George Dyson

George is a historian of technology whose interests range from the development (and redevelopment) of the Aleut kayak to the evolution of digital computing, telecommunications, and nuclear bomb-propelled space exploration. Dyson, who lives in Bellingham, Wash., divides his time between building boats and writing books. He consideres himself a follower of Nathaniel bishop, who, while paddling a paper kayak to the Gulf of Mexico from Quebec in 1874, urged his audience at Princeton University to "seek in his friendly canoe that relief which nature offers to the tired brain. Let him go into the wilderness and live close to his Creator by studying his works."

Author of these Magazine Articles

Cottage Economy
Pamphleteer William Cobbett launched the sustainability movement - in 1821.
In Retrospect from MAKE: 19: Robots page 150

Theory of Self-Reproducing Automata
In an era of increasingly self-reproducing goods, we can suffer a declining economy while still producing more stuff than people can consume.
In Retrospect from MAKE: 17: Lost Knowledge page 182

Economic Disequilibrium
Can you have your house and spend it too?
In Retrospect from MAKE: 15: Music page 170

Project Orion: Deep Space Force
For the atomic rocket engineers, the moon was in; Saturn and Mars were out.
In Retrospect from MAKE: 13: Magic page 180

Retrospect
Nuclear explosion-powered rocketry.
In Retrospect from MAKE: 12: Upload page 176

Retrospect
The 1977 Gulf of Alaska baidarka expedition.
In Retrospect from MAKE: 11: Alt Vehicles page 182

In the Beginning Was the CRT
Once upon a time, there was no distinction between memory and display.
In Retrospect from MAKE: 10: Home Electronics page 178

The Science of String
High-tensile fastenings stand the test of time.
In Retrospect from MAKE: 09: Fringe page 186

Barricelli's Universe
Early experiments in digital evolution.
In Retrospect from MAKE: 08: Toys and Games page 190

Strange Love Download PDF.Download Sample PDF
Or, how they learned to start worrying and love to hate the bomb.
In Retrospect from MAKE: 07: Backyard Biology page 188

Off-the-Shelf Parts, Off-the-Wall Ideas
Looking for the dawn of the digital universe? Check in the basement, next to the lavatory.
In Retrospect from MAKE: 06: Robots page 190

A Treehouse Grows in British Columbia
Three years, 95 feet above the Earth.
In Retrospect from MAKE: 05: Science, Weather, and Outdoors page 190

Photographer for these Magazine Articles

Retrospect
The 1977 Gulf of Alaska baidarka expedition.
In Retrospect from MAKE: 11: Alt Vehicles page 182

Illustrator for these Magazine Articles

Retrospect
The 1977 Gulf of Alaska baidarka expedition.
In Retrospect from MAKE: 11: Alt Vehicles page 182