The refrigerators of the 1920s were deadly. Their motorized compressors easily malfunctioned, allowing the refrigerants—that is, toxic gases—to escape...
Laundry was a grueling task in the 1800s. Fuel and water had to be gathered, clothes scrubbed and wrung by hand, then hung to dry, and later pressed...
During February’s Black History Month, the Lemelson Center is celebrating the achievements of African American inventors. In my research, I learned...
Frances Gabe, inventor of the self-cleaning house, died at 101 on December 26, 2016. Other than a brief mention in her hometown Oregon newspaper The...
With famous boxer George Foreman’s smiling face as its TV pitchman and a catchy marketing name, “the Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine,” the...
It seemed like a simple, straightforward publication request: please write a 1,000 word biography about Percy LeBaron Spencer, the inventor of the...
Jennifer Lawrence, the 25-year-old Academy Award-winning actor, plays the inventor Joy Mangano in the new movie “Joy.” As a part of the team here at...
I used to think manicures were only for elegant ladies who walked poodles, had afternoon tea, and were always perfectly coiffed. In other words, not...
Mosquitos are and always have been not only an annoyance, but also a major health risk. Mosquitos spread diseases such as Yellow Fever, Malaria, and...
Charlotte Cramer Sachs was born in Berlin, Germany on September 27, 1907. In 1924, she moved to New York, and in 1945, she married Alexander Sachs, an...
Well, we’re just about halfway through November and the streets are filled with beards—all for a good cause. Whether participating in Movember or No...
Note: “Try It” refers to a step in the invention process – testing your product. This post is not an endorsement of any product.
A few weeks ago, I...
Late one night in 1946, a very tired mother was faced with a wet, crying baby yet again. Changing her second daughter's soaked cloth diaper, clothing...
