International Women's Day: 11 things you might not know were invented by women

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  • 1/11
    1. Beer: We don't actually know the individual who first created beer, but according to research conducted by historian Jane Peyton, for thousands of years brewing beer was a woman's domain. According to a 2010 article: "Nearly 7,000 years ago, so important were [women's] skills that they were the only ones allowed to brew the drink or run any taverns."
    1/11 1. Beer: We don't actually know the individual who first created beer, but according to research conducted by historian Jane Peyton, for thousands of years brewing beer was a woman's domain. According to a 2010 article: "Nearly 7,000 years ago, so important were [women's] skills that they were the only ones allowed to brew the drink or run any taverns."
  • 2/11
    2. Windshield Wiper, Mary Anderson: In 1903, Mary Anderson noticed drivers stopping to clear snow and ice off their windshields. So she came up with the windshield wiper - an arm with a rubber blade that could be activated without getting out of your car. She applied for a patent in 1904, and it was issued in 1905.
    2/11 2. Windshield Wiper, Mary Anderson: In 1903, Mary Anderson noticed drivers stopping to clear snow and ice off their windshields. So she came up with the windshield wiper - an arm with a rubber blade that could be activated without getting out of your car. She applied for a patent in 1904, and it was issued in 1905.
  • 3/11
    3. Kevlar, Stephanie Kwolek: Stephanie Kwolek’s research with chemical compounds for the DuPont Company led her to invent Kevlar - the material used in bulletproof vests - which was patented in 1966.
    3/11 3. Kevlar, Stephanie Kwolek: Stephanie Kwolek’s research with chemical compounds for the DuPont Company led her to invent Kevlar - the material used in bulletproof vests - which was patented in 1966.
  • 4/11
    4. Computer Software, Grace Hopper: Dr Grace Murray Hopper, a computer scientist, invented COBOL, the first user-friendly business computer software program in the 1950s. In 1969, she was awarded the first ever Computer Science Man of the Year Award.
    4/11 4. Computer Software, Grace Hopper: Dr Grace Murray Hopper, a computer scientist, invented COBOL, the first user-friendly business computer software program in the 1950s. In 1969, she was awarded the first ever Computer Science Man of the Year Award.
  • 5/11
    5. Monopoly, Elizabeth Magie: Monopoly, originally called The Landlord's Game, was invented by Elizabeth Magie in 1903. Magie was inspired to create The Landlord's Game "to demonstrate the tragic effects of land-grabbing."
    5/11 5. Monopoly, Elizabeth Magie: Monopoly, originally called The Landlord's Game, was invented by Elizabeth Magie in 1903. Magie was inspired to create The Landlord's Game "to demonstrate the tragic effects of land-grabbing."
  • 6/11
    6. Dishwasher, Josephine Cochrane: In 1886, socialite Josephine Cochrane was annoyed that her servants kept breaking her china. So, she invented the first workable dishwasher.
    6/11 6. Dishwasher, Josephine Cochrane: In 1886, socialite Josephine Cochrane was annoyed that her servants kept breaking her china. So, she invented the first workable dishwasher.
  • 7/11
    7. Chocolate Chip Cookies, Ruth Wakefield: In 1930, Ruth Wakefield, who owned a lodge named the Toll House Inn, was making cookies for guests and realised that she was out of baker's chocolate. She broke up pieces of a Nestle semi-sweet chocolate bar, thinking that the chocolate would mix in and melt during baking, but it didn't.
    7/11 7. Chocolate Chip Cookies, Ruth Wakefield: In 1930, Ruth Wakefield, who owned a lodge named the Toll House Inn, was making cookies for guests and realised that she was out of baker's chocolate. She broke up pieces of a Nestle semi-sweet chocolate bar, thinking that the chocolate would mix in and melt during baking, but it didn't.
  • 8/11
    8. Stem Cell Isolation, Ann Tsukamoto: Ann Tsukamoto is one of two people who got a patent in 1991 for a process to isolate the human stem cell. Her work has led to advancements in comprehending the blood systems of cancer patients and could eventually lead to a cure.
    8/11 8. Stem Cell Isolation, Ann Tsukamoto: Ann Tsukamoto is one of two people who got a patent in 1991 for a process to isolate the human stem cell. Her work has led to advancements in comprehending the blood systems of cancer patients and could eventually lead to a cure.
  • 9/11
    9. The Fire Escape, Anna Connelly: The first outdoor fire escape with an external staircase was patented by Anna Connelly in 1897. In the 1900s, Connelly's model would become part of many mandatory building safety codes across the United States.
    9/11 9. The Fire Escape, Anna Connelly: The first outdoor fire escape with an external staircase was patented by Anna Connelly in 1897. In the 1900s, Connelly's model would become part of many mandatory building safety codes across the United States.
  • 10/11
    10. The Solar Heated Home, Dr. Maria Telkes: Dr. Maria Telkes worked at MIT on the university's Solar Energy Research Project. In the 1940s, she developed the first solar-heated home with architect Eleanor Raymond.
    10/11 10. The Solar Heated Home, Dr. Maria Telkes: Dr. Maria Telkes worked at MIT on the university's Solar Energy Research Project. In the 1940s, she developed the first solar-heated home with architect Eleanor Raymond.
  • 11/11
    11. Square-Bottomed Paper Bag, Margaret Knight: Margaret Knight invented a machine to cut and attach flat bottoms to bags. Before she could patent the iron version of her machine, a man named Charles Annan stole her design, claiming that no woman could think of something so complex. Knight filed a lawsuit against him and proved that the prototype was in fact hers. She gained the patent in 1871.
    11/11 11. Square-Bottomed Paper Bag, Margaret Knight: Margaret Knight invented a machine to cut and attach flat bottoms to bags. Before she could patent the iron version of her machine, a man named Charles Annan stole her design, claiming that no woman could think of something so complex. Knight filed a lawsuit against him and proved that the prototype was in fact hers. She gained the patent in 1871.

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Today is International Women's Day, so let's take a moment to think about where we'd be without the inventions of some brilliant female minds.

Here are just a few things you might not have known were invented by women ...