CLATONIA JOAQUIN DORTICUS (CUBA)

Little is known about Dorticus’ personal life, aside from him moving to New Jersey, where he filed for many patents, the most famous of which was a huge contribution to the world of photography. Before Dectorius, photo development usually meant that the picture needed to be dipped in several chemical baths. Dorticus’ print washer, however, would keep prints from sticking to the side and saved water with automatic register and shutoff. The false bottom of the tank also prevented leftover chemicals from ruining the negatives. In addition to his print washer, he also patented a photograph embossing machine, giving the image either a relief or 3D look.

GUILLERMO GONZALEZ CAMARENA (MEXICO)

It’s very likely the device you’re reading this on has a color display, and for that, you can thank Guillermo Camarena. At the age of 17, he invented and patented his “chromoscopic adapter for television equipment.” When in use, it would adapt black-and-white TVs to color without the need to buy a new set. He would later send his first color transmission from his lab in Mexico City on August 31, 1946. The first publicly-announced color broadcast in Mexico was overseen by him, airing on February 8, 1963. The National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico, his alma mater, named their Intellectual Property Center in his honor.

ALEJANDRO ZAFFRONI (URUGUAY)

The concept of controlled drug delivery is easy to understand, but its execution is far more difficult.  Alejandro Zaffroni dedicated himself to finding a way to deliver a drug over a set amount of time without the need for an IV. In 1968, he founded ALZA to further his research, basing it on the science of endocrinology. Products like NicoDermCQ and Glucotrol were developed by his company, and he filed for the patent for the “bandage for administering drugs.” He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2012, one of the few Hispanic inductees.

LUIS VON AHN (GUATEMALA)

Think back to when you last signed up for a website or had to import personal information. You were probably asked to fill out a CAPTCHA, right? You have Dr. Von Ahn to thank for the “Methods and Apparatuses for Controlling Access to Computer Systems and for Annotating Media Files,” and its successor, the reCAPTCHA. In his free time (when he’s not stopping spam bots from flooding servers), he works as a consulting professor for Carnegie Mellon University. He’s also the founder and CEO of Duolingo. (We checked- Duolingo does, in fact, use the reCAPTCHA he designed.)

ELLEN OCHOA (UNITED STATES)

Much of Ochoa’s early research was spent studying optical systems. She filed for a few patents on the topic, including “Position, Rotation, and Intensity Invariant Recognizing Method.” Eventually, she was named Chief of the Intelligent Systems Technology Branch at the NASA Ames Research Center. However, her biggest claim to fame is as the first Hispanic woman to go to space. Her nine-day mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1993 was just the first of her four flights and multiple stints as Mission Control. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the National Science Board.

The post Industry Profiles: Hispanic Inventors appeared first on Inventionland.

Inventionland (IL): What inspired you to get into woodworking?

Jonathan Moran (JM): My father. He was a woodworker and had a business. From a young age, I helped him rebuild furniture. That’s when my interest started.

IL: How do you study woodworking? IE, were you privately trained or self-taught, etc.

JM: I’m completely self-taught: trial and error.

IL: What are some of the challenges you commonly face as a woodworker?

JM: Probably the biggest challenge- and it’s why I love woodworking- is when customers want something custom and I need to think of a way to meet their needs and requirements. I like being challenged and I’ve always been the type to get bored easily. Woodworking is a profession that constantly lets me think outside of the box, create something functional but aesthetically pleasing. Especially if they’re paying me lots of money (laughs).

IL: Why do you think there’s such a large revival for crafts like wood and metalworking?

JM: I think it’s because people (especially the younger generation) are starting to appreciate unique pieces that only custom work can provide. They’re also looking for things they can make themselves, which is leading to the revival of crafts like woodworking and pottery. It’s particularly big in Pittsburgh.

IL: What is the most ambitious project you’ve worked on?

JM: Probably our retail store, where we had to outfit the entire store with work I’ve made. I make a lot of custom pieces but making a large number of similar projects for our retail store was probably the most ambitious undertaking.

IL: Any advice for amateur woodworkers reading this?

JM: I would say “Do not give up or do not get angry when you make a mistake.” Mistakes are learning lessons and you’ll learn not to make them again. Over my 30-40 year career, I’ve made more mistakes than I can count. Try to be creative, but don’t give up. Things will usually work out.

IL: You tend to work with reclaimed wood. Does this pose any unique challenges? (Note: reclaimed wood refers to wood previously used in another project as a form of recycling.)

JM: I like reclaimed wood because of the age of it. There’s a history to it, coming from old buildings and barns and the like. The challenge is they’re never dimensionally the same, so getting it to fit together can be difficult. Even acquiring it can be difficult, since you need to find it or get it in some other fashion.

Retrieving usually involves ripping down some sort of old structure, such as a barn or old house or building. Then the cleaning and de-nailing is also lots more work. Most of the wood I use is over 100 years old. It’s challenging, but that’s the appeal.

IL: Just for fun- what kind of wood, besides reclaimed, is your favorite to work with?

JM: Walnut! It’s a very easy wood to work with and has a beautiful grain.

The maker movement shows no signs of slowing down, and neither does Moran. With a pile of reclaimed wood and a bit of time and patience, he’s able to create a masterpiece of a centerpiece table. With the same materials, practice, and patience, you could, too.

Johnathan Moran Woodworks can be found on Facebook, Instagram, or their website at https://www.jthn-moran.com. Their retail store is located on 19th Street in Pittsburgh, PA.

The post Woodworking: An Interview with Johnathan Moran appeared first on Inventionland.

Much like lumberjacking, the United States was already a powerhouse of steel and iron production in colonial times. Furnaces popped up all around the country, and by 1776, the 80 iron furnaces throughout the colonies were as productive as all of those in Britain, mainly because of the shortage of wood in England (wood is needed to make charcoal, which was vital to manufacturing). Areas that mined coal, on the other hand, built steel mills nearby. Both industries remained stable and important into the early 1980s, even surviving both World Wars. However, a sharp decline in 1982 cut output in half and shuttered many businesses. Eventually, several “mini-mills” opened, but these were later bought out and conglomerated. Today, the steel industry is bouncing back slightly due to newly imposed tariffs on imported metals.

As for women, the most famous example of a female steelworker is, of course, the fictional Rosie the Riveter. Many women took over their husbands’ jobs during WWII, with some remaining even after their spouses returned. (Oh and honorable mention shoutout to Alex Owens, the main character in the 1983 movie Flashdance, who is a female steelworker from Pittsburgh.) Today, groups like the Association of Women in the Metal Industries are working to promote the advancement of women in this field. According to an article published by the NWI Times, 20% of salaried/managerial positions in the steel industry are female, as are 10% of hourly workers. Most notably, some statistics suggest they’re paid more than their male counterparts–a rarity in many industries. Structural iron and steel workers of both genders have an average salary of $51,301. Women, however, earn an average of $68,827 per year, according to DataUSA. It should be noted that these steelworkers overlap with the construction industry, which is more inclusive than some of its contemporaries. Nonetheless, in 2017 only 12.8% of the steel and iron manufacturing industries was female, which far from an even split.

We sat down with Sonya Malvick of Olympic Steel, who currently serves as the International President of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries (AWMI), to learn more about her career in the steel industry.

Inventionland (IL): You’ve been working in the steel industry since 1990. What led you to this industry and how do you keep work interesting?

Sonya Malvick (SM): I started out in the steel industry early on when I began helping at the Steel Fabricator that my father worked for. I began in High School and later in college doing clerical jobs during summer breaks. While I never had any intention of working in the metals industry (same as my dad), I found myself at another steel company during one of my last summers of school when I didn’t want to return home from college. That began my story. I just continued to grow from there and ended up never leaving the industry.

The great thing about this industry is that it is always changing. I often wonder why people get in our industry and never leave and I believe it’s because every day is different. I am challenged on a daily basis which certainly keeps things interesting. One also learns how to build relationships both with internal and external customers and we have some great people in the metals and manufacturing world.

IL: What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in the steel industry, which is known as a male-dominated industry?

SM: The biggest challenge I have faced is trying to be taken seriously as a female in a male-dominated industry. This came earlier in my career but is still somewhat present today. Years ago women were not out making sales calls to men in the industry. Quite frankly, men didn’t’ know how to handle that entire piece. What would a woman be able to offer them and their business?  How would all of that work when it came to entertaining, etc.. so women had to fight hard to get a chance to prove themselves. I was passed by three times at my company when men hired after me were promoted and sent out on the road. I finally got my chance and it was a tough road. I had to not only prove to the company that they made the right decision but also prove to my customers that I knew the business and could provide value to them.  As women, we had to fight even harder for the sale as we constantly had to prove we were worth giving the business to. Today women are more and more prevalent on the sales side, and with our innate ability to multi-task, we have become a force to be reckoned with.

IL: Tell me about the Association of Women in the Metal Industries. Why is this organization important?

SM: AWMI was started back in 1981 to promote and develop the growth of women in the metal industry through relationships, education and shared knowledge.  It started at a time when women were definitely the minority in the industry and an organization like this would be there as support for all women facing the same challenges. Fast forward today and we have over eleven hundred individual members nationwide, thirty-two corporate company members and even some men serving on our boards. Our four cornerstones of Network, Grow, Educate and Mentor define what we stand for today and our meetings, conferences, and workshops center around these cornerstones. While today we are met with different challenges than back in the 1980s, women and men still need to support one another and continue to grow personally and professionally in our industry. We need to mentor those coming up behind us to ensure longevity in the industry as well as offer programs that allow for leadership training and development as we look to serve on boards running the organization.  AWMI serves for personal and professional development and will be a strong organization for years to come.

IL: You currently serve as the International President of AMWI. What does this entail?

SM:  The International President is responsible for leading the organization. I am responsible for overseeing the International Board of Directors, Regional Directors, and Chapter Boards throughout the country that serves our members.  The International President is instrumental in helping to facilitate the goals of the organization and provide a vision for the future to ensure the continued growth of the organization while providing members what they need. She is also responsible for providing training so our leaders are equipped to run our organization’s business and carry it forward to future member leaders.

IL: Tell us about a typical day for you.

SM: A typical day for me …no day is typical in the world of sales and territory management. My role is to grow the business in my territory for the company while utilizing multiple Olympic locations to support my customer base. I am the liaison between customer and company and work to support both while ensuring a profitable outcome.  I travel to visit customers, meet with my internal team, schedule plant tours and mill tours, attend meetings relative to my industry, and work alongside my customer to offer cost savings initiatives as well as ensuring we are supporting them in all areas. Relationships are key both internal and external when you are looking to accomplish growth in your territory and a key focus for me during a typical day.

IL: What are you most proud of in your career?

SM: I am the proudest of my continued growth in the industry both personally and professionally all while maintaining integrity. I started my career pushing hard to get to the next step and when faced with the challenges of that time, did not give up. I eventually became the first woman outside sales person for my company and later the first woman to sit on the management team for the organization.  I have been instrumental in mentoring women along the way so that they too have been able to achieve their goals and enter into roles otherwise earmarked for men. I continue to embrace change, challenge myself and others around me and facilitate teamwork. I have been active with AWMI for 25 years and grown within the organization as well. I began serving on a chapter board, moving into the International board and this year was awarded the opportunity of being voted as the International President–something I would not have thought possible years ago.

IL: What advice do you have for girls who are interested in pursuing a career in a field that is typically male-dominated?

SM: Don’t let any potential barrier stop you for achieving your goals. Stay true to yourself and push hard to succeed all while doing it with integrity. Women are capable of accomplishing anything and we are strong supporters of each other’s efforts. Make sure to join an organization like AWMI and find a mentor to help you along the way. Be open to continued learning and know that you are not the expert on everything but rather learn from mistakes and don’t’ be afraid to take risks.

The post Woman of Steel: Sonya Malvick appeared first on Inventionland.

Lumberjacking in the United States: Then and Now

America’s history with lumberjacking begins before the country was even colonized. In precolonial times, England would regularly visit North America to harvest hardwood and conifer after their own forests had been exhausted. This trend continued once the colonies were settled, although with much of the lumber being used to build homes in the New World. Sawmills were established across New England, particularly in Maine. In fact, Bangor, Maine was the world’s largest lumber shipping port by 1830. By the 20^th century, however, logging had moved to the West Coast due to dwindling resources in the east. Like many industries, it suffered during the World Wars and Great Depression and was greatly impacted by the founding of the Division of Forestry in 1885.

As for the modern day, the American logging industry is fairly stable and the United States consistently remains the second-largest exporter of wood in the world. For women, though, it’s a difficult industry to get into. While 59% of logging companies employed both sexes in 2009, less than 1% of the industry was female. The hourly rate for lumberjacking is anywhere between $9.95 and $25.24. As for the dangerous part, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2015 that 132.7 deaths occurred per 100,000 workers. For comparison’s sake, the second highest figure were fishermen- 54.8 per 100,000 workers. With an American average of 3.4 deaths per 100,000 in any industry, it means logging is 39 times more dangerous than the average occupation in the States.

Meet Lumberjill Alissa Wetherbee

Recently, Inventionland spoke with Alissa Wetherbee of AxeWomen Loggers of Maine to discuss the dangers of logging, how timbersport entertainment differs from lumberjacking, and what it’s like being a Lumberjill.

INVENTIONLAND (IL): What is it like to be a woman in the lumber industry, specifically as an entertainer?

Alissa Wetherbee (AW): I’m not sure what little work I do in the woods really classifies as “in the lumber industry.” When not performing AxeWomen shows, I do work in the woods… But mostly property management, storm clean up, trail maintenance and habitat restoration. It works well for my schedule, and I get to work alongside my husband and my dad. [But] being a woman in the timbersports entertainment side of things is awesome!! I think it appeals to everyone! A mom sees us and looks at us as role models for her children. Kids see it as something they’ve maybe never seen before. And men see strong women running chainsaws and swinging axes.

IL: What inspired you to start lumberjacking? How about timbersports?

AW: What inspired me was seeing all the other women at my first timbersports competition. It inspired me to train harder, learn more events and teach the sport along the way! That’s why I started performing. I love the sport. I love showing that women are amazing in this sport! And we all love sharing the enjoyment of timbersports with others!

IL: Your team is one of the few all-female lumberjacking teams in the world. Does this add any additional pressure?

AW: There is some pressure that goes along with being one of the few female timbersports entertainers. I always want the show to be professional, entertaining and exciting to the crowds. We always give 100% each and every show. We are all competitive…. so that’s easy! You never want to lose a competition! But you definitely always want to be professional.

IL: What’s the main difference between working in the lumber industry professional vs as an entertainer?

AW: Lumber industry vs our entertainment business… I think they are two very different worlds. They both come from the same place in history. I love that we compete in, and get to show a heritage sport. I love that at almost every show we do, at least one person comes up to tell us that their father, grandfather or great-grandfather was a lumberjack!

IL: Which is the better name/term: Lumberjills or Lumberjanes?

AW: The proper term is definitely Lumberjill! There’s an amazing history of the women going to work in the woods when the men went to war.

The post Industry Profile: Lumberjills and Timbersports appeared first on Inventionland.

The first major milestone in manufacturing history was in 1785 when modern bulk material handling was first used. Oliver Evans built an automatic flour mill with conveyors, elevators, and similar devices. Other major accomplishments included the Industrial Revolution of the 1820s and the popularization of the American System of Manufacturing in the 1850s. Computers, now a vital part of most industries, were first introduced in 1953 and have been tied to manufacturing ever since. PCs, cell phones, and 3D printing are also modern advancements reshaping our understanding of the manufacturing industry.

According to the United States Census, women made up one-third of the manufacturing industry in 2017. Interestingly, women manufacturers actually make more than their peers in other industries by just under $5000. They still made significantly less than their male coworkers, however, by a staggering 28%. And much like the inconsistent history of both manufacturing and construction, most women in the manufacturing industry are in sales and office positions.

There are untapped benefits in having female workers, though. “Research shows that gender diversity benefits a manufacturing organization through improved ability to innovate, higher return on equity, and increased profitability,” reports Deloitte. “When employees believe that their organization is committed to inclusion, they report better business performance in terms of their ability to innovate. Organizations can also unleash the full potential of their female workforces by creating a culture where unique strengths thrive.” These strengths vary of course, but leadership, creative thinking, and different perspectives are among the perks.

Recently, we spoke with Lori Albright, President and CEO of Stellar Precision. She told us of her experiences as a female leader in the manufacturing industry and what the future holds for her, for manufacturing, and for other women.

INVENTIONLAND (IL): What is it like to be a woman in the manufacturing industry?

LORI ALBRIGHT (LA): I’ve been in Manufacturing for 40 years now, so it’s normal for me.  However, it is quite common for me to participate in customer events or trade organizations and be one of the very few women participating, if not the only one.  A story I frequently recall is when I’ve attended a high-level management meeting of customers and vendors and am frequently mistaken for the administrative assistant or wife of one of my male management team members.

IL: What inspired you to join the manufacturing industry?

LA: My father started this company when I was a teen. Early on I was drafted into it rather than be inspired to join, but as time went by it is something I’ve become passionate about, especially in the marketplace we support.  Aerospace, Space, and Defense are exciting opportunities.  My employees have often spoken about what we do here as a reflection of their contribution to our country.  Many of us have not had the opportunity to serve otherwise and consider it a personal mission to be able to support in this way.  We hear stories from military personnel who have used products that we’ve helped to produce, we get to watch various rocket launches that we have made parts for, all while providing life-sustaining careers for our staff.  How can you not be inspired by that?

IL: How did you rise to become CEO of Stellar Precision?

LA: Stellar is a family business, started by my father in 1979.  He retired in 2003 and I assumed the role at that time.  While I was certain at that time that I was well prepared, there is nothing quite like having to do the job to truly learn the job.  I am always looking for learning opportunities and have had the great privilege to attend the Owner / President Management Program at Harvard Business School, I am active in many trade societies and peer learning groups.  CEO doesn’t mean that you’ve made it – it means that you have a great responsibility to this company, and all its stakeholders, to do the very best job that you can.

IL: Do you see the industry becoming more accepting of women in the future?

LA: I see a significant increase, particularly at my customer levels, of women in leadership roles.  Two of our largest customers have women CEOs (Lockheed Martin and Aerojet/Rocketdyne).  I realize that having women in leadership positions doesn’t always equate to “acceptance,” but there is progress.

IL: If and when do you see the pay gap between men and women decreasing?

LA: At Stellar, we pay fairly based on the job and do not discriminate based on gender.  The pay gap is a more complex issue than equal pay for equal work.  What I know is that there are very few women applying for Machinist jobs which tend to be higher paying careers.  The challenge I see as a manufacturing business owner is that female applicants are few and don’t appear to be going into the trade.  One of the initiatives I work closely with is Women in Manufacturing Day at the Advanced Technology Center at Westmoreland County Community College.  This is our 5^th year of inviting high school aged young ladies to the trade school to meet women who own manufacturing companies and learn, hands-on in many cases, about a variety of opportunities in manufacturing.

IL: What difficulties do women face in entering the manufacturing industry? Any advice for girls interested in manufacturing?

LA: Regarding difficulties entering manufacturing industries, I understand that historically women were not always welcomed by male counterparts.  However, I wonder if the stigma of entering a manufacturing trade is now driven by others who consider it “blue collar,” or unacceptable to families, rather than entering a 4-year degree program.  At Stellar, we pay apprentices on the job, pay for their tuition and books for a 4-year Journeyman program, and they can earn an Associates’ Degree with a few additional core classes.  At that point, they are ready for the trade, hold a degree and have zero debt.  I’d absolutely advise young women to take advantage of an arrangement like this rather than having to pay student loans indefinitely while still being unable to find an entry level job in their chosen field of study.

IL: What is the future of aerospace?

LA: My knowledge of the future of aerospace is driven by my experience with my customers.  They are all forecasting previously unseen increases in the number of new programs and the volume of work in existing ones.  The future looks bright, technology is rapidly advancing, the jobs pay well.

The post Industry Profile: Women in Manufacturing appeared first on Inventionland.

MR. CORY’S COOKIES

At age six, Cory Nieves decided he was sick of riding the bus and wanted to buy his mom a car. His plan? Sell hot chocolate to his neighbors in Englewood, New Jersey. This evolved into adding lemonade and cookies to the menu–cookies that he and his mother Lisa spent hours perfecting. Now his cookies are sold nationwide online and he’s collaborated with the likes of Pottery Barn and Whole Foods. Oh and that car he was saving for? It was gifted to him on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

NAY GAMES

Have you heard of “Bubble Ball?” It launched on the Apple app store in 2010 and surpassed 2 million downloads in its first two weeks. The company behind the game, Nay Games, was created by then 14-year-old Robert Nay. He told CNN he learned all his skills through research at the library and produced the 4000 lines of code needed in just a month. Bubble Ball even dethroned “Angry Birds” as the most downloaded free game at one point.

LEANNA’S ESSENTIALS

Leanna Archer’s great-grandmother had a secret recipe for all-natural hair pomade. When Leanna was eight, she decided to start sharing that pomade with the world. Although she first distributed it for free, she now has a full line of beauty and skin-care products, including skin lotion, facial masks, and shampoos. She’s now CEO of Leanna’s Essentials and in 2008 founded the Leanna Archer Education Foundation (dedicated to building schools for children in Haiti).

MO’S BOWS

Who loves bow ties? Moziah “Mo” Bridges. He was disappointed with the few selections available to him, so he learned how to sew his own with the help of his grandmother at age 9. Mo sold his ties on Etsy before they were picked up local boutiques. Now 16, he’s the CEO of Mo’s Bows and was invited to the inaugural White House Demo Day to meet President Obama (whom he gifted with a custom tie). In 2017, he signed a licensing deal with the NBA, allowing him to make bow ties with NBA team logos.

BOTANGLE

Never let it be said that the bitcoin craze didn’t help anybody. Erik Finman cashed out his small bitcoin investment to fund Botangle, an online video tutoring service. He started the project at 15 after dropping out of school due because he was being bullied. His latest project? Building a satellite that will serve as a time capsule. “The easiest way to make money is to create something that solves a problem, or improves a situation. Don’t chase fads, chase opportunity,” he tweeted last year. He’s quite the motivational speaker. Just check out his TEDxTeen Talk:

GLADIATOR LACROSSE

When Rachel Zietz was 13, she needed new lacrosse equipment because her old stuff just wasn’t durable enough. When she couldn’t find any, she decided to create her own. With the help of her entrepreneur family and some of the Sharks from ABC’s Shark Tank, she was able to launch her business. Gladiator Lacrosse offers better-quality products including thicker netting and metals for longer-lasting gear at prices families can afford.  The company is an official goal sponsor for the 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championships.

ME & THE BEES LEMONADE

The youngest business kid on this list, Makaila Ulmer was just four-and-a-half when she the entrepreneur bug stung her. Literally. She got stung by a bee and became fascinated by them. She learned how they help our environment and, as a result, “Me & The Bees Lemonade” was born.  The honey-sweetened beverages were also inspired by her grandmother’s vintage recipe for flaxseed lemonade. “Me & The Bees Lemonade” is now a staple of southeastern Whole Foods. She donates a percentage of the profits to organizations focused on saving honeybees.

ORIGAMI OWL

Bella Weems always had a passion for jewelry-making, so it was only logical when she started selling them at age fourteen. Her signature item, the Living Locket, allows customers to build their own jewelry by mixing chains, charms, and lockets–the Build-a-Bear of necklaces, if you will. She’s now a millionaire and the founder of the Owlettes Initiative, where Bella personally mentors 12-17-year-olds through business. “You can’t do anything in life alone, so surround yourself with people who believe in you,” she said in an interview with Luca Magazine. “Never let anyone tell you that you are too young to follow your dreams.”

The next time your kid approaches you with a sales pitch, listen and encourage them. You never know…it could be the next big thing.

The post Running a Business…Kid-Style appeared first on Inventionland.

Frank Epperson: Popsicle

Eleven-year-old Frank Epperson invented what we’ve come to know as a popsicle. It was a winter’s eve in 1905 when Frank decided to mix a frozen concoction containing soda water powder and water. He accidentally left the drink outside overnight, with the stirring stick in the glass. The mixture froze solid and the first popsicle was born.

Though this was where it began, the treat didn’t gain notoriety until 1922 when Epperson gave it out at a fireman’s ball. He originally patented the idea under, “Eppsicle,” but changed it after his children started calling it a “popsicle.” So, funnily enough, kids came up with both the idea and the name.

George Nissen: Trampoline

George invented the trampoline in 1930 at the age of 16. He came up with the idea after seeing trapeze artists drop into a net at the end of their performance. He thought the act would be more exciting if they kept bouncing around so he began working in his parent’s garage. The original invention had a metal frame and a canvas stretched over it, but as he got older he perfected the design with a nylon canvas, giving it more bounce.

Louis Braille: Braille

Louis caught a severe eye infection when he was three years old which rendered him blind. For years he struggled to trace his finger over raised letters and had a lot of difficulty with it. When he was twelve, he learned of a method of silent communication used by the French military. He simplified that process, and suddenly he was able to read a whole lot easier. He first presented his work in 1924. Today, Braille is used by the blind community worldwide.

Albert Sadacca: Christmas Lights

Prior to electric Christmas lights, people would simply use candles to decorate their Christmas trees. Believe it or not, people initially had more difficulty trusting the safety of electric lights than open flames. Nevertheless, public trust started to sway toward the electric lights, but they were ridiculously high priced. That is until Albert came along and invented a version of electric lights that were much more affordable. He used his parents’ novelty lighting company to produce them in 1925 and now, because of him, they’ve become a staple of Christmas tradition.

Chester Greenwood: Earmuffs

It was 1873 and Chester Greenwood was just 15 years old when his ears got painfully cold one day while ice skating. He found that wrapping a scarf around his head didn’t help much, so he decided to find a better solution. Greenwood designed a wire frame and had his grandmother to sew beaver skins to it–thereby making the first pair of earmuffs. He ended up patenting the invention by age 19 and even selling them to soldiers during the first World War.

Joseph-Armand Bombardier: Snowmobile

Joseph was was always interested in mechanics and in 1922, at the young age of 15, he invented the snowmobile. According to Mental Floss, “He mounted the engine of a Ford Model T to four runners, with a handmade propeller perched on the back.” The original model of the invention traveled half a mile across the snow before finally stopping. He continued to tinker with the invention and by 1959 he had created the Ski-Doo AKA the world’s first ultralight snowmobile model.

Ben Franklin: Swim Flippers

We typically know Ben Franklin for his later-in-life accomplishments, but did you know he was actually a child inventor? In the early 1700s, at age 11, he realized he could cut through the water more easily while swimming if he had more surface area through which to push. His original design was handheld fins made out of oval-shaped planks with holes in the middle for his hands and feet.

Abbey Fleck: Makin’ Bacon

Abbey was 8 years old when she noticed her parents struggle with soaking up bacon fat after cooking. She realized that it might be easier to hang bacon while it cooks- that way you wouldn’t need paper towels and it would even make the bacon healthier. She then worked with her father to design a microwave-safe dish that hangs bacon while it cooks. They patented her idea in 1993 and landed a distribution deal with Walmart the following year.

KK Gregory: Wristies

At age 10, KK Gregory was playing outside one day in the cold. Her wrists began to hurt from the cold so she decided to find a way to keep both her hands and wrists warm during the winter. In 1994, she invented Wristies: fuzzy sleeves that can be worn underneath gloves to protect your wrists from the cold. She worked with her Mom to get the idea off the ground and now the product is sold worldwide.

Kelly Reinhart: T-Pak

When Kelly Reinhart was just a child, her parents challenged her and her siblings to a fun game. They were to draw up a picture of an invention and the prize for the winner was to have a prototype made. Thinking of cowboy gun holsters, Kelly drew a thigh pack that would allow kids to carry around their video games. Kelly and her family went through a few rounds of design improvements and officially got the idea patented in 1998. Interest in the idea grew quickly until Kelly sold her company at age nine. She eventually went on to start a non-profit organization to teach kids how to be inventors.

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1) Marie Curie: Theory of Radioactivity

One of the greatest scientific minds of all time, Marie Curie was the first person to study the Theory of Radioactivity and discovered that we could split an atom. After the tragic death of her husband, Pierre Curie, she became the first woman to hold the position of Professor of General Physics in the Faculty of Sciences. Marie received a Nobel Prize for her work with radioactivity and she received it a second time for discovering polonium and radium.

2) Grace Hopper: The Computer

Prior to Grace Hopper’s work on computers, all programs were written in numerical code. She not only designed Harvard’s Mark I computer in 1944, but she also invented the compiler. This device translated written language into computer coding. Later, she co-invented COBOL- the first universal programming language used in business and government. As if all of this wasn’t enough, she also coined the terms ‘bug/debugging’ and she was a Rear Admiral in the Navy.

3) Rosalind Franklin: DNA Double Helix

The discovery of the DNA double helix is often attributed to James Watson and Francis Click, who won the Nobel Prize for the discovery in 1962. However, they weren’t actually the ones who made the discovery. The first person to capture the photographic image using x-ray diffraction was British biophysicist Rosalind Franklin. Though her two competitors stole credit for the discovery long ago, Rosalind has more recently begun to receive credit for her contributions.

4) Stephanie Kwolek: Kevlar

That’s right, the fiber credited with saving countless lives was discovered by female inventor Stephanie Kwolek. She made the discovery as she attempted to invent an alternative for steel in radial car tires. She was attempting to turn a solid polymer into a liquid and although this failed, when she looked closer she realized the fibers in the substance were five times stronger than steel. Since its discovery, it has been used for anything from bicycle tires to (most famously) police protective vests.

5) Josephine Cochrane: The Dishwasher

This is the woman you can thank for keeping us from having to wash every dish by hand. She originally came up with the idea of a mechanical dishwasher that would hold dishes in a rack while pressurized water sprayed them clean. After her husband passed, she began marketing her inventions to hotels until, eventually, it became the standard household appliance we now know today.

6) Maria Beasley: The Life Raft

Though Maria invented several successful devices, her most famous is the life raft. Prior to her contributions, emergency rafts were simple planks with no guard rails. Maria invented a more sophisticated device that was fireproof, easily folded and unfolded for storage and had guard rails on the sides to keep people safe inside.

7) Dr. Shirley Jackson: Modern Day Telecommunication

A more modern-day female inventor, Shirley made history as the first black woman to graduate with a PhD. from MIT in 1973. She then began to work at Bell Laboratories, where she completed research that led to such creations as solar cells, fiber optic cables, portable fax machines, touch-tone telephones, caller ID and call waiting.

8) Katharine Burr Blodgett: Non-reflective Glass

During World War II, Katharine was a crucial mind in the research behind several inventions, including gas masks, smoke screens and a technique for de-icing airplane wings. However, her work in chemistry on a molecular level resulted in her most important invention: non-reflective glass. This type of glass is what we now use in glasses, car shields, and computer screens.

9) Hedy Lamarr: “Frequency Hopping” Technology

You may know Hedy Lamarr as a glamorous black and white film star, but did you know she also worked to improve torpedo technology in WWII? A gifted mathematician and engineer, she worked with a composer to develop the idea of ‘frequency hopping’ which would encrypt torpedo control signals. This technology was able to prevent enemies from sending torpedos off course. Even more impressively, the type of technology she developed ended up being the foundation for many modern-day inventions, including Wi-Fi and GPS.

10) Mary Anderson: Windshield Wiper

Much like many great inventors, Mary wanted to solve a problem. She saw how unsafe it was to drive in bad weather when she visited New York City in 1902 and rode a trolley car in falling sleet. She quickly came up with a working model that used a lever inside the car to control a rubber blade on the windshield. Though she had trouble selling her invention at first, eventually Cadillac included her invention on its vehicles in 1922.

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Sapphire Energy, a well-funded startup, is turning a 300-acre expanse of barren desert into the world’s largest algae farm…but why algae?

Algae are considered the key to unlocking a sustainable future for the fossil fuel industry. Thanks to its genetic composition, algae can be used as a base for a new sustainable form of oil, otherwise known as “green crude.”

“We take algae, CO2, water and sunlight, and then we refine it,” said Cynthia Warner, the Chief Executive Officer of Sapphire. Algae, she says, has the potential to change the world by making renewable fuel sources accessible by every country. If a country can grow algae, then they can produce their own oil.

Surprisingly, this method of ‘growing oil’ has been worked on by scientists over the past three decades. Like all relatively new innovations, there are still some kinks to work out. Scientist still cannot agree on which method works best for harnessing the true energy potential of algae; therefore, the true benefits of green crude remain unproven.

Some scientists grow their algae in ponds, while others grow theirs in clear plastic containers, and some even grow their algae in the dark, feeding it sugar instead of sunlight. To improve the overall productivity of algae, some researchers have used conventional breeding and others turn to genetic engineering. With so many variables to take into consideration, experts are still working on creating their best methods of producing green crude.

It’s only a matter of time until the right concoction of algae, CO2 and sunlight is discovered. This fairly new industry is still being explored by many energy companies, all eager to develop a truly sustainable solution.

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With the average American throwing away nearly 185 pounds of plastic each year, this growing issue went unanswered until New York designer, Jim Warner, created The 360 Bottle. Manufactured from sustainable sheet stock (palm leaves and bamboo) The 360 Bottle is essentially paper, manufactured using 100% renewable materials.

When designing this sustainable alternative, Warner spared no attention detail; the bottle even features a peel-off tab that with a few folds can be transformed into a reusable “cap.” Not only does this bottle provide a paralleling alternative for plastic, but it’s also manufactured with carbon emissions in mind.

The design of the bottle alone allows for self-bundling – meaning, the need for a six-pack ring is eliminated. Because of this, The 360 Bottle requires significantly fewer materials to ship than the average water bottle. Warner even considered the type of “glue” he would use to bond the two half’s of the bottle together – a special 95% reduction, micro-thin PLA (polylactic acid).

Manufacturing processes, like the depicted above, play a critical role in the overall viability of a green alternative such as The 360 Bottle.  As we progress in the right direction toward a sustainable future, we will continue to see more innovators, like Warner, rise to the challenge of eliminating plastic from our landfills.

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