Uncover the December Star Signs of Inspiring Hall of Famers
Long ago, astrology was considered a science closely connected to astronomy – the study of what lies beyond our planet, including space and celestial objects. Some early scientists thought that by charting the skies and watching the movement of constellations, they could use astrology to help them predict various aspects of daily life, from upcoming weather to a person’s destiny.
Modern science, of course, reminds us that our fate is not actually written in the stars. However, many people still find it fun to see what ancient predictions might have to say about our future through the 12 zodiac signs (or star signs) that are named for their respective constellations and assigned based on our birthdays.
December star signs include Sagittarius and Capricorn, each with its own symbol and set of characteristics. If your birthday happens to fall in December, you share a star sign with some of the legendary innovators below, each of whom has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame®. Read on to check them out!
Sagittarius
Sagittarius is the “archer” sign. This star sign is often portrayed by a centaur with a bow and arrow. Those with the Sagittarius sign are said to be bold, adventurous and passionate. If you were born between Nov. 22 and Dec. 21, then you share a star sign with these bright innovators:
Martha Coston
Born Dec. 12, 1826, Hall of Famer Martha Coston found inspiration in her late husband’s drawings and developed a system of pyrotechnic flares, which she sold to the U.S. Navy. After 10 years of testing and refining her night flares, Coston patented her system in 1859. Her new system of night communication gave the Union an advantage in the Civil War. Coston received no formal education but remained a successful independent inventor and entrepreneur.
Harvey Firestone
Hall of Famer Harvey Firestone was born in Ohio on Dec. 20, 1868, and became a trailblazer in the rubber industry during the early 20th century. He founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in 1900 to develop tires for automobiles, and he made several improvements to the pneumatic tire. The Firestone Tire Co. honors his legacy today by maintaining a culture of innovation as it continues to be a pioneer in the tire industry.
Capricorn
A variation of “horned goat” in Latin, Capricorn’s symbol is said to represent a sea-goat, a mythical creature that is part goat and part fish. Capricorns, born between Dec. 22 and Jan. 19, are said to be hardworking, persistent and ambitious – like these innovative Capricorn Hall of Famers:
Ruth Benerito
Hall of Famer Ruth Rogan Benerito, who was born in New Orleans on Jan. 12, 1916, became widely recognized for her development of wrinkle-free cotton. While working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Benerito, a chemist, specialized in using cellulose chemistry to solve practical problems in the textile, wood and paper industries. Her research indicated that when specific reagents were bonded to cellulose, the cellulose fibers would not form creases – resulting in a wrinkle-resistant cotton fabric.
Lorenzo L. Langstroth
Born in Pennsylvania on Dec. 25, 1810, Hall of Famer Lorenzo Langstroth invented the modern beehive, enabling a greater production of honey. Prior to Langstroth’s innovations, beekeepers did not have a way to monitor the health, honey production or containment of bees as they harvested honey. The “Langstroth hive” featured a box with carefully spaced frames that could be removed and inspected to allow a beekeeper to monitor their colonies’ health, inspect hives for disease and harvest honey. Today, 75% of beehives are based on Langstroth’s design!
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