(CNN) — When the Massachusetts 911 system for emergency calls stopped working on Tuesday afternoon, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox noted the city already had a backup solution in place. Use ...

We talk about Morse code, named after its inventor, Samuel Morse. However, maybe we should call it Vail code after Alfred Vail, who may be its real inventor. Haven’t heard of him? You aren’t alone.

In 1900, the Signal Corps began building the Washington-Alaska Military Cable & Telegraph System to provide basic communications to the area. The completion of the Alaskan Cable System in 1904 was ...