A cross-country drive in the 1950s was genuinely uncertain. You could get lost, stranded, or end up in the wrong part of town with no way to know. We traced how invisible infrastructure now eliminates the margin for error—and what we've gained and lost.
Mar 13, 2026
Before the jet engine shrank America, flying from New York to Los Angeles was an 18-hour ordeal involving multiple fuel stops, deafening propeller engines, and an overnight layover somewhere in the middle of Kansas. Modern travelers complain about middle seats and delayed Wi-Fi — but they have absolutely no idea how good they have it.
Mar 13, 2026