The years that followed World War II have seen science and technology advance rapidly. The inventions and developments of this era have truly shaped our lives and our connections to the world around us. The first computers were gigantic and not very powerful, but constant innovations have turned our world into one dominated by microcomputer technology. Lasers, microchips, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence are just a few of the developments covered in this volume. Other topics include space travel, genetics, and global warming. Readers will be drawn in by primary sources, sidebars, and of course timelines!.