Page 291 - Inventions - A Visual Encyclopedia (DK - Smithsonian)

FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN HANNAH, MARC (1956–) KNIGHT, MARGARET
(1706–1790) Special effects in films such as (1838–1914)
Franklin is a key historical figure Jurassic Park and Beauty and the Knight invented a machine to make
and one of the Founding Fathers Beast are partly thanks to African flat-bottomed paper bags. The patent
of the US. He also had an avid American electrical engineer and was awarded to Knight in 1871,
interest in science and invention. computer graphics designer Marc making her the first woman in the
Franklin began investigating Hannah. He cofounded the company US to be granted a patent, after a
electricity and, in 1756, by means Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) in 1982 lengthy legal dispute with a man
of a kite and a key, demonstrated and helped pioneer the 3-D graphics who tried to steal her idea. A prolific
that lightning is electricity—a technology used in many Hollywood inventor, she also created a machine
discovery that led to his invention blockbusters. More recently, Hannah for cutting shoe soles, a safety device
of the lightning rod. Later inventions has worked on multimedia plug-ins for cotton looms, a window frame,
included bifocal glasses, a cast-iron for listening to music on MP3 players and various devices for engines.
stove, and a glass musical instrument and handheld video-game players. REFERENCE
called an armonica.
KWOLEK, STEPHANIE
HUYGENS, CHRISTIAAN (1923–2014)
GOODE, SARAH E. (1629–1695) This US chemist and polymer scientist
(1855–1905) The 17th-century Dutchman is nearly had a career in fashion, but
This American inventor and regarded as one of the most opted for chemistry. Hired by the
entrepreneur is believed to be important scientists and chemical company DuPont, in 1965
one of the first African American astronomers of all time. In the she discovered a new synthetic fiber
women to be granted a US patent. 1650s, he made improvements called Kevlar. Strong yet lightweight,
Not much is known about her life, to telescopes that enabled him to this fiber is used to make body
but she was freed from slavery see the rings and a moon orbiting armor for the police and military
and moved to Chicago where Saturn. Huygens put forward as well as airplanes, boats, and ropes.
she ran a furniture shop with her groundbreaking theories about
carpenter husband. In 1885, she light waves and calculations for
was awarded the patent for her centrifugal force. He also excelled LAKE, SIMON (1866–1945)
folding, hide-away bed. Her nifty at invention, constructing the first American marine engineer Simon
invention could double as a bed pendulum clock (1657), prototypes Lake is remembered as the “‘Father
or a folding writing desk thanks for a small wristwatch, various of the Modern Submarine.” In 1894,
to a clever design that incorporated telescopes, and a combustion he built his first submarine with a
hinged sections that could be engine that ran off gunpowder. pressurized compartment, a vessel
raised or lowered into place. built for shallow waters that he
named Argonaut Jr. Lake went on
JONES, ELDORADO to create Argonaut I, which could be
GUTENBERG, JOHANNES (1860–1932) used at sea and moved on wheels
(c. 1395–c. 1468) The American Eldorado Jones earned along the ocean floor. In 1901, Lake
The German printer, whose “Forty- the nickname “the Iron Woman” produced a military sub called
Two-Line” Bible (also known as the because she invented a small portable Protector, but it wasn’t until 1912
Gutenberg Bible) was the first book iron, but it could also have been for that he first had a submarine
in Europe to be printed using her tough attitude on both work and accepted by the US Navy.
movable type, perfected his printing men (she refused to employ them).
press around 1439. Until Gutenberg She also invented a travel ironing
invented his metal type, printing board, an anti-damp salt shaker, and
had been a laborious task using a collapsible hat rack. The airplane
carved wooden blocks. Although muffler, patented in 1923, was her
his invention revolutionized most famous invention. It muffled
printing, he died a poor man. the tremendous sound of an aircraft
without causing loss of power.

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