8th March- International Women's Day- is approaching and we want to celebrate women celebrating their best inventions, without which the world would not be the same.
Are you ready? Let's start.
1- WINDSCREEN WIPERS
At the beginning of 1900 it was very difficult to drive safely when it was raining or snowing. Cleaning the windscreen required the driver to leave the car and provide for himself. Mary Anderson had the idea of a system capable of cleaning the car windows automatically. And in 1903 she filed the patent of a device, made of wood and rubber and connected to a lever next to the steering wheel of the car. Her invention became popular in 1913, but Anderson did not receive any profit from her invention.
2- MONOPOLY
One of the most famous board games of all time, responsible for endless hours of wholesome family fun and/or devastating family arguments, was invented by Elizabeth Magie in 1904 under the original name The Landlord's Game. Magie's game was a critique of the injustices of unchecked capitalism, making it all the more ironic when her game was completely ripped off by Charles Darrow 30 years later, who sold it to Parker Brothers. The firm eventually tracked down Magie and paid her $500 for her troubles.
3- BEER!
Guess what! Beer is totally a girl's drink.
Beer historian Jane Peyton claims that ancient Mesopotamian women were the first to develop, sell, and even drink beer. While it may be hard to pin down exactly who, thousands of years ago, "invented" the beer we know and love today, it's safe to say that ancient women all over the world were sure as hell fermenting something. So next time you raise a glass, make a toast to Ninkasi, the Sumerian goddess of brewing and beer!
4- THE FIRE ESCAPE
This device, so vital both to public safety and the smoking habits of urban hipsters, was invented in 1887 by Anna Connelly.
5- COMPUTER ALGORITHM
Ada Lovelace, whose father was Lord Byron, was encouraged by her scientist mother from a young age to become a fucking champion of mathematics. Lovelace worked with Charles Babbage at the University of London on his plans for an "analytic engine" (i.e. old-timey computer) to develop ways to program the machine with mathematical algorithms, essentially making her "the first computer programmer".
6- CIRCULAR SAW
A decisive invention dedicated to the male world is the circular saw, designed at the beginning of the 19th century by Tabitha Babbitt. The inventor had observed that the saws used by men in her community were not so effective: from that consideration came the idea of building a saw with a circular blade powered by pedals.
7- SOLAR PANELS
Today they are very popular, but until several decades ago they were completely unknown.... We are talking about solar panels for the house. The first solar-heated dwelling project was planned in detail by Dr. Maria Telkes in 1940.