Modern Marvels

This countdown special goes gaga over gizmos–celebrating the most amazing gadgets Modern Marvels has ever featured. Our top ten contenders run the gamut from the indispensable to the insane…from golden oldies to newfangled novelties…all of them showcasing the wonder of human ingenuity. We'll unveil the secrets inside one of the 1960s' most iconic thingamajigs, reveal why an electronic doodad from the '90s was once considered a threat to national security, and rediscover the forgotten marvel created by Benjamin Franklin. Our number 1 pick: a household gadget reinvented so many times that it's inspired more than 4,500 unique patents.