The team behind the bestselling Atlas Obscura presents an illustrated exploration of STEM for the most interesting technological achievements, inventions, and scientific discoveries of the world. Following the New York Times bestselling Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide for the World's Most Adventurous Kid, which has sold over 200,000 copies to date, here is a story of invention that spans the entire planet and is unique.

This illustrated and STEM-oriented exploration of the 94 most fascinating inventions and scientific discoveries takes middle-grade readers on an unforgettable journey around the world and through time. Each page focuses on a technology that changed the world and how it influenced the next invention or discovery.

Starting with the first invention, fire, readers will explore the Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa for evidence of the earliest controlled use of fire by humans, and then learn how fire is essential for creating another vital technology: glass, including the modern glass bridge in Zhangjiajie, China, which offers a crystal-clear (and thrilling!) view of the 1,300-foot drop below.

As you observe comets through telescopes, decode broken ciphers, destroy space with lasers, and break faster supersonic records on the world's fastest car, beautifully illustrated scenes will transport readers across continents and ages into a world of wonderful discoveries.