABLE
Corning researchers produce the first optical fiber for use in telecommunications.
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1972
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Apollo 17 safely accomplishes the last manned space mission to the moon.
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1980s
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ELECTRIC CAR
Electric cars return after being ignored by auto makers for decades.
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1981
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STEALTH
Lockheed completes development of the Stealth bomber.
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1983
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CELLULAR PHONE
Motorola launches the first portable-cellular phone system.
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1986
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NASA's space shuttle Challenger explodes shortly after takeoff, killing all seven crew members on board.
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1996
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The Eurotunnel connecting Britain and France opens for traffic.
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1997
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MARS
NASA's Pathfinder mission lands the Sojourner rover on Mars.
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1998
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Iridium inaugurates satellite-based cellular-phone service with a group of low-earth orbit satellites.
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1999
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Frenchman Bertrand Piccard and Briton Brian Jones circumnavigate the world in 20 days in a balloon.
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