At the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, a small metal sphere that expands to a vast latticework ball dominates the atrium in a display that frequently gets children screaming with amazement.

This story has been altered from a previously published version. LEWISBURG — A downtown technology startup reinvented the ball and hopes to cash in on its new smart-toy next year.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Bounce it, kick it, catch it. Chase, throw or smack it. The ball, arguably the most popular plaything of all time, has finally earned a place inside a glass case at the National Toy ...

LAVA ball is made of volcanic rock when molten rock erupts onto the Earth’s surface, cools down, and solidifies. Due to the sudden cooling, each LAVA ball’s surface is scattered with uneven original ...