Sometimes it’s the simple solutions that stare us in the face

I’m not sure whether this is myth or real but it’s interesting nontheless. When the US first got into space exploration and they launched people into space they discovered that ball point pens did not work in zero gravity so NASA approved a research project to find a solution.  The research was to take a decade and cost $120 million.  The outcome was a pen that could write in any conditions, on any surface, upside down, under water and in temperatures ranging from below freezing to 300 degrees C. Amazing innovation to say the least. Not long after the release of this incredible product NASA learned the Russians used a pencil.