In Stefan Helmreich’s piece on his grandfather’s polaroid, instant film invention, he offers insight into the mind of his grandfather. After inventing such a popular and useful molecule, which made for the invention of the polaroid, his grandfather mused that he “felt intoxicated but more “all there” than usual — almost as if I were giant.” What does this mean? Why did the inventor of the polaroid feel so special and powerful even though he only created a recreational photo-capturing device?