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A
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Acheson
, Edward Goodrich
Carborundum
Edward Acheson's discovery of carborundum, a highly effective
abrasive . . . .
Alexanderson
, Ernst F. W.
Radio
Inventor Ernst Alexanderson was the General Electric Company
engineer . . . .
Alford
, Andrew
Localizer Antenna System
Andrew Alford invented and developed antennas for radio navigation
sys . . . .
Alvarez
, Luis Walter
Radio Distance and Direction Indicator
Luis Walter Alvarez invented a radio distance and direction
indicator. . . . .
Armstrong
, Edwin Howard
Radio
His crowning achievement (1933) was the invention of wide-band
frequen . . . .
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Babcock
, George
Steam Generator
Baekeland , Leo
Hendrik
Bakelite
Leo Hendrik Baekeland is cited for his research in electric
insulation . . . .
Bagley , Rodney D.
Catalytic Converter
Bagley developed the extrusion die and process that made a
thin-walled . . . .
Banks , Robert
HDPE and Polypropylene Plastics
Robert Banks and fellow research chemist Paul Hogan were working
for P . . . .
Baldwin, Matthias
Steam Locomotive
Matthias Baldwin built America's first great locomotive. The nation's . . . .
Banting , Frederick
Isolated, Purified Insulin
Millions of diabetics owe their lives to Frederick Banting's idea
and . . . .
Bardeen , John
Transistor
Physicists John Bardeen, William B. Shockley, and Walter Brattain
shar . . . .
Bateman, C. Donald
Ground Proximity Warning System
C. Donald Bateman has saved the lives of countless airplane
passengers . . . .
Beckman , Arnold O.
pH Meter
Arnold O. Beckman invented a pH meter for measuring acidity and
alkali . . . .
Begun , S. Joseph
Magnetic Recording
Semi Joseph Begun was a pioneer of magnetic recording. He
developed t . . . .
Bell , Alexander
Graham
Telephone / Telegraphy
Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone grew out of his
research into ways to improve the telegraph. On April 6, 1875,
Bell was granted the patent for the multiple telegraph, which sent
two signals at the same time. In September 1875 he began to write
the specifications for the telephone. On March 7, 1876, the . . .
.
Bennett , Willard H.
Radio Frequency Mass Spectrometer
Willard Harrison Bennett pioneered the field of plasma physics and
inv . . . .
Berliner , Emile
Gramophone / Microphone
Emile Berliner invented the microphone that became part of the
first B . . . .
Bessemer , Henry
Bessemer Process
Best , Charles
Binnig , Gerd Karl
Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Since the invention of the first microscope, scientists have
searched . . . .
Bird , Forrest M.
Respirator / Ventilator
On television every week in the 1960s, Dr. Kildare committed
himself t . . . .
Clarence Birdseye, Frozen Foods
Frozen Foods
In 1924 Birdseye launched General Seafoods to sell frozen
fish. Two ye . . . .
Black , Harold Stephen
Negative Feedback Amplifier
Research engineer Harold S. Black revolutionized
telecommunications by . . . .
Blum , Samuel
LASIK Eye Surgery
Samuel Blum was working with Rangaswamy Srinivasan and James Wynne
at . . . .
Blumberg , Baruch S.
Vaccine for Hepatitis B
Baruch Blumberg discovered an antigen in 1963 that detected the
presen . . . .
Bohlin , Nils I.
Safety Belt
Bower , Robert
Field-Effect Device with Insulated Gate; Self Aligned Gate
MOSFET
Robert Bower invented the Field-effect Device with Insulated Gate
know . . . .
Boyer , Herb
Genetic Engineering
Herb Boyer was with the University of California, San Francisco
when h . . . .
Brattain , Walter H.
Transistor
Physicists John Bardeen, William B. Shockley, and Walter Brattain
shar . . . .
Brown , Rachel Fuller
Nystatin (Antifungal / Antibiotic)
The world's first useful antifungal antibiotic, nystatin, was
developed through a long-distance scientific collaboration.Working
as researchers for the . . . .
Burbank , Luther
Peach and Fruit
During a lifetime devoted to plant breeding, Luther Burbank
developed . . . .
Burckhalter , Joseph
H.
Isothiocyanate Compounds (Antigen)
Antibodies are the body's protectors. When antigens, such as
bacteria . . . .
Burroughs , William
Seward
Calculator
William Seward Burroughs invented the first practical adding and
listi . . . .
Burton , William
Meriam
Catalytic Cracking
Chemist and oil industry executive William Meriam Burton
recognized th . . . .
Bush , Vannevar
Differential Analyzer
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Campbell , Donald L.
Catalytic Cracking
Donald Campbell was one of four Exxon Research & Engineering
Co. (ER&E . . . .
Camras , Marvin
Magnetic Recording
Marvin Camras' inventions are used in modern magnetic tape and
wire re . . . .
Carlson , Chester F.
Electrophotography (Xerox) / Instant Copying
Physicist Chester F. Carlson, the father of xerographic printing,
was born in Seattle, Washington. Plagued by needs for copies of
patent drawings and specifications, Carlson investigated ways of
automatic text and illustration reproduction, working out of his
apartment. While others sought chemical or photographic solutions
to 'instant copying' problems, Carlson turned to electrostatics
and in 1938 succeeded in obtaining his first 'dry-copy' and the
first of many patents two years later. It took presentations to
more than 20 companies before Carlson was able to interest the . .
. .
Carothers , Wallace
Hume
Synthetic Rubber
Wallace Hume Carothers, who has been called one of the most
brilliant organic chemists ever employed by . . . .
Carrier , Willis
Haviland
Air Conditioner
American engineer and inventor Willis Haviland Carrier developed
the formulae and equipment that made air conditioning possible.
The world's first spray type air conditioning equipment was
Carrier's 'Apparatus for Treating Air,' which he correctly
predicted would be used to enhance comfort as well as improve
industrial processes and products. In 1911 Carrier disclosed his
basic 'Rational Psychrometric Formulae' to the . . . .
Carruthers , George
R.
Far Electrograph Ultraviolet Camera
Carver , George
Washington
Peanut Products
Agricultural chemist George Washington Carver developed . . . .
Cepollina , Frank
Satellite Servicing Techniques
Cohen , Stan
Genetic Engineering
Herb Boyer was with the University of California, San Francisco
when h . . . .
Collip , James
Isolated, Purified Insulin
The process for producing enough pure insulin for clinical trials
was . . . .
Colton , Frank B.
Oral Contraceptives
Frank B. Colton developed Enovid, the first oral contraceptive.
Colto . . . .
Conover , Lloyd H.
Tetracycline
Lloyd H. Conover invented the antibiotic tetracycline, which
became th . . . .
Coolidge , William D.
Vacuum Tube (X-Ray)
William D. Coolidge's name is inseparably linked with the X-ray
tube-p . . . .
Coover , Harry
Superglue
Harry Coover's discovery of cyanoacrylates, a class of chemicals
with . . . .
Cottrell , Frederick
G.
Electrostatic Precipitator
As industrial smokestacks became a common sight at the turn of the
cen . . . .
Coulter , Wallace
Coulter Principle
One of the giant corporate players in the field of medical
technology . . . .
Cray , Seymour
Supercomputer
Seymour Cray unveiled the CRAY-1 in 1976, considered the first
superco . . . .
Curtiss , Glenn
Hydroaeroplane
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Damadian , Raymond V.
MRI
Raymond Damadian invented the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
scanner . . . .
de Mestral , George
Velcro
In 1955, George de Mestral patented VELCRO® hook and loop
fasteners, a . . . .
Dean , Mark
Peripherals
Mark Dean and his co-inventor Dennis Moeller created a
microcomputer s . . . .
Deere , John
Plows
John Deere developed the first American cast steel plow. The
implemen . . . .
Deforest , Lee
Radio
In the early 1900s, the great requirement for further development
of r . . . .
Dennard , Robert
DRAM
Robert Heath Dennard invented one-transistor Dynamic Random Access
Mem . . . .
Diesel , Rudolf
Internal-Combustion Engine
Though best known for his invention of the pressure-ignited heat
engin . . . .
Disney , Walt
Multiplane Camera
Seldom has an individual become so intrinsically linked to a
concept a . . . .
Djerassi , Carl
Oral Contraceptives
Carl Djerassi is recognized for his breakthroughs in chemistry and
for . . . .
Dolby , Ray
Dolby Noise Reduction
Ray Dolby revolutionized the audio industry in the 1960s by
inventing . . . .
Dow , Herbert Henry
Bromine Extraction
Herbert Henry Dow, founder of the . . . .
Draper , Charles
Stark
Stabilizing Gyroscpic
Aeronautical engineer and university professor Charles Stark
Draper de . . . .
Durant , Graham John
Tagamet - Cimetidine
Graham J. Durant, John Colin Emmett, and C. Robin Ganellin led the
Smi . . . .
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Eastman , George
Photography
Eastman began his search for a transparent and flexible film in
1884. The first commercial film, put into production a year later,
was cut in narrow strips and wound on a roller device patented by
Eastman and Walker. Film rolls sufficient for 100 exposures were
mounted in a small box camera-the . . . .
Eckert , J. Presper
ENIAC
Edgerton , Harold E.
Photography
Pioneering research in stroboscopic photography by Harold E.
Edgerton . . . .
Edison , Thomas Alva
Electric Lamp
One of the outstanding geniuses in the history of technology,
Thomas Edison earned patents for more than a thousand inventions,
including the incandescent electric lamp, the phonograph, the
carbon telephone transmitter, and the motion-picture projector. In
addition, he created the world's first industrial research
laboratory. In September 1878, after having viewed an exhibition
of a series of eight glaring 500-candlepower arc lights, Edison
boldly announced he would invent a safe, mild, and inexpensive
electric light that would replace the gaslight in millions of
homes; moreover, he would accomplish this by an entirely different
method of current distribution from that used for arc lights. To
back the lamp effort, some of New York's leading financial figures
joined with Edison in October 1878 to form the Edison Electric
Light Company, the predecessor of today's . . . .
Elion , Gertrude
Belle
Anti-Leukemia drugs
Gertrude Belle Elion invented the leukemia-fighting drug
6-mercaptopurine and drugs that facilitated kidney transplants.
Hired by Burroughs-Wellcome (now . . . .
Emmett , John Colin
Tagamet - Cimetidine
Graham J. Durant, John Colin Emmett, and C. Robin Ganellin led the
Smi . . . .
Engelbart , Douglas
Computer Mouse
Douglas Engelbart's patent for the mouse is only a representation
of h . . . .
Ericsson , John
Screw Propeller
John Ericsson invented the ship propeller and incorporated the
landmark device into his design for the Civil War ironclad the
Monitor. In 1826 he moved to London, where he showed the breadth
of his engineering genius by developing or improving transmission
of power by compressed air, new types of steam boilers, condensers
for marine steam engines (so ships could travel farther), placing
warship engines below the water line (for protection against shell
fire), the steam fire-engine, the design and construction of a
steam locomotive (which competed with the historic Rocket, the
first steam powered locomotive), an apparatus that made salt from
brine, superheated steam engines, the flame or 'caloric' engine.
His most enduring invention was the screw propeller, which is
still the main form of marine propulsion. Early methods of
applying steam power at sea-steam-driven oars, paddle wheels-were
inefficient and, for warships, vulnerable to enemy attack. In 1839
Ericsson introduced propellers to vessels on the canals and inland
waterways and commenced building a 'big frigate' for the . . . .
Evans , Oliver
Steam Engine
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Faget , Maxime
Space Capsule Design
Faggin , Federico
CPU
One of the most important developments of the last half of the
20th ce . . . .
Farnsworth , Philo
Taylor
Cathode-Ray Tube
Farnsworth's basic television patents covered scanning, focusing,
sync . . . .
Fergason , James
Liquid Crystal Display
James Fergason holds a series of patents that form the foundation
of t . . . .
Fermi , Enrico
Nuclear Fission
While studying the creation of artificially radioactive isotopes
in th . . . .
Fessenden , Reginald
Radio
Reginald Fessenden is known for discovering amplitude modulation
(AM) . . . .
Flanigen , Edith
Molecular Sieves
In 1956, Edith Flanigen began working on the emerging technology
of "m . . . .
Fogarty , Thomas
Embolectomy Catheter
In 1963, Thomas Fogarty received a patent for his Fogarty®
balloon . . . .
Ford , Henry
Automobile
Pioneering automotive engineer Henry Ford held many patents on
automot . . . .
Forrester , Jay W.
Random Access Memory
Jay W. Forrester was a pioneer in early digital computer
development a . . . .
Free , Alfred
Glucose Detection for Diabetes
In the mid-1940s, Alfred Free and Helen Murray were both chemists
work . . . .
Free , Helen
Glucose Detection for Diabetes
In the mid-1940s, Alfred Free and Helen Murray were both chemists
work . . . .
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Gallo , Robert
HIV Virus Isolation and Diagnosis
Robert Gallo played a key role in identifying the cause and
detection . . . .
Ganellin , Charon
Robin
Tagamet - Cimetidine
Graham J. Durant, John Colin Emmett, and C. Robin Ganellin led the
Smi . . . .
Germer , Edmund
Fluorescent Lamp
Germer received the Frank P. Brown Medal from the Franklin
Institute i . . . .
Getting , Ivan
Global Positioning System
The technological triumph known as the Global Positioning System
of sa . . . .
Gibbon , John
Heysham
Heart-Lung Machine
Ginsburg , Charles P.
Video Tape Recording
Charles Ginsburg led the research team at Ampex Corporation in
develop . . . .
Goddard , Robert
Hutchings
Solid Fuel Rockets
Robert Hutchings Goddard pioneered modern rocketry and space
flight an . . . .
Godowsky, Jr., Leopold
Kodachrome Film, Color Photography
Created a practical film for color photography, and its ease
of use an . . . .
Goodyear , Charles
Vulcanization of Rubber
Natural or India rubber, as it was then known, was of limited
usefulness to industry. Rubber products melted in hot weather,
froze and cracked in cold, and adhered to virtually everything
until the day in the mid-19th century when inventor Charles . . .
.
Gould , Gordon
Laser
Gordon Gould coined the word laser and patented optically pumped
and d . . . .
Greatbatch , Wilson
Implantable Pacemaker
Wilson Greatbatch invented the cardiac pacemaker, an innovation
select . . . .
Greene , Leonard
Michael
Aircraft Stall Warning Device
Leonard Michael Greene has patented dozens of inventions in
aviation t . . . .
Grumman , Leroy
Retractable Landing Gear; Folding Wing
Gundlach, Robert
Modern Photocopier
Gundlach devoted over three decades to the task of
transforming the ma . . . .
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Hall , Charles Martin
Aluminum
Charles Martin Hall discovered the electrolytic method of
producing al . . . .
Hall , Robert N.
Magnetron
Robert Hall invented the version of the magnetron that operates
most m . . . .
Hall , Lloyd
Sterilizing Foodstuffs Food Preservatives
Lloyd Hall was a pioneer in the field of food chemistry, creating
many . . . .
Hanford , William
Edward
Polyurethane
William Edward Hanford and Donald Fletcher Holmes invented the
process for making the multipurpose material polyurethane.They
teamed up at . . . .
Hazen , Elizabeth Lee
Nystatin (Antifungal / Antibiotic)
The world's first useful antifungal antibiotic, nystatin, was
developed through a long-distance scientific collaboration.
Working as researchers for the . . . .
Heilman , M. Stephen
Implantable Heart Defibrillator
Stephen Heilman co-invented the automatic implantable
defibrillator, a . . . .
Hewlett , William R.
Audio Signals
Cofounder of the electronics giant . . . .
Higonnet , Rene
Alphonse
Photo Composing Machine
Louis Marius Moyroud and Rene Alphonse Higonnet developed the
first practical phototypesetting machine. Born in Moirans, Isere,
France, Moyroud attended engineering school from 1929 to 1936 and
graduated as an engineer from Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts
et Metiers of Cluny, France. He served in the military as a second
lieutenant from 1936 to 1938 and as a first lieutenant in 1939 and
1940. He joined the LMT Laboratories, a subsidiary in Paris of
ITT, in 1941 and left in 1946 to spend all of his time on
photocomposition. Moyroud and Higonnet first demonstrated their
first phototypesetting machine, the Lumitype-later known as the
Photon-in September 1946 and introduced it to America in 1948. The
Photon was further refined under the direction of the Graphic Arts
Research Foundations. The first book to be composed by the Photon
was printed in 1953, titled The Wonderful World of Insects.
Composed without the use of metal type, it might someday rank in
the historical importance of printing with the first book printed
from moveable type, the Gutenberg Bible. In recent years, Moyroud
has been instrumental in the development of the Euorcat Series of
phototypesetting machines marketed in Europe by Bobst Graphics.
Fellow communications engineer Higonnet was born in Valence, Drome,
France. The son of a teacher, he was educated at the Lycée de
Tournon and the Electrical Engineering School of Grenoble
University. He was granted a scholarship by the International
Institute of Education in New York in 1922, went to . . . .
Hillier , James
Electron Microscope
Physicist James Hillier is recognized for his contributions to the
dev . . . .
Hoff Jr. , Marcian E.
(Ted)
CPU
In the late 1960s, many articles had discussed the possibility of
a co . . . .
Hoffman , Felix
Aspirin
Hogan , Paul
HDPE and Polypropylene Plastics
Paul Hogan and fellow research chemist Robert Banks were working
for P . . . .
Hollerith , Herman
Punch Card Tabulator
Herman Hollerith invented and developed a punch-card tabulation
machine system that revolutionized statistical computation.
Hollerith began working on the tabulating system during his days
at MIT, filing for the first patent in 1884. He developed a
hand-fed 'press' that sensed the holes in punched cards; a wire
would pass through the holes into a cup of mercury beneath the
card closing the electrical circuit. This process triggered
mechanical counters and sorter bins and tabulated the appropriate
data.
Hollerith's system-including punch, tabulator, and sorter-allowed
the official 1890 population count to be tallied in six months,
and in another two years all the census data was completed and
defined; the cost was $5 million below the forecasts and saved
more than two years' time.
His later machines mechanized the card-feeding process, added
numbers, and sorted cards, in addition to merely counting data.
In 1896 Hollerith founded the Tabulating Machine Company,
forerunner of Computer Tabulating Recording Company (CTR). He
served as a consulting engineer with CTR until retiring in 1921.
In 1924 CTR changed its name to . . . .
Holmes , Donald
Fletcher
Polyurethane
William Edward Hanford and Donald Fletcher Holmes invented the
process for making the multipurpose material polyurethane.
Holmes teamed up with Edward Hanford at . . . .
Houdry , Eugene
Catalytic Cracking
Eugene Houdry discovered a revolutionary method for cracking
low-grade . . . .
Howe , Elias
Sewing Machine
Elias Howe invented the first practical sewing machine. Born in
Spence . . . .
Hyde , J. Franklin
Transparent Silica
A periodic chart that Franklin Hyde once designed had the element
sili . . . .
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Jeffreys, Alec
Genetic Fingerprinting
Alec Jeffreys invented genetic fingerprinting, a powerful
technology t . . . .
Julian , Percy Lavon
Cortisone
Percy Lavon Julian synthesized physostigmine for treatment of
glaucoma and . . . .
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Kamen,Dean
Ambulatory Infusion Pump
Dean Kamen's first major innovation was the AutoSyringe®, a
class of a . . . .
Kaman , Charles
Rotor Control Mechanism for Helicopter
Keck , Donald B.
Optical Fibers
Corning Glass researchers Robert Maurer, Donald Keck, and Peter
Schult . . . .
Kelman , Charles
Cataract Surgery
Charles Kelman is widely acknowledged as the leading innovator in
the . . . .
Kettering , Charles
Franklin
Automobile
Charles Franklin Kettering invented the first electrical ignition
syst . . . .
Kilby , Jack S.
Integrated Circuit
In 1959 electrical engineer Jack S. Kilby invented the monolithic
integrated circuit, which is still widely used in electronic
systems. In 1958 he joined . . . .
Kolff , Willem J.
Artificial Heart
Medical researcher Willem J. Kolff invented the artificial kidney
dial . . . .
Kollsman , Paul
Altimeter
Kroll , William
Titanium
In 1932, Luxembourg native William Kroll invented a process to
produce . . . .
Kurzweil , Raymond
Optical Character Recognition
Kwolek , Stephanie
Louise
Kevlar
Kwolek's earliest work pioneered low-temperature processes for the
pre . . . .
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Lachman , Irwin M.
Catalytic Converter
Working at Corning, Irwin Lachman co-invented the ceramic
substrate fo . . . .
Land , Edwin Herbert
Photography
Physicist, manufacturing executive, and inventor Edwin Herbert
Land de . . . .
Langer , Alois A.
Implantable Heart Defibrillator
Langmuir , Irving
Electric Lamp
Irving Langmuir's work led to two major inventions: the
high-vacuum el . . . .
Lawrence , Ernest
Orlando
Cyclotron
Ernest Orlando Lawrence invented the cyclotron, a device that
greatly . . . .
Lear , William P.
Car Radio
Though his name is most often associated with corporate jet
airplanes, . . . .
Ledley , Robert S.
CAT Scan
Robert S. Ledley invented the whole-body CT (computerized
tomographic) . . . .
Lewis , Ronald M.
Catalytic Converter
Ronald Lewis is co-inventor of the ceramic substrate found in
catalyti . . . .
Link , Edwin A.
Link Trainer / Simulator
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Maiman , Theodore
Harold
Laser
Physicist Theodore Harold Maiman invented the first operable
laser. While employed at . . . .
Mannes, Leopold
Kodachrome Film, Color Photography
Created a practical film for color photography, and its ease
of use an . . . .
Marconi , Guglielmo
Radio
In 1895 Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi built the equipment and
tra . . . .
Martin , Homer Z.
Catalytic Cracking
Homer Martin was with Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
(ER&E) . . . .
Mauchly , John
ENIAC
Maurer , Robert D.
Optical Fibers
Corning Glass researchers Robert Maurer, Donald Keck, and Peter
Schult . . . .
Mazor , Stanley
CPU
In the late 1960s, many articles had discussed the possibility of
a co . . . .
McCormick , Cyrus
Hall
Mechanical Reaper
Cyrus Hall McCormick invented the mechanical reaper, which
combined al . . . .
McCoy , Elijah
Automatic Engine Lubricator
Elijah McCoy received his first patent for an automatic
lubricating de . . . .
Mergenthaler ,
Ottmar
Linotype
Ottmar Mergenthaler's invention of the linotype composing machine
in 1 . . . .
Midgley Jr. , Thomas
Ethyl Gasoline
Millman , Irving
Vaccine for Hepatitis B
Baruch Blumberg discovered an antigen in 1963 that detected the
presen . . . .
Mirowski , Michel
Implantable Heart Defibrillator
Michel Mirowski conceived of the automatic implantable
cardioverter de . . . .
Moeller , Dennis
Peripherals
Dennis Moeller and Mark Dean together created a microcomputer
system w . . . .
Molloy , Bryan B.
Prozac
Bryan Molloy and Klaus Schmiegel co-invented a class of
aryloxyphenylp . . . .
Montagnier , Luc
HIV Virus Isolation and Diagnosis
Dr. Luc Montagnier is best known for his 1983 discovery of the
Human I . . . .
Morgan, Garrett
The Gas Mask and the Three-way Traffic Sgnal
Garrett Morgan invented the gas mask and three-way traffic signal in . . . .
Morse , Samuel F. B.
Telegraph
Morse developed 'lightning wires' and 'Morse code,' an electronic
alph . . . .
Mower , Morton
Implantable Heart Defibrillator
Morton Mower co-invented the automatic implantable cardioverter
defibr . . . .
Moyer , Andrew J.
Penicillin
Andrew J. Moyer's discoveries provided the foundation for the
industri . . . .
Moyroud , Louis
Marius
Photo Composing Machine
Louis Marius Moyroud and Rene Alphonse Higonnet developed the
first pr . . . .
Mullis , Kary
Polymerase Chain Reacton
The polymerase chain reaction, which was devised by Kary Mullis,
has r . . . .
Murphree , Eger V.
Catalytic Cracking
Eger Murphree, former president of Exxon Research &
Engineering Co . . . .
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Nieuwland , Julius
Synthetic Rubber
Rev. Julius Nieuwland, C.S.C., was the inventor of the first
synthetic . . . .
Nobel , Alfred
Dynamite
Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, was also a great
industrialist . . . .
Northrop , John
Flying Wing Plane; All-Metal High-Wing Monocoque Airplane
(Vega)
Noyce , Robert N.
Integrated Circuit
Robert N. Noyce, cofounder of . . . .
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Oliver , Bernard
Pulse Code Modulation
Bernard Oliver, one of the most prolific and influential inventors
of . . . .
Olsen , Kenneth H.
Magnetic Core Memory
Kenneth H. Olsen, described by . . . .
Otis , Elisha Graves
Elevator Brake
Elisha Graves Otis didn't invent the elevator, he invented
something p . . . .
Otto , Nicolaus
August
Gas-Motor Engine
Engineer Nicolaus August Otto invented the first practical
alternative . . . .
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Parker , Louis W.
Television
Louis W. Parker invented the intercarrier sound system for
television . . . .
Parkinson , Bradford
Global Positioning System
Parsons , John T.
Numerical Control
John Parsons changed the control of machines and industrial
processes . . . .
Pasteur , Louis
Pasteurization
French chemist Louis Pasteur was the founder of microbiological
scienc . . . .
Paul, Les
Solid-Body Electric Guitar
His innovations led to his first solid-body electric guitar in 1941. C . . . .
Pierce , John
Communications Satellite
Plank , Charles J.
Catalytic Cracking
Charles J. Plank and Edward J. Rosinski invented the first zeolite
cat . . . .
Plunkett , Roy J.
Teflon
Chemist Roy J. Plunkett discovered tetrafluoroethylene resin while
researching refrigerants at . . . .
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Rabinow, Jacob
Optical Character Reading
Jacob Rabinow patented over 200 inventions, including his optical char . . . .
Rillieux , Norbert
Automated Sugar Refining
Norbert Rillieux revolutionized the sugar industry by inventing a
refi . . . .
Rines , Robert H.
High Resolution Radar and Sonar
Robert H. Rines' contributions to the technology of
high-resolution image-scanning radar and sonar began in the era of
the . . . .
Roebling , John
Suspension Bridge
In 1841, John Roebling invented a wire rope in order to improve
upon t . . . .
Rohrer , Heinrich
Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Since the invention of the first microscope, scientists have
searched for improved ways to explore the microscopic world.
Optical systems were limited by the wavelength of light (roughly
2,000 times the diameter of an atom). Later, electron microscopes
achieved much higher resolution by taking advantage of the much
shorter wavelength of electrons in forming images. The most recent
revolution came with Heinrich Rohrer and Gerd Karl Binnig's
scanning tunneling microscope (STM), invented in 1981, which
provided the first images of individual atoms on the surfaces of
materials. The STM can image atomic details as tiny as 1/25th the
diameter of a typical atom, which corresponds to a resolution
several orders of magnitude better than the best electron
microscope.
The STM's significance was quickly recognized throughout the
world, and it has been used in fields as diverse as semiconductor
science, metallurgy, electrochemistry, and molecular biology.
Only five years after Binnig and Rohrer built the first STM, they
were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Binnig and Rohrer began
their STM work at the . . . .
Rosen , Harold
Spin Stabilized Synchronous Communications Satellite
Rosinski , Edward J.
Catalytic Cracking
Charles J. Plank and Edward J. Rosinski invented the first zeolite
cat . . . .
Rubin , Benjamin A.
Pronged Vaccinating Needle
Microbiologist Benjamin A. Rubin ground the eyelet of a sewing
machine . . . .
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Sarett , Lewis
Hastings
Cortisone
Chemist Lewis Hastings Sarett prepared a synthetic version of the
hormone cortisone, which was soon demonstrated as an effective
treatment against rheumatoid arthritis. Sarett prepared the first
synthetic cortisone in 1944, when Merck & Co. was a
participant in a government effort to improve military medicine.
Four years later the . . . .
Schawlow , Arthur
Laser
Arthur L. Schawlow was co-inventor of the laser. He worked with
Charle . . . .
Schmiegel , Klaus K.
Prozac
Klaus Schmiegel and Bryan Molloy co-invented a class of
aryloxyphenylp . . . .
Schultz , Peter C.
Optical Fibers
Corning Glass researchers Robert Maurer, Donald Keck, and Peter
Schult . . . .
Seaborg, Glenn T.
Plutonium Isolation
Glenn T. Seaborg was a central figure in the effort to develop
atomic . . . .
Seiwald , Robert J.
Isothiocyanate Compounds (Antigen)
Antibodies are the body's protectors. When antigens, such as
bacteria . . . .
Semon , Waldo L.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
In 1926 Waldo Semon, newly employed in the research department at
. . . .
Sessler , Gerhard M.
Electret Microphone
Gerhard Sessler and James West invented the foil electret
microphone w . . . .
Shannon , Claude
Pulse Code Modulation
Claude Shannon produced one of the great conceptual breakthroughs
of h . . . .
Sheehan , John C.
Penicillin
Sir Alexander Fleming's 1928 discovery of penicillin in bread mold
was a tremendous breakthrough for medical science. Unfortunately,
Fleming's process for harvesting the antibiotic took months to
generate a small amount. During World War II, as demand for
penicillin rose, researchers worked feverishly to synthesize the
penicillin molecule. More than a thousand scientists in 39 U.S.
labs became involved in the project. But when the war ended and
the molecule still had not revealed its structure, the funds for
research ended. From 1948 to 1957 only one laboratory of continued
the research-John Sheehan's. In March of 1957, while a professor
at the . . . .
Sherman , Patsy
Scotchgard (TM) Textile Proctector
Chemist Patsy Sherman and colleague Sam Smith were working at 3M
Compa . . . .
Shockley , William
Bradford
Transistor
Physicists John Bardeen, William B. Shockley, and Walter Brattain
shar . . . .
Sholes , Christopher
Typewriter
Christopher Sholes invented the first practical typewriter and
introdu . . . .
Sikorsky , Igor I.
Helicopter
Igor I. Sikorsky designed the world's first successful multimotor
airplane and the world's first true production helicopter. From
1925 to 1940 he created a series of increasingly successful
aircraft which gained for America numerous world records for
speed, range and payload. The famed Sikorsky flying 'Clippers'
helped pioneer trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific commercial
passenger services.
Despite the success of the flying boats, Sikorsky continued
studying the helicopter. His U.S. Patent 1,994,488, filed June 27,
1931, marked the crucial breakthrough. In late 1938, United
Aircraft management (now . . . .
Smith , Samuel
Scotchgard (TM) Textile Proctector
Chemist Patsy Sherman and colleague Sam Smith were working at 3M
Compa . . . .
Spencer , Percy
Lebaron
Magnetron
Percy Spencer, while working for the Raytheon Company, discovered
a mo . . . .
Sperry , Elmer
Ambrose
Gyroscopic Compass
Elmer Ambrose Sperry invented gyroscope-guided automatic pilots
for sh . . . .
Srinivasan ,
Rangaswamy
LASIK Eye Surgery
In 1981, Rangaswamy Srinivasan discovered that an ultraviolet
excimer . . . .
Stanley Jr. ,
William
Alternating Current
In the 1880s every system for distributing electricity used direct
cur . . . .
Steinmetz , Charles
Proteus
Alternating Current
In 1893, Steinmetz joined the newly organized . . . .
Sternbach, Leo H.
Benzodiazepines, Valium
Leo H. Sternbach is known throughout the scientific world for
the disc . . . .
Stibitz , George R.
Digital Computer
George R. Stibitz is internationally recognized as the father of
the m . . . .
Szilard , Leo
Neutronic Reactor / Nuclear Fission
Leo Szilard, along with Enrico Fermi, was awarded a patent for the
nuc . . . .
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Tabern , Donalee L.
Pentothal / Anesthesia
Ernest H. Volwiler and Donalee L. Tabern discovered the general
anesth . . . .
Tesla , Nikola
Alternating Current
Nikola Tesla invented the induction motor with rotating magnetic
field that made unit drives for machines feasible and made AC
power transmission an economic necessity.
In 1887 and 1888 Tesla had an experimental shop at 89 Liberty
Street, New York, and there he invented the induction motor. He
sold the invention to . . . .
Timken , Henry
Tapered Roller Bearings
Henry Timken invented the Timken® tapered roller
bearing. H . . . .
Tishler , Max
Vitamins
Organic chemist Max Tishler developed methods for synthesizing the
essential vitamin B2 as well as a poultry disease antibiotic that
opened the door to broad expansion of the poultry industry.
In 1937 he joined . . . .
Townes , Charles
Hard
Laser
Charles Townes' invention of the maser, a device that amplifies
electr . . . .
Tyson , Charles W.
Catalytic Cracking
Charles "Wes" Tyson and his three co-inventors at Exxon
Rese . . . .
U
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V
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Volwiler , Ernest H.
Pentothal / Anesthesia
Ernest H. Volwiler and Donalee L. Tabern discovered the general
anesth . . . .
von Kármán ,
Theodore
Turbojet
von Ohain , Hans
J.P.
Jet Engine
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Waksman, Selman
Streptomycin, a powerful antibiotic.
Selman Waksman revolutionized medicine and saved the lives of
countles . . . .
Wang, An
Magnetic Core Memory
An Wang made many notable contributions to the advancement of
computer . . . .
West , James E.
Electret Microphone
In 1962, James West and Gerhard Sessler patented the electret
micropho . . . .
Westinghouse Jr. ,
George
Alternating Current
George Westinghouse invented a system of air brakes that made
travel by train safe and built one of the greatest electric
manufacturing organizations in the United States.
After briefly attending . . . .
Whitcomb , Richard
Supercritical Wing
Whitney , Eli
Cotton Gin
American inventor, pioneer, mechanical engineer, and manufacturer
Eli Whitney is best remembered as the inventor of the cotton gin.
He also affected the industrial development of the United States
when, in manufacturing muskets for the government, he translated
the concept of interchangeable parts into a manufacturing system,
giving birth to the American mass-production concept. Whitney saw
that a machine to clean the seed from cotton could make the South
prosperous and make its inventor rich. He set to work at once and
within days had drawn a sketch to explain his idea; 10 days later
he constructed a crude model that separated fiber from seed.
After perfecting his machine he filed an application for a patent
on June 20, 1793; in February 1794 he deposited a model at the . .
. .
Whittle , Frank
Jet Engine
Wilcox , Stephen
Steam Generator
Stephen Wilcox worked with George Babcock to invent the water tube
ste . . . .
Williams , Robert R.
Vitamins
Robert R. Williams, Jr., was a telephone company researcher who in
his spare time developed ways to synthesize vitamins that helped
fight malnutrition and vitamin-deficiency diseases.
The vitamin research was conducted in his spare time with the aid
of grants and space provided by . . . .
Williams , Sam
Small Fan-Jet Engine
Wozniak , Steve
Personal Computer
Wozniak's Apple II personal computer - introduced in 1977 and
featurin . . . .
Wright , Orville
Airplane
Orville and Wilbur Wright, American inventors and aviation
pioneers, achieved the first powered, sustained, and controlled
flight of an airplane. Wilbur first became interested in the idea
of mechanical flight after reading of Otto Lilienthal's successful
gliding experiments in Germany. From these studies and
observations, the Wrights built their first machine in 1899. It
was a biplane kite which they fitted with wings that could be
mechanically twisted.
Before attempting a powered flight, they decided to master gliding
and built three biplane gliders, which they flew at Kitty Hawk and
Kill Devil Hills on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
They completed their first powered machine, the Kitty Hawk, in
1903, and made history's first powered, sustained and controlled
airplane flights from level ground without any assistance at
takeoff on the morning of December 17, 1903. In 1908 they were
able to conclude an agreement for production of the Wright
airplane for the . . . .
Wright , Wilbur
Airplane
Orville and Wilbur Wright, American inventors and aviation
pioneers, achieved the first powered, sustained, and controlled
flight of an airplane. Wilbur first became interested in the idea
of mechanical flight after reading of Otto Lilienthal's successful
gliding experiments in Germany. From these studies and
observations, the Wrights built their first machine in 1899. It
was a biplane kite which they fitted with wings that could be
mechanically twisted.
Before attempting a powered flight, they decided to master gliding
and built three biplane gliders, which they flew at Kitty Hawk and
Kill Devil Hills on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
They completed their first powered machine, the Kitty Hawk, in
1903, and made history's first powered, sustained and controlled
airplane flights from level ground without any assistance at
takeoff on the morning of December 17, 1903. In 1908 they were
able to conclude an agreement for production of the Wright
airplane for the . . . .
Wynne , James J.
LASIK Eye Surgery
James Wynne is co-inventor of a process using a short pulse
ultraviole . . . .
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Y
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Z
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Zworykin
, Vladimir Kosma
Cathode-Ray Tube
Most people think of television as a development of the mid-20th
centu . . . .
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