Ingenious people from around the world.
Archimedes, the ancient Greek mathematician and inventor, was tasked with determining whether a crown was made of pure gold. He had a brilliant idea while taking a bath: he realized that the volume of water displaced by the crown would be equal to its own volume. By comparing the crown’s volume to that of an equal weight of gold, he could determine its purity. Legend has it that he shouted “Eureka!” and ran naked through the streets of Syracuse to share his discovery.
Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance polymath, was not only a painter but also an inventor. He designed numerous machines, including a flying machine, a scuba suit, and a mechanical knight. Although many of his inventions were never built during his lifetime.
Hedy Lamarr, the Hollywood actress, was also a brilliant inventor. During World War II, she co-developed a frequency-hopping system for radio-controlled torpedoes. This technology laid the groundwork for modern spread-spectrum communication, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Imagine the glamorous actress secretly working on cutting-edge technology
Nikola Tesla, the Serbian-American inventor, was known for his eccentric behavior. He claimed to receive inspiration from pigeons and had a strong aversion to germs. Tesla also believed he could communicate with extraterrestrial beings and once claimed to have received signals from Mars.
In 1903, Mary Anderson patented the first practical windshield wiper. She observed that streetcar drivers struggled to see during rainy weather, so she designed a manually operated device to keep windshields clear. Her invention paved the way for safer driving conditions and is still in use today.
Alan Turing, the British mathematician and computer scientist, played a crucial role in breaking the German Enigma code during World War II. His work at Bletchley Park helped shorten the war and laid the foundation for modern computing.
Grace Hopper, a pioneering computer scientist, discovered the first “bug” in a computer system. While working on the Mark II computer, she found a moth trapped in a relay, causing a malfunction. She taped the insect to her logbook and wrote, “First actual case of a bug being found.” Hopper’s contributions to programming languages and software development are legendary.
Thomas Edison, the American inventor, held over 1,000 patents. His most famous invention is the practical electric light bulb, but he also developed the phonograph, motion picture camera, and alkaline storage battery. Edison’s relentless pursuit of innovation and his famous quote, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work,” inspire inventors to this day.
Ada Lovelace, an English mathematician, is often considered the world’s first computer programmer. In the mid-19th century, she collaborated with Charles Babbage on his Analytical Engine. Lovelace wrote detailed notes, including an algorithm for the machine
Learn about the vital role that Indigenous Peoples and local communities play in restoring degraded land with this infographic from Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) 👇
Technical Specialist, Marine | Fauna & Flora
1moAlwas inspinring Erwan... congratulations on your excellent work.