Shades in space

NASA was the victim of much cynical sniggering in its early days about the
millions of dollars being spent on space flight when the only practical spinoffs
were improved materials for pots and pans. David Baker’s Inventions from
Outer Space should wipe away any vestigial smiles. This is a rundown of all
the spin-offs from NASA technology. The impressive list runs from self-healing
computers to better sunglasses, from insulin pumps to traffic control and urban
planning. Published by Marshall, £16.99, ISBN 1840282576.