The magnetic strips on your credit cards, used for swiping and processing transactions, have a surprisingly wartime origin.

During World War II, the development of magnetic torpedo guidance systems by the United States Navy was a crucial advancement in naval technology. These systems allowed torpedoes to be steered magnetically, making them more accurate and effective.

After the war, the technology behind these magnetic guidance systems, particularly the magnetic recording and reading capabilities, caught the attention of the credit card industry. They saw the potential to apply this technology for a completely different purpose: storing and verifying payment information.

And thus, the humble magnetic strip, inspired by wartime innovation, became a ubiquitous part of modern commerce.

Prompt:
Uncover a captivating scientific truth about a technology we use every day, but rarely stop to ponder its origins. Focus on something counterintuitive or surprising about its development, functionality, or impact on our world.