By Michael Karl Witzel ©2007-2008
Heinrich Geissler invented one of the first genuine prototypes of the non-filament lamp in 1856. To create artificial light, he used high voltage alternating current to excite the carbon dioxide gas sealed inside a glass tube. But there was one major drawback: The energized gas reacted chemically with the [...]

Barbecue Road Trip:
Recipes, Restaurants, & Pitmasters
from America’s Great Barbecue Regions
by Michael Karl Witzel
With its fervent aficionados, traditions, and wildly varying regional styles—each with its passionate advocates—barbecue is much more than a way of cooking meat: It’s a cultural ritual.
A history as entertaining as it is informative, this book is the first to explore American barbecue’s [...]