Tech's secret birthplace, dissect a 3D monitor
Photos: Albuquerque's PC roots
While Silicon Valley is now arguably the heart of the technology industry, once upon a time, Albuquerque, New Mexico was a cradle of burgeoning computer tech. Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen reminds us of this via the "Startup" exhibit at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History. It recounts such pillars of computing past as UNIVAC, the first video game, Moore's Law, the Altair 8800, and Microsoft, all of which can trace their roots through Albuquerque.
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Geek Peeks of the Week
Cracking open the iZ3D 22-inch LCD monitor
The iZ3D was designed to be the world's first 3D computer monitor, but it was supposedly built with off-the-shelf tech, while cunning software did all the third-dimensionalizing. Well, we vivisected our sample model to see if this humble origin was true, or if some sneaky custom circuitry was hidden inside.
Photos: Revisiting the power of the atom bomb
The National Atomic Museum is the only congressionally chartered museum of nuclear science and history in the United States. The museum offers a fascinating and terrifying glimpse of the stories behind the only two atomic weapons ever used in war -- and the technology's impact on all humankind.
Photos: Underground at the Titan Missile Museum
Admit it, you've always wanted to stare down a nuclear missile at point blank range, Dr. Strangelove style -- and now you can! Wander through a decommissioned Titan missile silo in Arizona and ogle the doomsday tech that spawned so many lame 1980s action movies and pop songs.
Images: A vision for an asteroid mission
Someone has finally designed spacecraft that will let humans land on the surface of an asteroid -- just like in the movie Armageddon -- but the real-life version looks like a giant mechanical insect. Now, we just have to build the giant space-drill trucks, and find a way to make Michael Bay's version of Newtonian physics play out in the actual universe.
Images: The sun is losing its spots
Attention iPhone users, make all your calls now, while the sun is at the low ebb of its 11-year sunspot cycle. Five years from now, the expected flurry of magnetic solar interference from old Sol will make you long for today's crappy AT&T data connectivity. We've got the pics to prove it.
Find more optical distractions in the TechRepublic gallery collection.
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