Important Innovations and Inventions, Past and Present

Inventions Beginning With "A"

Adhesives/Glue

Around 1750, the first glue patent was issued in Britain for a glue made from fish.

Adhesives/Tape

Scotch Tape or cellophane tape was invented in 1930 by banjo playing 3M engineer Richard Drew.

Aerosol Spray Cans

The concept of an aerosol originated as early as 1790.

Agriculture Related

Learn the history behind agriculture innovations, tractors, cotton gins, reapers, plows, plant patents and more.

Aibo

Aibo, the robotic pet.

Air Bags

In 1973, the General Motors research team invented the first car safety air bags that were first offered in the Chevrolet as an option.

Air Balloons

The early history of air balloons.

Air Brakes

George Westinghouse invented air brakes in 1868.

Air Conditioning

Willis Carrier brought us the comfort zone with air conditioning.

Air Ships

The history behind balloons, blimps, dirigibles and zeppelins.

Airplane/Aviation

Wilbur and Orville Wright invented the manned engined airplane, which they patented as a "flying machine." Learn about other aviation related innovations. 

Alcoholic Beverages

Evidence of intentionally fermented beverages exist in the form of beer jugs dated as early as the Neolithic period.

Alternating Current

Charles Proteus Steinmetz developed theories on alternating current that allowed for the rapid expansion of the electric power industry.

Altimeter

An instrument which measures vertical distance with respect to a reference level.

Aluminum Foil - Aluminum Manufacturing Process

The first mass-produced and widely used metal foil was made from tin. Tin foil was replaced by aluminum foil in 1910. Charles Martin Hall discovered the electrolytic method of producing aluminum cheaply and brought the metal into wide commercial use.

Ambulance

The concept of ambulance service started in Europe with the Knights of St. John.

Anemometer

In 1450, Leon Battista Alberti, the Italian artist and architect, invented the first mechanical anemometer. The anemometer is a device that measures wind speed.

Answering Machines

The history of answering machines.

Antibody Labeling Agents - Antigen and Antibody

Joseph Burckhalter and Robert Seiwald invented the first practical and patented antibody labeling agent.

Antiseptics

The history of antiseptics and key figures behind the invention.

Apple Computers

The Apple Lisa was the first home computer with a GUI or graphical user interface. Learn about the history of the Apple Macintosh, one of the most famous Apple home computers.

Aqualung

The history of scuba or diving equipment.

Arc Transmitter

Danish engineer Valdemar Poulsen invented the arc transmitter in 1902. The arc transmitter, contrary to all previous types of radio transmitters in history, generated continuous radio waves.

Archimedes Screw

Invented by the ancient Greek scientist and mathematician Archimedes, an archimedes screw is a machine for raising water. 

Armillary Sphere

Miniature representations of the earth, moon and planets in the form of terrestrial globes, terrain models and armillary spheres have a long history.

Artificial Heart

Willem Kolff invented both the first artificial heart and the first artificial kidney dialysis machine. 

Asphalt

The history of roads, road building and asphalt.

Aspirin

In 1829, scientists discovered that it was the compound called salicin in willow plants that was responsible for pain relief. But it was father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, who first discovered the pain relieving properties of the willow plant in the 5th century B.C.

Assembly Line

Eli Olds invented the basic concept of the assembly line and Henry Ford improved upon it.

AstroTurf

A patent for synthetic grass-like playing surfaces or Astroturf was issued to Wright and Faria of Monsanto Industries.

Atari Computers

The history of the entertaining video game console.

ATM - Automatic Teller Machines

The history of automated teller machines (ATM).

Atomic Bomb

In 1939, Einstein and several other scientists told Roosevelt of efforts in Nazi Germany to build an atomic bomb. It was shortly thereafter that the United States Government began the Manhattan Project, whose research produced the first atomic bomb.

Atomic Clock

The US primary time and frequency standard is a cesium fountain atomic clock developed at the NIST laboratories.

Audio Tape Recording

Marvin Camras invented the method and means of magnetic recording. 

Auto-Tune

Dr Andy Hildebrand is the inventor of the voice pitch-correcting software called Auto-Tune.

Automated Electrified Monorail Systems

Ronald Riley invented the automated electrified monorail system.

Automatic Doors

Dee Horton and Lew Hewitt invented the sliding automatic door in 1954.

Automobile

The history of the automobile spans over one hundred years. View timelines of automotive development and discover who made the first gasoline powered car. 

Famous Inventions Beginning With the Letter "B"

Baby Carriage

The history of the baby carriage or stroller.

Bakelite

Leo Hendrik Baekeland patented a "Method of Making Insoluble Products of Phenol and Formaldehyde." Setting out to make an insulator, he invented the first true plastic and transformed the world.

Ball Point Pens

The ball-point pen was invented by Ladislo Biro in 1938. A patent battle erupted; learn how Parker and Bic won the war.

Ballistic Missiles

A ballistic missile can be any of a variety of weapons systems that deliver explosive warheads to their targets by means of rocket propulsion.

Balloons and Blimps (Airships)

The history and patents behind airships, balloons, blimps, dirigibles and zeppelins.

Balloons (Toys)

The first rubber balloons were made in 1824 by Professor Michael Faraday for use in his experiments with hydrogen.

Band-Aids

Band-Aid® is the trademarked name for the 1920 invention belonging to Earle Dickson.

Bar Codes

The first patents for bar code were issued to Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver on October 7, 1952.

Barbecue

In America, barbecue (or BBQ) originated in the late 1800's during Western cattle drives.

Barbed Wire

Don't fence me in -- all about the invention, development, and use of barbed wire.

Barbie Dolls

The Barbie doll was invented in 1959 by Ruth Handler.

Barometer

The barometer was invented by Evangelista Torricelli in 1643.

Bartholdi Fountain

The Bartholdi Fountain was designed by the same inventor of the Statue of Liberty.

Baseball and Baseball Equipment

The evolution of baseball bats changed the sport entirely; modern baseball was invented by Alexander Cartwright.

BASIC (Code)

BASIC (Beginner's All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) was invented in 1964 by John Kemeny and Tom Kurtz.

Basketball

James Naismith invented and named the game of basketball in 1891.

Bathrooms (and related inventions)

The history of ancient and modern plumbing from around the world—baths, toilets, water closets and sewage systems.

Batteries

Batteries were invented in 1800 by Alssandro Volta. 

Beauty (and related inventions)

The history of hair dryers, ironing curlers and other beauty appliances. The history of cosmetics and hair products.

Beds

Yes, even beds have a rich history of invention. Learn more about waterbeds, Murphy beds, and other kinds of beds. 

Beer

We can trace the beginning of beer far back beyond the dawn of recorded time. Apparently, beer was the first alcoholic beverage known to civilization.

Bells

Bells may be categorized as idiophones, instruments sounding by the vibration of resonant solid material, and more broadly as percussion instruments."

Beverages

The history and origins of beverages and the equipment used to make them.

Blenders

Stephen Poplawski invented the kitchen blender.

Bic Pens

Learn about the history of Bic pens and other writing instruments.

Bicycles

The history of the foot-powered riding machine.

Bifocals

Benjamin Franklin is credited with creating the first pair of eyeglasses that help both near- and far-sighted people see better.

Bikini

The bikini was invented in 1946 and named after the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, the site of the first atomic bomb testing. The designers of the bikini were two Frenchmen named Jacques Heim and Louis Reard.

BINGO

"Bingo" originated from a game called Beano.

Biofilters and Biofiltration

The first proposition to use biological methods to treat odorous compounds came as early as 1923.

Biometric and Related Technology

Biometrics technology is used to uniquely identify or verify an individual through characteristics of the human body.

Blood Banks

Dr. Charles Richard Drew was the first person to develop the blood bank.

Blue Jeans

Non other than Levi Strauss invented blue jeans.

Boardgames and Cards

Puzzle over the history of board games and other brain teasers.

Body Armor and Bullet-proof Vests

Throughout recorded history, people have used various types of materials as body armor to protect themselves from injury in combat and other dangerous situations.

Boilers

George Babcock and Steven Wilcox co-invented the water tube steam boiler, a safer and more efficient boiler.

Boomerang

The history of the boomerang.

Bourdon Tube Pressure Guage

In 1849, the Bourdon tube pressure gauge was patented by Eugene Bourdon.

Bra

It's 1913 and Mary Phelps Jacob's corset was not the undergarment to wear under her new shear evening gown.

Braces (Dental)

The history of dental braces or the science of Orthodontics is complex, many different patents helped to create braces as we know them today.

Braille

Louis Braille invented braille printing.

Brush (Hair)

Brushes were used as early as 2,500,000 years ago.

Bubble Gum

The invention and history of chewing gum, bubble gum, gum wrappers, gum tins and bubble gum machines.

Bulldozer

It is not certain who invented the first bulldozer, however, the bulldozer blade was in use before the invention of any tractor.

Bunsen Burners

As an inventor, Robert Bunsen developed several methods of analyzing gases, however, he is best known for his invention of the Bunsen burner.

Butterick (Dress Patterns)

Ebenezer Butterick, together with his wife Ellen Augusta Pollard Butterick, invented the tissue paper dress pattern.

Inventions Beginning With "C"

Calendars and Clocks

Learn about the invention of early clocks, calendars, the quartz watch, timekeeping devices and the science of time.

Calculators

Timelines covering calculator patents since 1917.Learn about the history of Texas Instruments, the origins of the electronic calculator, the hand-held calculator and more.

Cameras and Photography

The history of the camera, including Camera Obscura, photography, the significant processes of photography, and who invented the polaroid and photographic film.

Cans and Can Openers

A timeline of tin cans - learn how cans are made, filled and recycled. The history of the first can opener.

Canadian Inventions

Canadian inventors have patented more than one million inventions.

Candy

The delectable history of candy.

Carborundum

Edward Goodrich Acheson invented carborundum. Carborundum is the hardest man-made surface and was essential to ushering in the industrial age.

Card Games

The history of playing cards and card games like Uno.

CARDIAC PACEMAKER

Wilson Greatbatch invented an implantable cardiac pacemaker.

Carmex

Carmex is a salve for chapped lips and cold sores invented in 1936.

Cars

The history of the automobile covers over one hundred years. Learn about the patents and famous car models, view timelines, read about the first gasoline powered car, or about electric vehicles.

Carousels

The interesting history behind the carousel and other circus and theme park innovations.

Cash Registers

James Ritty invented what was nicknamed the "Incorruptible Cashier" or the cash register.

Cassette Tapes

In 1963, the Philips company became the first company to demonstrate the compact audio cassette.

Cat Eyes

Percy Shaw patented his road-safety invention called cat eyes, in 1934 when he was only 23.

Catheter

Thomas Fogarty invented the embolectomy balloon catheter. Betty Rozier and Lisa Vallino co-invented the intravenous catheter shield. Ingemar Henry Lundquist invented the over the wire balloon catheter that is used in the majority of angioplasty procedures in the world.

Cathode Ray Tube

Electronic television is based on the invention of the cathode ray tube, which is the picture tube found in modern television sets.

CAT Scans

Robert Ledley invented "diagnostic X-Ray systems", known as CAT-Scans.

CCD

George Smith and Willard Boyle received a patent for Charge-Coupled Devices or CCDs.

Cell (Mobile) Phones

How the FCC slowed the progress of a cellular phone system.

Cellophane Film

Cellophane film was invented by Jacques Brandenberger in 1908. Cellophane ® is the registered trademark of Innovia Films Ltd of Cumbria UK.

Celsius Thermometer

Swedish astronomer, Anders Celsius invented the centigrade scale and celsius thermometer.

Census

In 1790, the First Census of the United States was taken.

Chain Saws

The history behind the humble chain saw.

Champagne

French monks were the first to bottle a sparkling form of wine called Champagne, named after the Champagne region of France.

Chapstick

The history of Chapstick and its inventor.

Cheerleading (Pompoms)

Pompoms and the history of cheerleading innovations.

Cheese in a Can

The history of "Cheese in a Can".

Cheese Slicer

The cheese-slicer is a Norwegian invention.

Cheesecake and Cream Cheese

Cheesecake is believed to have originated in ancient Greece.

Chewing Gum

The history of chewing gum and bubble gum.

Chia Pets

Animal figurines have been designed which have live herbs that simulate the fur or hair of a particular animal.

Chinese Inventions

Learn about the kite, chopsticks, umbrellas, gunpowder, firecrackers, the steelyard, abacus, cloisonné, ceramics, papermaking, and more.

Chocolate

The history behind chocolate, chocolate bars and chocolate chip cookies.

Christmas Related

The history of candy canes, Christmas lights and Christmas trees.

Christmas Lights

In 1882, the first Christmas tree was lit by the use of electricity.

Cigarettes

This history of tobacco related products.

Clarinet

The clarinet evolved from an earlier instrument called the chalumeau, the first true single reed instrument.

Clermont (Steamboat)

Robert Fulton's steamboat, the Clermont, became the first successful steam-propelled vessel.

Cloning

The history of reproductive and therapeutic.

Closed Captioning

Television closed captions are captions that are hidden in the television video signal, invisible without a special decoder.

Clothes and Clothing Related

The history of what we wear: blue jeans, the bikini, the tuxedo, fabrics, fasteners, and more.

Coat Hangers

Today’s wire coat hanger was inspired by a clothes hook patented in 1869 by O. A. North.

Coca-Cola

"Coca-Cola" was invented by Dr. John Pemberton in 1886. 

Cochlear Implants (the Bionic Ear)

The cochlear implant is a prosthetic replacement for the inner ear or cochlea.

Coffee

The history of the cultivation of coffee and innovations in brewing methods.

Cold Fusion Energy

Viktor Schauberger was the "father of cold fusion energy" and the designer of the first non-energy consuming "flying disc".

Color Television

Color television was by no means a new idea, a German patent in 1904 contained the earliest proposal—RCA color television system—Living Color.

Colt Revolver

Samuel Colt invented the first revolver aptly named the Colt revolver.

Combustion Engine (Car)

History of the internal combustion engine.

Combustion Engine (Diesel)

Rudolf Diesel was the father of the "diesel-fueled" internal combustion engine or diesel engine.

Comic Books

The history of comics.

Communications and related

History, timeline, and innovations.

Compact Discs

James Russell invented the compact disc in 1965. Russell was granted a total of 22 patents for various elements of his system.

Compass

The history of the magnetic compass.

Computers

An index to famous persons in the computer business, over twenty-six fully illustrated features cover the history of computers from 1936 until today.

Computers (Apple)

On April Fool's Day, 1976, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs released the Apple I computer and started Apple Computers.

Computer Chess

Dietrich Prinz wrote the original chess playing program for a general purpose computer.

Computer Game

This history is more fun than a joy stick. Steve Russell invented the computer game called "SpaceWar." Nolan Bushnell invented the game called "Pong."

Computer Keyboard

The invention of the modern computer keyboard began with the invention of the typewriter.

Computer Peripherals

Compact disks, the computer mouse, computer memory, disk drives, printers and other peripherals are discussed.

Computer Printers

The history of printers used with computers.

Computerized Banking

ERMA (Electronic Recording Method of Accounting) began as a project for the Bank of America in an effort to computerize the banking industry.

Concrete and Cement

Concrete was invented by Joseph Monier.

Construction Materials

The history of construction and building materials.

Contacts and Corrective Lenses

The history of corrective lenses—from the oldest known glass lens to modern contact lenses.

Cookies and Candy

Enjoy some snack food history and learn how the Fig Newton got named, how cotton candy works, and all about chocolate-chip cookies.

Cordite

Sir James Dewar was the co-inventor of cordite, a smokeless gunpowder.

Corkscrews

This illustrated history of cork extractors explains the origins of this humble invention, found in households all over the world.

Corn Flakes

The kooky history of Corn Flakes and other breakfast cereals.

Cortisone

Percy Lavon Julian synthesized the medicines physostigmine for glaucoma and cortisone. Lewis Sarett invented a synthetic version of the hormone cortisone.

Cosmetics

The history of cosmetics and hair products.

Cotton Gin

Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin on March 14, 1794. The cotton gin is a machine that separates seeds, hulls and other unwanted materials from cotton after it has been picked. See also: The Cotton Gin Patent.

Crash Test Dummies

GM developed this test device nearly 20 years ago, to provide a biofidelic measurement tool -- a crash dummy that behaves very similarly to human beings.

Crayons

The Crayola Company's founders invented the first crayon.

Cray Supercomputer

Seymour Cray was the inventor of the Cray Supercomputer.

Credit Cards

Learn about credit, credit cards, and the first banks to issue them.

Crossword Puzzles

The crossword puzzle was invented by Arthur Wynne.

Cuisinarts and Other Kitchen Appliances

Carl Sontheimer invented the Cuisinart.

Cyclotron

Ernest Lawrence invented the cyclotron, a device that greatly increased the speed with which projectiles could be hurled at atomic nuclei.

Inventions That Begin With "E"

Earmuffs

Chester Greenwood, a grammar school dropout, invented earmuffs at the age of 15 to keep his ears warm while ice skating. Greenwood would go on to accumulate over 100 patents in his lifetime.

Ear Plugs

The history of ear plugs.

Easter Related

Inventions created for Easter occasions.

Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel built the Eiffel Tower for the Paris World's Fair of 1889, which honored the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

Elastic

In 1820, Thomas Hancock patented elastic fastenings for gloves, suspenders, shoes and stockings.

Electric Blanket

In 1936, the first automatic electric blanket was invented.

ELECTRIC CHAIR

The history and of the electric chair.

ELECTRICITY RELATED, ELECTRONICS

Several famous persons in the field of electricity and electrical theory are profiled.The history of electricity and electronics.

ELECTRIC MOTOR

Michael Faraday's big breakthrough in electricity development was his invention of the electric motor.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

An electric vehicle or EV by definition will use an electric motor for propulsion rather than being powered by a gasoline-powered motor.

ELECTROMAGNET

An electromagnet is a device in which magnetism is produced by an electric current.

ELECTROMAGNETISM RELATED

Innovations related to magnetic fields. See Also - Timeline of Electromagnetism

ELECTRON TUBES

The complex history behind the electron or vacuum tube.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

If pushed to the limit, electron microscopes can make it possible to view objects as small as the diameter of an atom.

ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY

The copy machine was invented by Chester Carlson.

ELECTROPLATING

Electroplating was invented in 1805 and paved the way for economical jewelry.

ELECTROSCOPE

The electroscope - a device for detecting electric charge - was invented by Jean Nollet in 1748.

ELEVATOR

Elisha Elisha Graves Otis did not actually invent the first elevator - he invented the brake used in modern elevators, and his brakes made skyscrapers a practical reality.

EMAIL

Have you ever wondered what this @ in your email address is for?

ENIAC COMPUTER

With twenty thousand vacuum tubes inside, the ENIAC computer was invented by John Mauchly and John Presper.

ENGINES

Understanding how engines work and the history of engines.

ENGRAVING

The history of engraving, a popular method of printing.

ESCALATOR

In 1891, Jesse Reno created a new novelty ride at Coney Island that led to the invention of the escalator.

ETCH-A-SKETCH

The Etch-A-Sketch was developed in the late 1950s by Arthur Granjean.

ETHERNET

Robert Metcalfe and Xerox team invented network computing.

EXOSKELETON

Exoskeletons for human performance augmentation is a new type of body army being developed for soldiers that will significantly increase their capacity.

EXPLOSIVES

The history of explosives.

EYEGLASSES

The history of the oldest known glass lens to the first pair of spectacles invented by Salvino D'Armate.

"F" Is for Inventions Ranging From Frisbees to Firearms

FABRICS

Denim, nylon, colored cotton, vinyl... the history behind these and other fabrics.

FACEBOOK

Learn the fascinating story of how Facebook was invented.

FAHRENHEIT THERMOMETER & SCALE

What can be considered the first modern thermometer, the mercury thermometer with a standardized Fahrenheit scale, was invented by Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1714.

FARM RELATED

Innovations related to farms, agriculture, tractors, cotton gin, reapers, plows, plant patents and more.

FAX/FAX MACHINE/FACSIMILE

The facsimile was invented in 1842 by Alexander Bain.

FERRIS WHEEL

The history of the ferris wheel.

FIBER OPTICS

Fiber optics and the use of light to communicate.

FILM

The history of photographic film.

Fingerprinting and Forensics

One of the first significant developments in forensic science was identification by fingerprinting.

FIREARMS

The history of guns and firearms.

FLASHLIGHT

When the flashlight was invented the biblical quote of Let There Be Light was on the cover of the 1899 Eveready catalog.

FLIGHT

The history of flight and the invention of the airplane including inventors Orville and Wilbur Wright.

FLOPPY DISK

Alan Shugart nicknamed the first disk - the "Floppy" for its flexibility.

FLUORESCENT LAMPS

The history of fluorescent lights and mercury vapor arc lamps.

FLYING MACHINES

While air balloons allowed mankind to float inventors dreamed of making flying machines that would allow mankind to have controlled flight.

FLYING SHUTTLE

John Kay invented the flying shuttle, an improvement to looms that enabled weavers to weave faster.

FOAM FINGER

Steve Chmelar invented the foam finger or foam hand often seen at sporting events and political rallies, and he can thank Miley Cyrus for finally getting the credit he deserves.

FOOTBALL

The invention of football, American style.

FOOTBAG

Hacky Sack or Footbag is a modern American sport invented in 1972.

FORTRAN

The first high level programming language called fortran was invented by John Backus and IBM.

FOUNTAIN PENS

The history of fountain pens and other writing instruments.

FREEZERS

The history of this famous kitchen appliance.

FRENCH FRIES

"Potatoes, fried in the French Manner," is how Thomas Jefferson described a dish he brought over to the colonies in the late 1700s.

FRENCH HORNS

The brass French horn was an invention based on early hunting horns.

FREON

In 1928, Thomas Midgley and Charles Kettering invented a "Miracle Compound" called Freon. Freon is now infamous for greatly adding to the depletion of the earth's ozone shield.

FRISBEE

How the empty pie plates of the Frisbie Baking Company became the early prototype for the world's funniest sport.

FREEZE DRYING/FREEZE DRIED FOODS

The basic process of freeze-drying foods were known to the Peruvian Incas of the Andes.Freeze drying is the removal of water from food while the food is frozen.

FROZEN FOODS

Learn how Clarence Birdseye found a way to flash-freeze foods and deliver them to the public.

FUEL CELLS

Fuel cells were invented in 1839 by Sir William Grove, and are now becoming the power source for the 21st century. 

Jacuzzi, Jukeboxes and More Famous Inventions Beginning With "J"

JACUZZI

In 1968, Roy Jacuzzi invented and marketed the first self-contained, fully integrated whirlpool bath by incorporating jets into the sides of the tub. Jacuzzi® is the trademarked name for the invention.

JET SKI

The jet ski was invented by Clayton Jacobsen II.

JET AIRCRAFT

Dr.Hans von Ohain and Sir Frank Whittle are recognized as the co-inventors of the jet engine. See also: Different Types of Jet Engines

JIGSAW PUZZLES

John Spilsbury created the first jigsaw puzzle in 1767.

JOCK STRAP

In 1920, Joe Cartledge invented the first jock strap or athletic supporter.

JUKEBOX

The history of the jukebox.

Peanut Butter, Panty Hose and Other Primo Inventions Starting With "P"

PACKAGE (or Pizza) SAVER

Have you ever wondered, "who invented the circular thing that keeps the pizza from hitting the inside of the box top?"

PAGERS

A pager is a dedicated RF (radio frequency) device.

PAINT ROLLER

The paint roller was invented by Norman Breakey of Toronto in 1940.

PANTY HOSE

In 1959, Glen Raven Mills of North Carolina introduced pantyhose.

PAPER RELATED

The history of paper, papermaking and paper sacks; the patents and persons behind the different processes.

PAPERCLIP

A history of the paperclip.

PAPER PUNCH

History of the paper punch.

PARACHUTES

Louis Sebastien Lenormand is credited with being the first person to demonstrate the principle of the parachute in 1783.

PASCALINE CALCULATOR

French scientist and mathematician, Blaise Pascal invented the first digital calculator, the Pascaline.

PASTEURIZATION

Louis Pasteur invented pasteurization.

PEANUT BUTTER

The history of peanut butter.

PENICILLIN

Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming. Andrew Moyer patented the industrial production of penicillin. John Sheehan invented a synthesis of natural penicillin.

PENS/PENCILS

The history of pens and other writing instruments (including pencil sharpeners and erasers).

PEPSI-COLA

"Pepsi-Cola" was invented by Caleb Bradham in 1898.

PERFUME

The history behind perfume.

PERIODIC TABLE

The history of the periodic table.

PERISCOPE

The history of the periscope.

PERPETUAL MOTION MACHINE

The USPTO will not patent a perpetual motion machine.

PHONOGRAPH

The word "phonograph" was Edison's tradename for his musical playback device, which played wax cylinders rather than flat disks.

PHOTOCOPIER

The photocopier was invented by Chester Carlson.

PHOTOGRAPHY STILL

Learn about the Camera Obscura, the history of photography, the significant processes, polaroid photography and the invention of photographic film. See also: Photography Timeline

PHOTOPHONE

Alexander Graham Bell's Photophone was ahead of its time.

PHOTOVOLTICS RELATED

Solar cells or PV cells rely on the photovoltaic effect to absorb the energy of the sun and cause current to flow between two oppositely charge layers. See also: How a Photovoltic Cell Works.

PIANO

The piano first known as the pianoforte was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori.

PIGGY BANK

The piggy bank's origin owes more to the history of language.

PILL

The patents and people behind the first oral contraceptives.

PILLSBURY DOUGHBOY

On October, 1965, Pillsbury debuted the loveable 14-ounce, 8 3/4-inch character in a Crescent Roll commercial.

PINBALL

The history of pinball.

PIZZA

The history of pizza.

PLASTIC

Learn about the history of plastic, the uses for and the making of plastic, plastic in the fifties and more.

PLAY-DOH

Noah McVicker and Joseph McVicker invented Play-Doh in 1956.

PLIERS

Simple pliers are an ancient invention. Two sticks probably served as the first uncertain holders, but bronze bars may have replaced wooden tongs as early as 3000 BC.

Plows

The farmers of George Washington's day had no better tools than had the farmers of Julius Caesar's day. In fact, Roman plows were superior to those in general use in America eighteen centuries later. John Deere invented the self-polishing cast steel plow.

PLUMBING RELATED

Learn about ancient and modern plumbing from around the world: baths, toilets, water closets.

PNEUMATIC Tools

A pneumatic device is any of various tools and instruments that generate and utilize compressed air.

POLAROID PHOTOGRAPHY

Polaroid photography was invented by Edwin Land.

POLICE TECHNOLOGY

The methods and techniques of, and the equipment available to, police agencies.

POLYESTER

Polyethylene terephthalate created synthetic fibers such as polyester dacron and terylene.

POLYGRAPH

John Larson invented the polygraph or lie detector in 1921.

POLYSTYRENE

Polystyrene is a strong plastic created from erethylene and benzine that can be injected, extruded or blow molded, making it a very useful and versatile manufacturing material.

POM POMS

Pompoms and the history of cheerleading innovations.

POPSICLE

The history of the popsicle.

POSTAL RELATED

William Barry invented the postmarking and canceling machine. William Purvis invented the hand stamp. Philip Downing invented the letter-drop letter box. Rowland Hill invented the postage stamp.

POST-IT NOTES

Arthur Fry invented Post-It Notes as a temporary bookmarker.

POTATO CHIPS

Potato chips were invented in 1853.

MR POTATO HEAD

George Lerner of New York City invented and patented Mr. Potato Head in 1952.

POWER LOOM

Edmund Cartwright was a cleric and the inventor of the power loom patented in 1785.

PRINTERS (COMPUTER)

The history of computer printers.

PRINTING

Learn about the history of printing and printer technology.

PROSTHETICS

The history of prosthetics and amputation surgery begins at the very dawning of human medical thought.

PROZAC

Prozac® is the registered trademarked name for fluoxetine hydrochloride and the world's most widely prescribed antidepressant.

PUNCH CARDS

Herman Hollerith invented a punch-card tabulation machine system for statistical computation.

PUSH PINS

Edwin Moore invented the push-pin.

PUZZLES

Learn the history behind the crossword and other brain-teasing puzzles.

PVDC

The origins of Saran Wrap® (PVDC) film and the history of the Dow Chemical Company.

PVC (Vinyl)

Waldo Semon invented a way to make polyvinyl chloride or vinyl useful.

Safety Pins to Syringes: Inventions Beginning With "S"

Safety Pins

The safety pin was invented by Walter Hunt in 1849.

Sailboards

The very first sailboards (windsurfing) date back to the late 1950s.

Sandwich

The origins of the sandwich.

Saran Wrap

The origins of Saran Wrap film and the history of the Dow Chemical Company.

Satellites

History changed on October 4, 1957, when the former Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I.The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a basketball, weighed only 183 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path.

Saxophone

The history of the saxophone.

Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)

Gerd Karl Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer are the inventors of the STM, which provided the first images of individual atoms.

Scissors

The history behind this cutting invention.

Scooters

The invention of scooters. Also See - Early Patent Drawings

Scotch Tape

Scotch Tape was patented by the banjo playing, 3M engineer, Richard Drew.

Screws and Screwdrivers

You might be surprised by how early wooden screws were invented. Here's the history of the Archimedes Screw, the Phillips Head Screw, the Robertson Screw, Square Drive Screws, and more.

SCUBA Diving Equipment

In the 16th century, barrels were used as primitive diving bells, and for the first time divers could travel underwater with more than one breath of air, but not much more than one.

Sea-Cretion

Wolf Hilbertz patented sea-cretion, a construction material made from the electrolytic deposition of minerals from seawater.

Seat Belts

Never drive without first buckling up you seat belt. But which inventor brought us this safety invention?

Seaplane

The seaplane was invented by Glenn Curtiss. March 28, 1910 in Martinque, France, marked the first successful seaplane take-off from water

Seismograph

John Milne was the English seismologist and geologist who invented the first modern seismograph and promoted the building of seismological stations.

Self-Cleaning House

This amazing home was invented by Frances Gabe.

Segway Human Transporter

What was once a mysterious invention created by Dean Kamen that had everyone speculating as to what it was, was revealed and demonstrated as the now familiar Segway Human Transporter.

Seven-Up

This beloved, bubbling lemon lime drink was invented by Charles Grigg.

Sewing Machines

The history behind sewing machines. 

Shrapnel

Shrapnel is a type of antipersonnel projectile named after the inventor, Henry Shrapnel.

Shoes and Related

As late as 1850, most shoes were made on absolutely straight lasts, there being no difference between the right and the left shoe. Learn about the history of footwear and shoe making technology, including sneakers, which were designed by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight.

Shoe Manufacturing Machine

Jan Matzeliger developed an automatic method for lasting shoes and made the mass production of affordable shoes possible.

Shopping Related

Who created the first shopping mall and other trivia.

Sierra Sam

The history of crash test dummies—the first crash test dummy was the Sierra Sam created in 1949."

Silly Putty

Silly Putty is a result of history, engineering, an accident and entrepreneurship.

Sign Language (and related)

The history of sign language.

Signaling System (Pyrotechnic)

Martha Coston invented a system of maritime signal flares.

Skyscrapers

The skyscraper like many other architectural forms, evolved over a long period of time.

Skateboard

A short history of the skateboard.

Skates (Ice)

The oldest known pair of ice skates dates back to 3000 BCE.

Sleeping Car (Pullman)

The Pullman sleeping car (train) was invented by George Pullman in 1857.

Sliced Bread (and Toasters)

The history of sliced bread and the toaster, the best thing since sliced bread, but actually invented before sliced bread.

Slide Rule

Around 1622, the circular and rectangular slide rule was invented by Episcopalean minister William Oughtred.

Slinky

The slinky was invented by Richard and Betty James.

Slot Machines

The first mechanical slot machine was the Liberty Bell, invented in 1895 by Charles Fey

Smart Pills

The name of smart pill now refers to any pill that can deliver or control its delivery of medicine without the patient having to take action beyond the initial swallow.

Snowblower

Canadian, Arthur Sicard invented the snowblower in 1925.

Snowmaking Machines

The history of snowmaking machines and facts about making snow.

Snowmobiles

In 1922, Joseph-Armand Bombardier developed the type of sport machine that we know today as the snowmobile.

Soap

Soap making was known as early as 2800 BCE, but in the synthetic detergent industry it is not as easy to pinpoint exactly when the first detergents were invented.

Soccer

Not much is known about the origin of soccer, however, football and ball kicking games were played by the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Socks

The first real knit socks were discovered in Egyptian graves in Antinoe.

Soda Fountain

In 1819, the "soda fountain" was patented by Samuel Fahnestock.

Softball

George Hancock invented softball.

Soft Drinks

An introduction to the history of soft drinks including Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, and other less well-known bubbly beverages.

Software

The history of various software programs.

Solar-Powered Cars

Solar-powered electric demonstration vehicles were first built by universities and manufacturers during the late eighties.

Solar Cells

A solar cell directly converts light energy into electrical energy.

Sonar

Discover the history of Sonar.

S.O.S Soap Pads

Ed Cox invented a pre-soaped pad with which to clean pots.

Sound Recording

The history of sound recording technology—from early recorded sounds and wax cylinders to the latest in broadcasting history.

Soup (Campbells)

Where did soup come from?

Spacesuits

The history of spacesuits.

SpaceWar

In 1962, Steve Russell invented SpaceWar, one of the first games intended for computer use.

Spark Plugs

The history of spark plugs.

Spectacles and Sunglasses

The history of eyeglasses from the oldest known glass lens to the first pair of spectacles invented by Salvino D'Armate and beyond. Around the year 1752, James Ayscough introduced spectacles with lenses made of tinted glass.

Spectograph

George Carruthers received a patent for the far-ultraviolet camera and the spectrograph.

Spinning Jenny

Hargreaves patented theSpinning Jenny used for weaving yarn.

Spinning Mule

Samuel Crompton invented the spinning mule.

Spinning Wheel

The spinning wheel is an ancient machine that turned fibers into thread or yarn, which were then woven into cloth on a loom. The spinning wheel was probably invented in India, though its origins are obscure.

Spork

The spork is half spoon and half fork.

Sports Related

Yes, there are patents related to sports.

Sporting Goods

Learn who invented the skateboard, the frisbee, sneakers, the bicycle, the boomerang and other sporting goods.

Sprinkler Systems

The first fire sprinkler system was invented by American, Henry Parmalee in 1874.

Stamps

Rowland Hill invented the postage stamp in 1837, an act for which he was knighted.

Staplers

Brass paper fasteners were introduced in the mid-1860s, and by 1866 George W. McGill had developed a machine to insert these fasteners into papers. The first stapling machine with a magazine that held a supply of preformed wire staples that were fed automatically to the staple-driving mechanism was patented in 1878.

Statue of Liberty

Bartholdi was a French sculptor born in Alsace. He created many monumental sculptures, but his most famous work was the Statue of Liberty.

Steamboats

Robert Fulton invented the first successful steamboat on August 7, 1807. Also see: John Fitch and His Steamboat

Steam Engines

Thomas Newcomen invented the atmospheric steam engine in 1712 - steam engine history and information on the men and women involved with steam engines.

Steel

Henry Bessemer invented the first process for mass-producing steel inexpensively.

Stem Cell Research

James Thomson was the first scientist to isolate and culture human embryonic stem cells.

Sterotyping

William Ged invented Stereotyping in 1725. Sterotyping is a process in which a whole page of type is cast in a single mold so that a printing plate can be made from it.

Stoves

The history of stoves.

Straws

In 1888, Marvin Stone patented the spiral winding process to manufacture the first paper drinking straws.

Street Sweeper

C. B. Brooks invented an improved street sweeper truck and patented it on March 17, 1896.

Styrofoam

What we commonly call styrofoam is the most recognizable form of foam polystyrene packaging.

Submarines

Study the evolution of submarine design, from the submarine's beginning as a compressed air or human-powered warship to today's nuclear-powered subs.

Sugar Processing Evaporator

The sugar processing evaporator was invented by Norbert Rillieux.

Sunscreen

The first commercial sunscreen was invented in 1936.

Supercomputer

Seymour Cray and the Cray Supercomputer.

Superconductors

In 1986, Alex Müller and Johannes Bednorz patented the first high-temperature superconductor.

Super Soaker

Lonnie Johnson invented the Super Soaker squirt gun. (Johnson also patented thermodynamics systems.)

Suspenders

The first patent ever issued for modern suspenders, the kind with the familiar metal clasp was patent by Roth.

Swimming Pools

The history of swimming pools—the first heated swimming pool was built by Gaius Maecenas of Rome.

Syringe

The history behind this medical device.

Tampons, Tupperware and Trumpets: Inventions Beginning With "T"

Tagamet

Graham Durant, John Emmett and Charon Ganellin co-invented Tagamet. Tagamet inhibits the production of stomach acid.

Tampons

The history of tampons.

Tape Recorders

In 1934/35, Begun built the world's first tape recorder used for broadcasting.

Tattoos and Related

Samuel O'Reilly and the history of inventions related to tattoos.

Taxis

The name taxicab usually abbreviated to taxi came from the taximeter an old instrument which measured the distance travelled.

Tea and Related

The history of tea, tea bags, tea drinking customs and more.

Teddy Bears

Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, is the person responsible for giving the teddy bear his name.

Teflon

Roy Plunkett invented tetrafluoroethylene polymers or Teflon.

Tekno Bubbles

Tekno Bubbles are a innovative variation on blowing bubbles, but these bubbles glow under black lights and can smell like raspberries.

Telegraph

Samuel Morse invented the telegraph.The general history of telegraphy. Optical Telegraph

Telemetry

Examples of telemetry are the tracking of the movements of wild animals that have been tagged with radio transmitters, or the transmitting of meteorological data from weather balloons to weather stations.

Telephones

The history of the the telephone and telephone related devices. Also take a look at the First Patent for the Telephone.

Telephone Switching System

Erna Hoover invented the computerized telephone switching system.

Telescope

A spectacle maker probably assembled the first telescope. Hans Lippershey of Holland is often credited with the invention of the telescope, but he almost certainly was not the first person to make one.

Televisions

The history of television - color television, satellite broadcasts, remote controls and other television related inventions. Also see this Television Timeline

Tennis and Related

In 1873, Walter Wingfield invented a game called Sphairistikè (Greek for "playing ball) which evolved into modern outdoor tennis.

Tesla Coil

Invented in 1891 by Nikola Tesla, the Tesla coil is still used in radio and television sets and other electronic equipment.

Tetracycline

Lloyd Conover invented the antibiotic tetracycline, which became the most prescribed broad spectrum antibiotic in the United States.

Theme Park-Related Inventions

The history behind circus, theme park, and carnival inventions including roller coasters, carousels, ferris wheels, trampoline and more.

Thermometers

The first thermometers were called thermoscopes. In 1724, Gabriel Fahrenheit invented the first mercury thermometer, the modern thermometer.

Thermos

Sir James Dewar was the inventor of the Dewar flask, the first thermos.

Thong

Many fashion historians believe that the thong first appeared in the 1939 World's Fair.

Tidal Power Plants

The rise and fall of the sea level can power electric-generating equipment.

Timekeeping and Related

The history of timekeeping innovations and time measurement.

Timken

Henry Timken received a patent for the Timken or tapered roller bearings.

Tinkertoys

Charles Pajeau invented Tinkertoys, a toy construction set for children.

Tires

The history of tires.

Toasters

The best thing since sliced bread, but actually invented before sliced bread.

Toilets and Plumbing

The history of toilets and plumbing.

Tom Thumb Locomotive

Learn about the inventor of the Tom Thumb steam engine.

Tools

The history behind several common household tools.

Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, and Toothpicks

Who invented false teeth, dentistry, toothbrush, toothpaste, toothpicks and dental floss. Also, learn about the history of toothpicks. 

Totalizator Automatic

The automatic totalizator is a system that totals the investments on runners, horses, betting pools and pays out dividends; invented by Sir George Julius in 1913.

Touch Screen Technology

The touch screen is one of the easiest to use and most intuitive of all PC interfaces, making it the interface of choice for a wide variety of applications.

Toys

The history behind several toy inventions—including how some toys were invented, how others got their names and how famous toy companies began.

Tractors

A history of tractors, bulldozers, forklifts and related machinery. Also see: Famous Farm Tractors

Traffic Lights and Roads

The world's first traffic lights were installed near London's House of Commons in 1868. Also see this article on Garrett Morgan, who patented a hand-cranked traffic management device.

Trampoline

The prototype trampoline apparatus was built by George Nissen, an American circus acrobat and Olympic

Transistor

The transistor was an influential little invention that changed the course of history in a big way for computers and electronics. See Also - Definition

Transportation

The history and timeline of different transportation innovations - cars, bikes, planes, and more.

Trivial Pursuit

Trivial Pursuit was invented by Canadians Chris Haney and Scott Abbott.

Trumpet

The trumpet has evolved more than any other instrument known to modern day society.

TTY, TDD or Tele-Typewriter

The history of TTY.

Tungsten Wire

The history of tungsten wire used in lightbulbs.

Tupperware

Tupperware was invented by Earl Tupper.

Tuxedo

The tuxedo was invented by Pierre Lorillard of New York City.

TV Dinners

Gerry Thomas is the man who invented both the product and the name of the Swanson TV Dinner

Typewriters

The first practical typewriter was invented by Christopher Latham Sholes. The history of the typewriter's keys (QWERTY), early typewriters and typing history.

Inventions Beginning With "W"

WALKMAN

The history of the Sony Walkman.

WALLPAPER

Wallpaper as a wall covering was first used by the working classes in Britain and in Europe as a substitute for costly materials.

WASHING MACHINES

The earliest washing "machine" the scrub board was invented in 1797.

WATCHES

The invention of the quartz watch, mechanical clocks, timekeeping devices and time measurement.

WATER FRAMES

It was the first powered textile machine and enabled the move away from small home manufacturing towards factory production.

WATER HEATERS

Edwin Ruud invented the automatic storage water heater in 1889.

WATER WHEEL

The water wheel is an ancient device that uses flowing or falling water to create power by means of a set of paddles mounted around a wheel.

WATERSKIING RELATED

Waterskiing was invented in 1922 by Ralph Samuelson, an eighteen-year-old from Minnesota.Samuelson proposed the idea that if you could ski on snow, then you could ski on water.

WD-40

Norm Larsen invented WD-40 in 1953.

WEATHER INSTRUMENTS

The history and patents behind different weather measuring instruments.

WELDING TOOLS AND WELDING RELATED

In 1885, Nikolai Benardos and Stanislav Olszewski were granted a patent for an electric arc welder with a carbon electrode called the Electrogefest. Benardos and Olszewski are considered the fathers of welding apparatus.

WHEEL

Everyone kept asking me who invented the wheel; here is the answer.

WHEELBARROW

Chuko Liang of China is considered to be the creator of the wheelbarrow.

WHEELCHAIRS

The first dedicated wheelchair was made for Phillip II of Spain.

WINDOWS

The history of Microsoft's graphical user interface for personal computers.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS

Mary Anderson invented windshield wipers.The history of cars.

WINDSURFING RELATED

Windsurfing or boardsailing is a sport that combines sailing and surfing and uses a one person craft called a sailboard.

WHITE-OUT

Bette Nesmith Graham invented White-out.

WORD PROCESSING RELATED

The origins of word processing programs from a rising WordStar.

WRENCHES

Solymon Merrick patented the first wrench in 1835. Also See - Jack Johnson - Patent Drawings For A Wrench.

WRITING INSTRUMENTS

The history of pens and other writing instruments.