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LEMELSON MIT PROGRAM
In 1903, a traveler sketched a rubber arm for a streetcar windshield, and bad-weather driving got a clearer futureA winter journey in New York City sparked Mary Anderson's 1903 invention: a movable arm with a rubber blade to clear vehicle windshields fr...- In 1893, an engineer was playing with hooks and clasps and built a sliding fastener: This led to the creation of the zipperThe zipper's path to success was long and winding. Initially patented in 1893, it faced many challenges. Improvements in design and marketi...
- In 1955, TV engineer Eugene Polley tried to free viewers from getting up during commercials, and the remote control changed living roomsThe remote control, debuting in 1955, revolutionized the television landscape by placing the power of choice in viewers' hands. No longer t...
- In 1853, a chef sliced potatoes paper-thin after a complaint which led to the creation of potato chipsThe intriguing legend of George Crum discovering potato chips at Moon Lake Lodge in Saratoga Springs, New York, enchants food lovers everyw...
- In 1930, a baker folded chopped chocolate into cookie dough expecting it to disappear, but it didn’t melt away: It became the chocolate chip cookieAt her Toll House Inn, Ruth Wakefield crafted the chocolate chip cookie, merging delightful textures with rich flavors. Nestlé's partnershi...
- In 1965, a chemist expected a routine polymer solution and got a bizarre cloudy liquid instead: It became KevlarIn 1965, the world of materials science was forever changed by scientist Stephanie Kwolek, who stumbled upon a peculiar cloudy polymer mixt...
- In 1953, a chemist spilled an experimental polymer on a shoe and found that one patch refused to get dirty: This led to the foundation of ScotchgardFor many adults, revisiting beloved shows serves as a soothing balm during turbulent times. This practice isn't simply a means to escape bo...
- In 1887, a father trying to fix his son’s rough tricycle ride led to the breakthrough invention that changed modern travelA father's simple desire for his child's comfort led to a world-changing invention. John Boyd Dunlop's pneumatic tire transformed bumpy tri...
- A 16-year-old saw performers bounce off a net and created something which is used from military training grounds, gymnastics, astronaut training, and backyard play to Olympic arenasA 16-year-old George Nissen saw circus performers bounce on nets. This observation sparked an idea for a training device. Nissen experiment...
- A 14-year-old farm boy’s sketch in a field helped lead to televisionA 14-year-old Idaho farm boy, Philo Farnsworth, envisioned electronic television while observing plowed fields. His groundbreaking idea, de...
- In 1947, Edwin Land’s daughter asked why she could not see a photo immediately: The question helped reshape photography foreverWhen Edwin Land's daughter innocently questioned the delay in photos, her curiosity sparked a revolution in photography. Instant photograph...
- In 1926, a failed rubber coating experiment and a strange elastic solid accidentally changed the future of plasticsIn 1926, chemist Waldo Semon accidentally discovered how to make polyvinyl chloride flexible. This breakthrough transformed manufacturing a...
- In 1849, Walter Hunt twisted a piece of wire while thinking about debt: The tinkering helped create the modern safety pinWalter Hunt patented the safety pin in 1849. His design improved on earlier pins by adding a spring and catch. This made the sharp end safe...
- In 1963, Douglas Engelbart imagined people physically controlling computers with their hands: And helped create the computer mouseIn the 1960s, Douglas Engelbart envisioned interactive computers. He developed the computer mouse, a wooden prototype with wheels, which al...
- In the 1940s, Earl Tupper Boiled Plastic Scraps at Home: That Experiment Established the Foundation for TupperwareTupperware's journey began with discarded plastic. Earl Tupper tirelessly experimented, turning industrial waste into useful containers. Hi...
- In 1886, Josephine Cochrane Grew Tired of Chipped Dishes: That Fix Established the Foundation for the DishwasherA common kitchen gadget, the dishwasher, owes its existence to Josephine Cochrane. In the 1880s, she faced the problem of broken dishes. He...
- In the 1920s, Clarence Birdseye Observed Fish Freezing Instantly in Arctic Conditions: That Observation Established the Foundation for the Frozen Food IndustryClarence Birdseye observed that rapid freezing in the Arctic preserved food quality, unlike conventional methods. This insight led to the d...
- How King Gillette Turned a Simple Idea Into a Shaving RevolutionKing C. Gillette transformed shaving by introducing the disposable blade safety razor. This innovation solved a daily annoyance for men. It...
- How Richard James Dropped a Spring and Accidentally Created the SlinkyA naval engineer accidentally discovered the Slinky in 1943. Richard James noticed a spring behaving unusually. This observation led to the...
- Indo-American scientist awarded $500,000 Lemelson-MIT PrizeWashington, Sep 14 (IANS) An Indo-American imaging scientist and inventor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has been conferred...
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