March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate and honor the contributions of women throughout history. From groundbreaking inventions like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and so much more, women have played a pivotal role in shaping the world we live in today. In honor of Women’s History Month, let’s take a look at inventions that we wouldn’t be able to live without, all created by women.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Hedy Lamarr was not only a Hollywood actress but also an inventor. She worked with composer George Antheil to develop a frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology during World War II. This invention laid the foundation for modern Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies paving the way for communication for the digital age.
- Invisible Glass: Kathrine Blodgett was a physicist and chemist who made significant contributions to the field of surface chemistry. She invented a method for creating “invisible” or non-reflective glass by layering thin films of materials such as magnesium fluoride onto glass surfaces. Blodgett’s invention has had an impact on various industries, from optics and photography to automotive and architectural design.
- Kevlar: Stephanie Kwolek was a chemist who discovered the synthetic fiber known as Kevlar while working at DuPont in the 1960s. Kevlar is incredibly strong and lightweight, making it ideal for use in helmets, smartphones and sporting gear. Kwolek’s invention has saved countless lives and has been used beyond personal protection, including aerospace, industrial materials and sports equipment.
- Computer Programming: Grace Hopper, a computer scientist U.S. Navy rear admiral is often credited with developing the first compiler for a programming language. Compilers translate high-level programming languages into machine code that computers can understand making programming more efficient and more accessible. Hopper’s work set the base for modern computer programming and software development.
The four inventions represent a small fraction of the countless contributions women have made to science, technology and innovation. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we have to recognize and honor the inventions and achievements of women throughout history who have changed the world for the better. From Hedy Lamarr’s pioneering work in communication technology to Grace Hopper’s contributions to computer programming, women have played an important role in driving the future forward.
