It is a parent’s job to think her children are exceptional. Up to this point, I had spent many hours crafting a tale for myself that Leo’s fascination with fans was, in fact, proof of his genius. Now I was imagining a roomful of Leos, all in tiny white lab coats, all saving the world one vactrain at a time. Their origin stories were the same: “It all started,” they would say, “with the Lasko Wind Machine.

The latest in-depth coverage covering the intersection of technology and culture. WIRED’s award-winning journalism will help you make sense of a world in constant transformation. Join us as we explore the ways technology is changing our lives.