How Soviets used IBM Selectric keyloggers to spy on US diplomats

During the Cold War, the Soviets built a key tracker for a typewriter. They stuffed tiny electronics in the metal bar that pinches the paper to the roller. The circuits measured the electro-magnetic field produced when rotating the ball to the requested character. When the buffer in the bar was full, it would send a message to a separate eavesdropping devices that would relay the information to headquarters.

Amazing the lengths that states go to spy on one another. Is there any doubt that a state that can design this eavesdropping device would not be able to break into a computer. Even an email server stored in a bathroom closet.

Read the whole articles on this Ars Technica page.

Spinning levers

Another Jam Handy video from the 1930s. This is very well done. It explains how powerful a lever (one of the six simple machines).

Towards the end, to demonstrate the utility of synchromesh transmission, they get a car going 60 MPH down hill. “[The driver] will shift into second speed and bring her car easily and safely under control before it reaches the bottom of the hill.” Cars where much harder to drive 80 years ago.