Comments on: From 8-Tracks to Grave Torpedoes: The Quest for an Extinct Technology http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/ Quirky, funny, and surprising science news from the edge of the known universe. Fri, 25 May 2012 18:28:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dan Lighter http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-90874 Dan Lighter Mon, 14 May 2012 07:49:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-90874 Hi, Today's medical products are very advance and also useful in saving life of patients. I don't think it is useful anymore. Thanks <a href="http://www.parentgiving.com/shop/medline-products-221/c/" rel="nofollow">medline products</a> Hi,
Today’s medical products are very advance and also useful in saving life of patients. I don’t think it is useful anymore.
Thanks

medline products

]]> By: Brian Too http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63295 Brian Too Sat, 05 Feb 2011 22:42:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63295 Inca penis scarifiers. They were used by the monarchy in rituals that required the king's blood. Inca penis scarifiers.
They were used by the monarchy in rituals that required the king’s blood.

]]> By: Ken B http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63286 Ken B Fri, 04 Feb 2011 20:20:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63286 A leather stretcher for forming shoes. My uncle had one hanging in his barn and it consisted of 2 handles, hinged, like salad forks with a ball on one end that went into the shoe and a loop for the outside that the ball goes into. Old time shoes didn't fit very well and if you got a corn you had to stretch the shoe leather. A leather stretcher for forming shoes. My uncle had one hanging in his barn and it consisted of 2 handles, hinged, like salad forks with a ball on one end that went into the shoe and a loop for the outside that the ball goes into.
Old time shoes didn’t fit very well and if you got a corn you had to stretch the shoe leather.

]]> By: rizzo http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63283 rizzo Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:37:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63283 Cassette tapes and the Walkman were just recently discontinued, so, while not completely extinct yet, they will be in a short period of time. Cassette tapes and the Walkman were just recently discontinued, so, while not completely extinct yet, they will be in a short period of time.

]]> By: Ben http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63281 Ben Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:39:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63281 Damascus steel has been replicated and is offered by custom makers as is its descendant pattern welded steel. Does anyone know if the strigil is still being used to collect olive oil and sweat from athletes to make perfume base? Using human sweat and oil to make perfume would be a lost technology if not. Oddest tool I have ever heard of. Damascus steel has been replicated and is offered by custom makers as is its descendant pattern welded steel.

Does anyone know if the strigil is still being used to collect olive oil and sweat from athletes to make perfume base? Using human sweat and oil to make perfume would be a lost technology if not. Oddest tool I have ever heard of.

]]> By: Jonas http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63280 Jonas Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:05:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63280 I have that exact 8-track model as my kitchen radio. :) I have that exact 8-track model as my kitchen radio. :)

]]> By: Joseph http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63279 Joseph Fri, 04 Feb 2011 08:00:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63279 I believe the discussion of extinct technology is moot, since knowledge of that technology means that it is really not dead. For every type of object that we know of, there is still at least one person who knows how to make it, or is trying to. We may not know the exact recipe for Greek Fire, but we do have napalm and flame throwers, which I would argue is the same technology. Antique nuts and geeks make things like wax cylinder records, difference engines, and 8-track tapes. Archeologists even replicate Oldowan hand axes, the oldest technology we know of. So if we know of a technology from the past, I bet there is going to be someone out there crazy enough to replicate it. What I'm interested in is the technology we don't know of. I believe the discussion of extinct technology is moot, since knowledge of that technology means that it is really not dead. For every type of object that we know of, there is still at least one person who knows how to make it, or is trying to.

We may not know the exact recipe for Greek Fire, but we do have napalm and flame throwers, which I would argue is the same technology.

Antique nuts and geeks make things like wax cylinder records, difference engines, and 8-track tapes. Archeologists even replicate Oldowan hand axes, the oldest technology we know of.

So if we know of a technology from the past, I bet there is going to be someone out there crazy enough to replicate it. What I’m interested in is the technology we don’t know of.

]]> By: Chris http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63277 Chris Fri, 04 Feb 2011 06:00:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63277 How about greek fire? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_fire It was legitimate military technology in its day, and now the recipe is unknown so no one could claim to be making authentic greek fire. I think you could also argue moon rockets to a certain extent. They were made during the space race, but now no country or any other entity has a functioning moon rocket. How about greek fire?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_fire

It was legitimate military technology in its day, and now the recipe is unknown so no one could claim to be making authentic greek fire.

I think you could also argue moon rockets to a certain extent. They were made during the space race, but now no country or any other entity has a functioning moon rocket.

]]> By: mathman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63275 mathman Fri, 04 Feb 2011 01:32:27 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63275 curta calculator curta calculator

]]> By: peter http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63274 peter Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:41:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63274 damascus steel! damascus steel!

]]> By: Michelle http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63272 Michelle Thu, 03 Feb 2011 20:21:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63272 The egyptian one won't work. We've recently made replicas to reproduce mummification for museums. Sorry. Technology still in use. The egyptian one won’t work. We’ve recently made replicas to reproduce mummification for museums. Sorry. Technology still in use.

]]> By: Mike http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63271 Mike Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:50:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63271 Prescription monocles are being made. Google it-- at least five Internet-based opticians will make them. Prescription monocles are being made. Google it– at least five Internet-based opticians will make them.

]]> By: Nathan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63270 Nathan Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:08:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63270 I think the responders to this thread ar missing the point or have not yet read the original article. The point was to find an extinct "technology" not something that isn't made anymore. Kodachrome for example is not made anymore but the technology of cameras is still being used. 5 1/4 drives are probably no longer being made but digital information storage is still around. Monacles are still being made btw but the point is that the technology to use shaped glass to improve ones vision is still being used. I think the responders to this thread ar missing the point or have not yet read the original article. The point was to find an extinct “technology” not something that isn’t made anymore.

Kodachrome for example is not made anymore but the technology of cameras is still being used. 5 1/4 drives are probably no longer being made but digital information storage is still around. Monacles are still being made btw but the point is that the technology to use shaped glass to improve ones vision is still being used.

]]> By: Andy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63269 Andy Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:03:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63269 Obscure tools from medical history. An example would be those plates that women would need to wear internally because of how tight their corsets were. Or some medical device previously thought useful and later deemed harmful? Obscure tools from medical history. An example would be those plates that women would need to wear internally because of how tight their corsets were. Or some medical device previously thought useful and later deemed harmful?

]]> By: Mike Wells http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63268 Mike Wells Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:55:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63268 Computer punch cards? 5 1/4 floppy disks(and drives)? W.O.P.R.(After it almost blew up the world in 'War Games', I'm pretty sure they destroyed it) What about the Enigma coding machine? BTW Alyx, I liked the 'Grek Fire' thing. Pretty clever... Computer punch cards?
5 1/4 floppy disks(and drives)?
W.O.P.R.(After it almost blew up the world in ‘War Games’, I’m pretty sure they destroyed it)
What about the Enigma coding machine?

BTW Alyx, I liked the ‘Grek Fire’ thing. Pretty clever…

]]> By: Seth http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63267 Seth Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:32:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63267 @Awnshegh Frustratingly, the monocle may be true. I know a man who is actively trying to find a prescription monocle, with no luck. @Awnshegh
Frustratingly, the monocle may be true. I know a man who is actively trying to find a prescription monocle, with no luck.

]]> By: Alyx http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63266 Alyx Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:22:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63266 From what I've read, the method of making Greek Fire was lost long ago. From what I’ve read, the method of making Greek Fire was lost long ago.

]]> By: David http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63265 David Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:57:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63265 Nuclear-powered cars. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Nucleon Nuclear-powered cars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Nucleon

]]> By: maxheck http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63264 maxheck Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:52:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63264 The Inca Quipu (aka Kipu,) a system of encoding information in patterns of knotted strings. While some correspondences have been made (researchers have identified decimal numeric information) much of the information in Quipus is unreadable to anyone living. So it's a doubly-lost technology. No one uses the physical system of knotting strings to store information, and no one knows how to read the information on existing ones. The Inca Quipu (aka Kipu,) a system of encoding information in patterns of knotted strings.

While some correspondences have been made (researchers have identified decimal numeric information) much of the information in Quipus is unreadable to anyone living.

So it’s a doubly-lost technology. No one uses the physical system of knotting strings to store information, and no one knows how to read the information on existing ones.

]]> By: Old Rockin' Dave http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63261 Old Rockin' Dave Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:51:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63261 Triplanes. There may be a few replicas around for airshows or World War I movies, but other than that, I have no doubt that triplanes are not being made or used for anything else. I also discount the modern planes that have canard wings that are sometimes referred to as "triplanes" since the canard is a different technology. I also believe that wooden horn-style stethoscopes are no longer used. There are horn stethoscopes used in obstetrics but I think they are all made of metal. There also used to be instruments known as pleximeters, usually used along with the horn stethoscope, which were used for percussion of the chest and abdomen, but in medical schools where percussion is taught today, the hands are used. Triplanes. There may be a few replicas around for airshows or World War I movies, but other than that, I have no doubt that triplanes are not being made or used for anything else. I also discount the modern planes that have canard wings that are sometimes referred to as “triplanes” since the canard is a different technology.
I also believe that wooden horn-style stethoscopes are no longer used. There are horn stethoscopes used in obstetrics but I think they are all made of metal. There also used to be instruments known as pleximeters, usually used along with the horn stethoscope, which were used for percussion of the chest and abdomen, but in medical schools where percussion is taught today, the hands are used.

]]> By: Georg http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63260 Georg Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:56:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63260 There is an internet trader in Germany, offering carbide to speleologists (besides other equipment for that business). For that reason I think carbide lamps are "alive". Georg As long as the meaning of "technology" or "invention" is not defined, such a discussion is silly. There is an internet trader in Germany, offering carbide
to speleologists (besides other equipment for that business).
For that reason I think carbide lamps are “alive”.
Georg
As long as the meaning of “technology” or “invention”
is not defined, such a discussion is silly.

]]> By: Fredrik Stj http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63255 Fredrik Stj Thu, 03 Feb 2011 08:20:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63255 I think recording tape, the kind that is mounted on big spools, as used in the Revox recorders, is not manufactured any more. I think recording tape, the kind that is mounted on big spools, as used in the Revox recorders, is not manufactured any more.

]]> By: Awnshegh http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63253 Awnshegh Thu, 03 Feb 2011 04:20:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63253 Monacles? Except of course as a prop in a movie (so fake) I can't think of anyone using them anymore. Monacles? Except of course as a prop in a movie (so fake) I can’t think of anyone using them anymore.

]]> By: Tim Beauchamp http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63252 Tim Beauchamp Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:48:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63252 Carbide head lamps Plectron emergency radios sparkgap radio wire recorders kodachrome flashpowder/bulbs/cubes wax roll players Carbide head lamps
Plectron emergency radios
sparkgap radio
wire recorders
kodachrome
flashpowder/bulbs/cubes
wax roll players

]]> By: Brian Too http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63251 Brian Too Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:21:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63251 Hollerith machines? Hollerith machines?

]]> By: Jon Claerbout http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/02/from-8-tracks-to-grave-torpedoes-the-quest-for-an-extinct-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-63250 Jon Claerbout Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:01:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/?p=16003#comment-63250 mimeograph machines? mimeograph machines?

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