- And some less known facts to go with it.
Some of these lesser known inventions may surprise you. Or maybe you know all about them already and we’re new.
The Light Bulb
- Thomas Edison didn’t invent the first light bulb; he created the first commercially practical version in 1879.
- Earlier inventors like Humphry Davy and Joseph Swan developed prototypes, but Edison’s lasted longer and could be mass-produced.
- Edison later partnered with Swan to avoid patent battles.
The Telephone
- Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876, beating rival inventor Elisha Gray by just 2 hours.
- The first words spoken on the telephone were: “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.”
- Bell refused to have a telephone installed in his own study because he preferred silence.
Penicillin
- This was discovered by accident in 1928 when Alexander Fleming noticed mold killing bacteria in a petri dish.
- He didn’t believe it could be mass-produced, but that was done during WWII by Howard Florey and Ernst Chain.
- Penicillin is often called the invention that “turned the tide of war” by saving millions of lives.
The World Wide Web
- This was invented in 1989 while working at CERN as a way for researchers to share documents easily.
- Tim Berners-Lee could have become one of the richest people on Earth but released the web to the public for free in 1993.
- His original web browser was also an editor, so you could write and publish directly.
The Camera
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- Louis Daguerre invented the daguerreotype in 1839, the first practical photographic process.
- Early photos needed exposures of 10–20 minutes.
- The first photograph of a person was accidental and of someone getting their shoes shined that just so happened to have remained still long enough. Did you know about this as one of the lesser known inventions?
The Printing Press
- The printing press was introduced around 1440, it revolutionized communication and literacy thanks to Johannes Gutenberg.
- Gutenberg’s Bible was the first major book printed in the West using movable metal type.
- His invention increased book production speed from one copy every months to hundreds per year.
The Automobile
- Karl Benz built the first practical automobile powered by an internal combustion engine in 1885–86.
- His wife Bertha Benz secretly made the world’s first long-distance car trip for about 60 mile, proving it was practical.
- Her trip also inspired the invention of brake linings and better fuel access.
The Microwave Oven
- The microwave was accidentally invented in 1945 when Percy Spencer noticed a chocolate bar melting in his pocket while working on radar technology.
- The first microwave ovens were huge, weighing over 300 pounds.
- Early models of microwaves cost as much as buying a car.
The Model T
- Henry Ford didn’t invent the car, but he pioneered the moving assembly line for mass production in 1913.
- This cut manufacturing time from 12 hours to 90 minutes per car.
- By 1927, Ford had sold over 15 million Model Ts.
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Windshield Wipers
- Mary Anderson came up with the idea after watching trolley drivers struggle during snowstorms.
- It was first patented in 1903. Did you know this as one of the lesser known inventions?
AC Electricity
- Built the foundation for modern power systems.
- Nikola Tesla’s AC system beat Edison’s DC in the famous “War of Currents.”
Frequency-Hopping (WiFi + Bluetooth precursor)
- Hedy Lamarr, Hollywood actress who co-invented a secret communication system during WWII.
- Her idea became part of modern wireless technology.
Basketball
- James Naismith invented basketball in 1891 as a safe winter sport for students.
- The first “hoop” was a peach basket. Did you know this as one of the lesser known inventions?
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Three-Point Seatbelt
- Lonnie Johnson worked for Volvo when he invented the three-point seatbelt.
- Instead of patenting it for profit, Volvo made it free for all car manufacturers to save lives.
Kevlar
- Stephanie Kwolek discovered the strong fiber used in bulletproof vests.
- Kevlar is five times stronger than steel making it perfect.
Traffic Signal & Gas Mask
- Garrett Morgan created the traffic light design to help reduce accidents in growing cities.
- His gas mask was used to rescue workers trapped underground.
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The Airplane
- Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first controlled, powered flight on December 17, 1903 in North Carolina.
- Their first flight lasted just 12 seconds and traveled 120 feet—shorter than a modern jetliner’s wingspan.
- They were also bicycle mechanics, which influenced their understanding of balance and control.
Super Soaker
- Lonnie Johnson, a NASA engineer , created the Super Soaker while tinkering with reactor systems at home.
- The toy became one of the best-selling toys ever.
So did you know all about these lesser known inventions? Tell us about it in the comments or let us know your favorites!