(via TEDEd) To coincide with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Japan launched a groundbreaking bullet train that inspired countries around the world to invest in high-speed rail. Today, high-speed trains ...

Though they're not a primary mode for travelers, trains are essential. In the 200 or so years they've existed, they've been used to handle a variety of tasks and have become vital all over the globe.

Maglev bullet trains promise a future where steel wheels and clattering rails give way to smooth, floating speed. Yet the reality on today’s tracks is more nuanced, with some systems gliding entirely ...