The Best Inventions Of The Year

Aircraft

Great Planes

Jim Coley / The Boeing Company
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Delivery of the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a year away, but the 250-seater is still the most successful commercial jet in aviation history. Fifty clients expecting bigger windows, better air pressure and humidity and more legroom have ordered 710 planes, worth $120 billion. The 787's 50% composite structure makes it the greenest wide-body, using 20% less fuel than others its size.
Available: All Nippon Airways flights as of December '08; orders sold out till 2014
boeing.com/commercial/787family

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Vote for the Gadget of the Year

What was the most revolutionary gadget that you just can't live without? Browse through the nominees and make your vote

Invention of the Year

The iPhone

The iPhone is more than just a gadget. It's a genuine handheld computer, the first device that really deserves the name

Video

How We Chose The List

Lev Grossman discusses the process of choosing the Best Inventions of the Year

Shopping

Tech Buyer's Guide

All the details on the newest products to help you decide how to spend your money wisely

Photo Essay

Emotive Clothing

A research team at Philips has developed clothes that look good and let others know how you feel

Photo Essay

The X-48B

NASA, Boeing and the U.S. Air Force are teaming up to develop a Blended-Wing Body aircraft for the military

Timeline

Best Inventors

From Leonardo DaVinci to the YouTube gurus, read about how these inventors changed our lives

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Warren Buffett, Adjust My Bra

Scientists in Hong Kong have discovered there's a better way to build a bra. How will the lingerie industry respond? An open letter to the one man who can help

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