The Lawnmower: The Secret Midnight InventionWhy an engineer hid his breakthrough from neighbors

From the show

The Secret Life of Objects

Innovation often requires ignoring the fear of looking foolish. In 1830, Edwin Budding adapted a textile machine to cut grass, but terrified of being labeled a lunatic, he tested the device only at night. His story illustrates how radical ideas often need to work in the dark before facing the light of day.