Gallery: 400 Years of Beautiful, Historical, and Powerful Globes

  • Image may contain Lamp Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space and Planet
    British Library
    01

    175

    This ridiculously awesome moon globe was made by the artist John Russell in 1797.
  • Image may contain Lamp Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space Planet and Globe
    British Library
    02

    176

    John Russell's moon globe from another angle.
  • Image may contain Helmet Clothing Apparel Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space Planet and Globe
    British Library
    03

    173

    This pocket globe is just three inches in diameter. It was made in 1793 by Scotsman John Miller.
  • Image may contain Helmet Clothing Apparel Sphere Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space Planet and Globe
    British Library
    04

    85

    This is the oldest terrestrial globe known to be made in China. It dates to 1623.
  • Image may contain Diagram Plan and Plot
    British Library
    05

    103

    These gores, the printed sheets that cover a globe, date to around 1700.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space Planet and Globe
    British Library
    06

    80

    This celestial globe was made in the early 1600s by famed Dutch cartographer Willem Blaeu.
  • Image may contain Astronomy Universe Space and Outer Space
    British Library
    07

    152-153

    This 1772 celestial globe pays homage to the hottest tech trends of its time with call outs to constellations like Microscopium and Telescopium.
  • This pocket globe from around 1715 is less than three inches across.
    British Library
    08

    108

    This pocket globe, from around 1715, is less than three inches across.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space Planet and Globe
    British Library
    09

    188

    This tiny pocket globe made in 1831 is just 1.5 inches in diameter. Dotted lines trace voyages by Captain Cook and other explorers.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space Planet Sphere and Globe
    British Library
    10

    120

    Another beautiful pocket globe, this one from 1731.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space Lamp and Planet
    British Library
    11

    207

    This "dissected globe" dates to around 1866. At the time such items were a popular toy for children.
Read More
A Lot of Shops Won't Fix Electric Bikes. Here's Why
Bike shop mechanics have lost fingers and their shirts while repairing ebikes of dubious origins. Make sure yours is repairable and third-party certified.
Stephanie Pearson
The Audacity Is the Broligarchy Takedown You Were Waiting For
AMC’s new black comedy about a manchild tech titan spinning out of control is a skewering Silicon Valley’s billionaire class deserves.
Miles Klee
It’s a Tablet! It’s a Laptop! After Testing the Best 2-in-1s, Here’s What I Recommend
Whether you want a detachable tablet or a laptop screen that spins, these 2-in-1 devices manage to balance being both a tablet and a laptop.
Luke Larsen
There’s a Secret Ingredient to Making Luxury Ice at Home
Nice ice is big business, but you can get perfectly clear cubes at home without freezing your assets.
Jeremy White
The Screenmaxxers Who Spend Every Waking Hour on Their Phones
As debates over social media addiction rage, people with extreme screen times tell WIRED they have no plans to cut back.
Miles Klee
Mammotion’s Spino E1 Pool Cleaner Isn’t Bad for the Price—It's Just Not That Good
This compact pool robot keeps its price down, but its performance doesn’t match that of more capable cleaners.
Christopher Null
The Best Coffee Mug Warmers Are Smart. But They Don’t Need an App
The first rule of coffee is that it must stay hot. After weeks or even years of testing, these are the three coffee warmers that will best keep it that way.
Matthew Korfhage
Crimson Desert Is a Cat Dad Simulator
Step into the shoes of the strongest, goodest boy in a game that is beautiful, baffling, and impossible to put down.
This At-Home Hair Color Printer Raised My Blood Pressure
This hair dye printer promises hundreds of shades. It couldn't even manage two.
Louryn Strampe
I Tested the MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air. Here's Which One You Should Buy
After conducting long-term testing on both the MacBook Neo and MacBook Air, I have a good idea who should buy which laptop.
Luke Larsen
The Best Electric Cargo Bikes for Carrying This and That Everywhere
You don't need a car to tote around kids and cup holders. I rode cargo ebikes for miles to find the best one for your buck.
Adrienne So
Your Push Notifications Aren’t Safe From the FBI
Plus: Iran’s internet blackout hits the 1,000-hour mark, cryptocurrency scams result in a record amount of money stolen from Americans, and more.
Matt Burgess