Synopsis

From the devastation of conflict—the carnage, hardship, and suffering—springs a surprising legacy: countless commonplace objects, from simple hairbrushes to sophisticated microwaves, all rooted in wartime ingenuity. The urgent demands of war have spurred revolutions in communication, transportation, and medicine. From the advent of email to the harnessing of nuclear power, even seemingly unrelated innovations like hairspray and cell phones bear an ironic debt to times of conflict. We will trace