Greatest Women Inventors in History
In many ways, the contributions of women to life and history have been incredibly valuable. From skilled artisans to world-changing inventions, women have had an immeasurable influence on the science and technology industry. As the world celebrates Women’s History Month, let’s take a look at the greatest women inventors in history.
Honoring the Work of Females in Engineering and Technology
The history of science and technology is overflowing with fascinating stories of women inventors who made contributions to the development of society. From women who created new methods of communication to those who developed medical innovations, female inventors have been a constant source of invention and creativity throughout history.
This article will take a look at some of the most innovative women inventors who have shaped the modern world through their inventions and pioneering scientific research.
Let’s start with a list of the some of the greatest female inventors in history:
- Hedy Lamarr – Inventor of Spread Spectrum Technology
- Marie Curie – Discoverer of Radium and Polonium
- Stephanie Kwolek – Inventor of Kevlar
- Ada Lovelace – Celebrated Mathematician and Writer
- Katharine Blodgett – Inventor of Non-Reflective Glass
- Grace Hopper – Inventor of the First Programming Language
- Elizabeth Magie – Creator of the Landlord’s Game and Monopoly
- Ruth Wakeman – Instrumental in the Development of the Computer
- Mary Anderson – Inventor of Windshield Wipers
- Gertrude Elion – Creator of Several Essential Medicines
Hedy Lamarr – Inventor of Spread Spectrum Technology
Born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler, Austrian-American actress and inventor, Hedy Lamarr, was famously known as the “most beautiful woman in the world” in the 1940s. But it was her inventing career that made her legendary.
Lamarr created an innovative form of spread spectrum technology – now known as frequency-hopping spread spectrum – that was used in the development of Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi. Her invention helps facilitate secure communication and improve the security of military communications.
She was able to develop the technology thanks to her familiarity with science and engineering, in addition to her collaboration with friend George Antheil, a composer and pianist. Before patenting their invention, the pair tested different models using a synthetic piano operated by a single piano roll.
Marie Curie – Discoverer of Radium and Polonium
Polish chemist and physicist Marie Curie is best remembered for her outstanding contributions to the science of radioactivity, a term she coined. She shared a Nobel Prize in 1903 with her husband Pierre and Henri Becquerel for her discovery that atoms carry radiation.
Curie was the first person ever to receive two Nobel Prizes – in both Chemistry and Physics. She is also remembered for her Radium Institute, where she provided a space for researchers to study phenomena associated with radioactivity.
In addition to her work on radioactivity, she also discovered polonium and radium, as well as participating in research of X-ray purification. Her work has had a lasting influence on the field of nuclear physics and changed the way we understand radiation and its use.
Stephanie Kwolek – Inventor of Kevlar
American chemist Stephanie Kwolek is best remembered for her invention of Kevlar, a bulletproof synthetic fiber used in body armor and military helmets. Kevlar, which is resistant to heat and chemicals, is also used in a variety of products such as vehicles, boats, and aircraft.
Kwolek was the first woman ever to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame and is also the only woman to ever receive the Chemical Pioneer Award from the American Institute of Chemists.
Kwolek is also remembered for her work on a process to convert liquid crystalline polymers into solid fibers which led to the development of Kevlar. Her work revolutionized the industry and made super-strong, lightweight fibers available for a range of applications.
Ada Lovelace – Celebrated Mathematician and Writer
Ada Lovelace was an English mathematician and writer best known for her contribution to the study of mathematics and computer science. She is widely considered to be the first computer programmer as she wrote the first algorithm for Charles Babbage’s mechanical calculator, the Analytical Engine.
In addition to her work on computers, she was also known for her writing on mathematics, theoretical science, and poetics. Her work had a huge impact on the field of computer science and the development of technology.
Her theoretical work on computers and arithmetic systems were instrumental in the development of modern computers and computing systems. Lovelace’s legacy lives on through her contributions to the understanding of how computers work and the influence she had in the advancement of the field.
Katharine Blodgett – Inventor of Non-Reflective Glass
American scientist Katharine Blodgett is best remembered for her invention of non-reflective glass, which is used in products ranging from eyeglasses to car windshields. Her work on thin-film coatings revolutionized the field of optics and is credited with making glass less reflective.
Blodgett was the first female scientist hired by General Electric and was the first woman to ever receive a PhD in physics from the University of Cambridge. Her invention of non-reflective glass made her the first woman to ever receive a patent in the United States.
Blodgett’s work highlighted the importance of thin-film coatings and has led to the development of more efficient and precise optics and lenses. She is remembered for her contributions to the study of optics, thin-film coatings, and her invention of non-reflective glass.
Grace Hopper – Inventor of the First Programming Language
American computer scientist Grace Hopper is known for her pioneering contributions to the development of computer science and programming. In addition to her work on creating some of the first computers, she is best remembered for her invention of the first programming language, COBOL.
Hopper was also instrumental in the development of the first compiler, which translates programming code into machine language, and she is also credited with creating the idea of “user-friendly” computer software.
Her legacy lives on through her contributions to the development of the computer and her invention of the world’s first programming language. Her work was ahead of its time and was instrumental in developing modern computing systems.
Elizabeth Magie – Creator of the Landlord’s Game and Monopoly
American game designer and journalist Elizabeth Magie is best remembered for her creation of the Landlord’s Game, a precursor to the classic board game Monopoly.
Magie’s game was designed to illustrate the concepts of property ownership and the hazards of unfair taxation. Her game was soon met with great success and became popular among many different groups of people.
The game was later bought by Charles Darrow and modified into the game that we now call Monopoly. Though her contribution to the classic game is often overlooked, Magie’s work is still credited with developing the popular game.
Ruth Wakeman – Instrumental in the Development of the Computer
American mathematician and computer scientist Ruth Wakeman was instrumental in the development of the first computers. Her most notable contribution to technology was her work on the ENIAC, the first general-purpose computer.
Wakeman was the first human to ever enter data into the computer. With her help, the ENIAC was able to complete its first calculation in 1945. In addition to her work on the development of the first computer, Wakeman also helped develop computers for weather prediction and missile defense.
Wakeman’s work on the development of the world’s first computers paved the way for modern computing and helped redefine the way we interact with technology. Her pioneering work and dedication to science and technology have made her a legendary figure in the world of computer engineering.
Mary Anderson – Inventor of Windshield Wipers
Alabama native Mary Anderson was the original inventor of the windshield wiper. Her invention, which was patented in 1903, was the first of its kind and ushered in an entirely new way of dealing with rain, sleet, and snow.
Anderson’s invention featured a lever inside a car that the driver could use to activate two wiper blades to clear the windshield. Her invention revolutionized the car industry and made it possible for drivers to see the road much more clearly when driving in inclement weather.
Anderson’s invention was later improved upon by other inventors and manufacturers, who created larger versions of her windshield wiper that allowed for faster and smoother cleaning of the windshield.
Gertrude Elion – Creator of Several Essential Medicines
American biochemist Gertrude Elion made great strides in the field of medicine with her development of essential medicines for treating disease and illness.
Elion is most remembered for her development of several life-saving drugs and treatments, including azidothymidine, an HIV prevention and treatment drug.