INVENTION YEAR

aerosol can 1926

air conditioning 1902
airbag, automotive 1952
airplane, engine-powered 1903
airship 1852
alphabet c. 1700–1500 BC
American Sign Language 1817
animation, motion-picture 1906
answering machine, telephone 1898
aspartame 1965
aspirin 1897
assembly line 1913
astrolabe c. 2nd century
AstroTurf 1965
audiotape 1928
automated teller machine (ATM) 1968
automobile 1889
baby food, prepared 1927
bag, flat-bottomed paper 1870
Bakelite 1907
ball bearing 1794
balloon, hot-air 1783
bandage, adhesive 1921
bar code 1952
barbed wire 1874
barometer 1643
battery, electric storage 1800
beer before 6000 BC
bicycle 1818
bifocal lens 1784
bikini 1946
blood bank late 1930s
blow-dryer 1920
bomb, atomic 1945
bomb, thermonuclear (hydrogen) 1952
boomerang c. 15,000 years ago
Braille system 1824
brassiere (bra) 1913
bread, sliced (bread-slicing machine) 1928
button c. 700 BC
buttonhole 13th century
calculator, electronic hand-held 1967
calculus 1680s
calendar, modern (Gregorian) 1582
camcorder 1982
camera, motion picture 1891
camera, portable photographic 1888
can, metal beverage 1933
can opener 1858
candle c. 3000 BC
canning, food 1809
carbon-14 dating 1946
cardboard, corrugated 1871
cards, playing c. 10th century
cash register 1879
cat litter 1947
catalog, mail-order 1872
cellophane 1911
celluloid 1869
cement, portland 1824
cereal flakes, breakfast 1894
chewing gum (modern) c. 1870
chocolate c. 3rd–10th century
chronometer 1762
clock, pendulum 1656
clock, quartz 1927
cloning, animal 1970
coffee, drip 1908
coffee, decaffeinated 1905
coins c. 650 BC
compact disc (CD) 1980
compass, magnetic c. 12th century
computed tomography (CT scan, CAT scan) 1972
computer, electronic digital 1939
computer, laptop 1983
computer, personal 1974
concrete, reinforced 1867
condom, latex c. 1930
contact lenses 1887
contraceptives, oral early 1950s
corn, hybrid 1917
correction fluid, white 1951
cotton gin 1793
coupon, grocery 1894
crayons, children's wax 1903
cream separator (dairy processing) 1878
credit card 1950
crossword puzzles 1913
DDT 1874
defibrillator 1952
dentures c. 700 BC
detector, metal late 1920s
detector, home smoke 1969
diamond, artificial 1955
diapers, disposable 1950
digital videodisc (DVD) 1995
dishwasher 1886
DNA fingerprinting 1984
doughnut, ring-shaped 1847
door, revolving 1888
drinking fountain c. 1905–1912
dry cleaning 1855
dynamite 1867
elastic, fabric c. 1830
electric chair 1888
electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) 1903
electroencephalogram (EEG) 1929
electronic mail (e-mail) 1971
elevator, passenger 1852
encyclopedia c. 4th century BC or 77 AD
engine, internal-combustion 1859
engine, jet 1930
engine, liquid-fueled rocket 1926
engine, steam 1698
escalator 1891
eyeglasses 1280s
facsimile (fax) 1842
fiber optics 1955
fiberglass 1938
film, photographic 1884
flashlight, battery-operated portable 1899
flask, vacuum (Thermos) 1892
food processor 1971
foods, freeze-dried 1946
foods, frozen c. 1924
Fresnel lens 1820
fuel cell 1839
genetic engineering 1973
Geiger counter 1908
glass c. 2500 BC
glass, safety 1909
greeting card, Christmas 1843
guillotine 1792
guitar, electric 1941
gunpowder c. 10th century
hanger, wire coat 1903
helicopter 1939
holography 1948
hypodermic syringe 1853
in vitro fertilization (IVF), human 1978
ink c. 2500 BC
insulin, extraction and preparation of 1921
integrated circuit 1958
Internet 1969
iron, electric 1882
irradiation, food 1905
jeans 1873
JELL-O (gelatin dessert) 1897
jukebox 1889
Kevlar 1965
Kool-Aid (fruit drink mix) 1927
laser 1958
laundromat 1934
lawn mower, gasoline-powered c. 1940
Lego late 1940s
light bulb, incandescent 1879
light bulb, fluorescent 1934
light-emitting diode (LED) 1962
linoleum 1860
lipstick, tube 1915
liquid crystal display (LCD) 1963
lock and key c. 2000 BC
locomotive 1829
longbow c. 1000
loudspeaker 1924
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) early 1970s
margarine 1869
matches, friction 1827
metric system of measurement 1795
microphone 1878
microscope, compound optical c. 1600
microscope, electron 1933
microwave oven 1945
miniature golf c. 1930
mirror, glass c. 1200
missile, guided 1942
mobile home 1919
money, paper late 900s
Monopoly (board game) 1934
Morse code 1838
motor, electric 1834
motor, outboard 1907
motorcycle 1885
mouse, computer 1963–64
Muzak 1922
nail, construction c. 3300 BC
necktie 17th century
neon lighting 1910
nuclear reactor 1942
nylon 1937
oil lamp 1784
oil well 1859
pacemaker, cardiac 1952
paper c. 105
paper clip 1899
paper towel 1931
parachute, modern 1797
parking meter 1932
particle accelerator 1929
pasteurization 1864
pen, ballpoint 1938
pencil 1565
periodic table 1871
personal watercraft, motorized 1968
petroleum jelly 1870s
phonograph 1877
photocopying (xerography) 1937
photography 1837
photography, instant 1947
Play-Doh 1956
plow, steel 1836
pocket watch c. 1500
polyethylene 1935
polygraph (lie detector) 1921
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) 1872
Post-it Notes mid-1970s
potato chips 1853
printing press, movable type c. 1450
Prozac 1972
radar c. 1904
radio 1896
radio, car early 1920s
rayon 1884
razor, electric 1928
razor, safety c. 1900
reaper, mechanical 1831
record, long-playing (LP) 1948
refrigerator 1842
remote control, television 1950
respirator c. 1955
revolver 1835–36
Richter scale 1935
rifle, assault 1944
roller coaster 1884
rubber, vulcanized 1839
rubber band 1845
saccharin 1879
saddle c. 200 BC
safety pin 1849
satellite, successful artificial earth 1957
satellite, communications 1960
saxophone 1846
Scotch tape 1930
scuba gear 1943
seat belt, automotive shoulder 1959
sewing machine 1841
shoelaces 1790
silicone 1904
skateboard 1958
skates, ice 1000 BC
skates, roller 1760s
ski, snow c. 2000–3000 BC
skyscraper, steel-frame 1884
slot machine 1890s
snowmobile 1922
soap 600 BC
soft drinks, carbonated 1772
sonar 1915
stamps, postage 1840
stapler 1866
steamboat, successful 1807
steel, mass-production 1856
steel, stainless 1914
stereo, personal 1979
stereophonic sound recording 1931
stethoscope 1819
stock ticker 1867
stove, electric 1896
stove, gas 1826
straw, drinking 1888
submarine 1620
sunglasses 1752
sunscreen 1944
supermarket 1930
synthesizer, music 1955
synthetic skin 1981
tampon, cotton 1931
tank, military 1915
tea bag early 1900s
teddy bear 1902
Teflon 1938
telegraph 1832–35
telephone, wired-line 1876
telephone, mobile 1946
telescope, optical 1608
television 1923, 1927
thermometer 1592
thermostat 1830
threshing machine 1778
tire, pneumatic 1888
tissue, disposable facial 1924
tissue, toilet 1857
toaster, electric 1893
toilet, flush c. 1591
toothbrush 1498
tractor 1892
traffic lights, automatic 1923
transistor 1947
typewriter 1868
ultrasound imaging, obstetric 1958
vaccination 1796
vacuum cleaner, electric 1901
Velcro 1948
vending machine c. 100–200 BC
Viagra 1997
video games 1972
videocassette recorder 1969
videotape 1950s
virtual reality 1989
vision correction, laser 1987
washing machine, electric 1907
wheel about 3500 BC
wheelbarrow 1st century BC
wheelchair 1590s
windmill 644
wine before 4000 BC
World Wide Web 1989
wristwatch, digital 1970
X-ray imaging 1895
Zamboni (ice resurfacing machine) 1949
zipper 1893
INVENTOR
Erik Rotheim
Willis Haviland Carrier
John Hetrick
Wilbur & Orville Wright
Henri Giffard
Semitic-speaking peoples
Thomas H. Gallaudet
J. Stuart Blackton
Valdemar Poulsen
James Schlatter
Felix Hoffmann (Bayer)
Henry Ford
—
James M. Faria, Robert T. Wright
Fritz Pfleumer
Don Wetzel
Gottlieb Daimler
Dorothy Gerber
Margaret Knight
Leo Hendrik Baekeland
Philip Vaughan
Joseph & Étienne Montgolfier
Earle Dickson
Joseph Woodland
Joseph Glidden
Evangelista Torricelli
Alessandro Volta
Sumerians, Babylonians
Baron Karl de Drais de Sauerbrun
Benjamin Franklin
Louis Réard
Charles Richard Drew
Racine Universal Motor Co., Hamilton Beach Manufacturing Co.
J. Robert Oppenheimer, et al.
Edward Teller, et al.
Aboriginal peoples
Louis Braille
Mary Phelps Jacob
Otto Frederick Rohwedder
Greeks, Etruscans
—
Jack S. Kilby
Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (invented separately)
Pope Gregory XIII
Sony Corp.
Thomas Alva Edison, William K.L. Dickson
George Eastman
American Can Co.
Ezra J. Warner
—
Nicolas Appert
Willard F. Libby
Albert Jones
—
James Ritty
Edward Lowe
Aaron Montgomery Ward
Jacques E. Brandenberger
John Wesley Hyatt
Joseph Aspdin
John Harvey Kellogg
Thomas Adams
Maya, Aztecs
John Harrison
Christiaan Huygens
Warren A. Marrison
John B. Gurdon
Melitta Bentz
Ludwig Roselius
Lydians
Philips Electronics, Sony Corp.
—
Godfrey Hounsfield, Allan Cormack
John V. Atanasoff, Clifford E. Berry
Radio Shack Corp.
MITS (Micro Instrumentation Telemetry Systems)
Joseph Monier
—
Adolf Fick
Gregory Pincus, John Rock, Min Chueh Chang
Donald F. Jones
Bette Nesmith
Eli Whitney
Asa Candler
Edwin Binney, C. Harold Smith
Carl Gustaf Patrik de Laval
Frank McNamara, Ralph Schneider (Diners' Club)
Arthur Wynne
Othmar Zeidler
Paul M. Zoll
Etruscans
Gerhard Fisher
Randolph Smith, Kenneth House
General Electric Co.
Marion Donovan
consortium of international electronics companies
Josephine Cochrane
Alec Jeffreys
Hanson Crockett Gregory
Theophilus von Kannel
Luther Haws, Halsey W. Taylor (invented separately)
Jean Baptiste Jolly
Alfred Nobel
Thomas Hancock
Harold P. Brown, Arthur E. Kennelly
Willem Einthoven
Hans Berger
Ray Tomlinson
Elisha Graves Otis
Speusippus (compliation of Plato's teachings) or Pliny the Elder (comprehensive work)
Étienne Lenoir
Sir Frank Whittle
Robert H. Goddard
Thomas Savery
Jesse W. Reno
Salvino degli Armati or Alessandro di Spina
Alexander Bain
Narinder S. Kapany
Owens Corning (corp.)
George Eastman
Conrad Hubert
Sir James Dewar
Pierre Verdon
Earl W. Flosdorf
Clarence Birdseye
Augustin-Jean Fresnel
William R. Grove
Stanley N. Cohen, Herbert W. Boyer
Hans Geiger
Egyptians or Phoenicians
Édouard Bénédictus
John Callcott Horsley
Joseph-Ignace Guillotin
Les Paul
—
Albert J. Parkhouse
Igor Sikorsky
Dennis Gabor
Charles Gabriel Pravaz
Patrick Steptoe, Robert Edwards
—
Sir Frederick Grant Banting, Charles H. Best
Jack S. Kilby
Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) at the Dept. of Defense
Henry W. Seely
—
Levi Strauss, Jacob Davis
Pearle B. Wait
Louis Glass
Stephanie Kwolek
Edwin E. Perkins
Gordon Gould and Charles Hard Townes, Arthur L. Schawlow (invented separately)
J.F. Cantrell
Leonard Goodall
Ole Kirk Christiansen
Thomas Alva Edison
Arthur Compton
Nick Holonyak, Jr.
Frederick Walton
Maurice Levy
George Heilmeier
Assyrians
George Stephenson
—
Chester W. Rice, Edward W. Kellogg
Raymond Damadian, Paul Lauterbur
Hippolyte Mège-Mouriès
John Walker
French Academy of Sciences
David E. Hughes
Hans & Zacharias Jansen
Ernst Ruska
Percy L. Spencer
Garnet Carter
Venetians
Wernher von Braun
Glenn H. Curtiss
—
Charles B. Darrow
Samuel F.B. Morse
Thomas Davenport
Ole Evinrude
Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach
Douglas Engelbart
George Owen Squier
Sumerians
—
Georges Claude
Enrico Fermi
Wallace H. Carothers
Aimé Argand
Edwin Laurentine Drake
Paul M. Zoll
Ts'ai Lun
Johan Vaaler
Arthur Scott
André-Jacques Garnerin
Carl C. Magee
Sir John Douglas Cockcroft, Ernest Thomas Sinton Walton
Louis Pasteur
Lazlo Biro
Conrad Gesner
Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleyev
Bombardier, Inc.
Robert Chesebrough
Thomas Alva Edison
Chester F. Carlson
Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre
Edwin Herbert Land
Noah W. & Joseph S. McVicker
John Deere
Peter Henlein
Eric Fawcett, Reginald Gibson
John A. Larson
Eugen Baumann
Arthur Fry (3M)
George Crum
Johannes Gutenberg
Ray W. Fuller, Bryan B. Molloy, David T. Wong
Christian Hülsmeyer
Guglielmo Marconi
William P. Lear
Louis-Marie-Hilaire Bernigaud, count of Chardonnet
Jacob Schick
King Camp Gillette
Cyrus Hall McCormick
Peter Carl Goldmark
John Gorrie
Robert Adler
Forrest M. Bird
Samuel Colt
Charles Francis Richter, Beno Gutenberg
Hugo Schmeisser
LeMarcus A. Thompson
Charles Goodyear
Stephen Perry
Ira Remsen, Constantin Fahlberg
—
Walter Hunt
Sergey Korolyov, et al.
John Robinson Pierce
Antoine-Joseph Sax
Richard Drew (3M)
Jacques Cousteau, Émile Gagnan
Nils Bohlin (Volvo)
Barthélemy Thimonnier
—
Frederic Stanley Kipping
Bill & Mark Richards
—
Joseph Merlin
—
William Le Baron Jenney
Charles Fey
Joseph-Armand Bombardier
Phoenicians
Joseph Priestley
Paul Langevin
Sir Rowland Hill
George W. McGill
Robert Fulton
Henry Bessemer
Harry Brearley
Sony Corp.
Alan Dower Blumlein
René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laënnec
Edward A. Calahan
William Hadaway
James Sharp
Marvin Stone
Cornelis Drebbel
James Ayscough
Benjamin Green
Michael Cullen
Harry Olson, Herbert Belar
Ioannis V. Yannas, John F. Burke
Earle Cleveland Haas
Admiralty Landships Committee
Thomas Sullivan
Morris Michtom
Roy Plunkett
Samuel F.B. Morse
Alexander Graham Bell
Bell Laboratories
Hans Lippershey
Vladimir Kosma Zworykin, Philo Taylor Farnsworth
Galileo
Andrew Ure
Andrew Meikle
John Boyd Dunlop
Kimberly-Clark Co.
Joseph Gayetty
Crompton Co.
Sir John Harington
—
John Froehlich
Garrett A. Morgan
John Bardeen, Walter H. Brattain, William B. Shockley
Christopher Latham Sholes
Ian Donald
Edward Jenner
Herbert Cecil Booth
George de Mestral
—
Pfizer Inc.
Nolan Bushnell
Sony Corp.
Charles Ginsburg
Jaron Lanier
Stephen Trokel
Alva J. Fisher
proto-Aryan people or Sumerians
—
—
—
—
Tim Berners-Lee
John M. Bergey
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
Frank J. Zamboni
Whitcomb L. Judson
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