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Radar system developed
British physicist Robert Watson-Watt demonstrated the first practical radar system that could detect aircraft with aa range of 40 miles. Scientists from many countries had expiramented before this but Britain took the lead and continued improving upon this system. Radar systems were used during WW II as early warning defence systems. -
Computer
Konrad Zuse made the first binary computer, called the Z1, in 1936. It was more of a mechanical calculator, but it was used to explore new technologies and developments in the field. The next models after this continued to improve and become closer to the computers which are a big part of our lives today. -
Pressurized Cabins
As airplanes gained the ability to fly higher into the atmosphere, it became important to pressurize the cabins so the pilots could breath. Until pressurized cabins, pilots had to use oxygen masks which became impracticle when crew members had to move around. Later on, this technology was spread to civilian aircraft. -
ballpoint pen
Hungarian journalist Laszlo Biro created the ballpoint pen in 1939. Earlier concepts for ballpoint pens had been made but none functioned well enought because of ink that clogged. Biro used the ink used for newspapers along with a ball bearing for the tip. He patented his pen but the British Government bought it for the war effort. This new pen design was used in high altitudes in airplanes because it did not leak. -
Freeze dried coffee
In 1938 freeze-dried coffee was first produced by the Nestle company. This came as a solution by Nestle for the Brazilian surplus of coffee. This made the beverage also easily made at home by adding water. This lead to other powdered, freeze-dried food that stored well and was easily transportable because of its light weight. -
Teflon
Teflon is used on non-stick cooking pans because of its slipery, non-absorbant qualities. The substance PTFE that Teflon is made of was discovered by Dr. Roy Plunkett at the DuPont research laboratories in New Jersey. It was discovered when observing frozen gasses to use for refrigerants and its properties were later put to use. -
VW Beetle
This German car started being produced in 1938. This car was designed with round shape and engine in the back. It was called Volkswagen, meaning people's car in German. This car became very popular later on, initially because of its small price, comfort, and advertising. -
Penicillin
Penicillin was one of the first antibiotics discovered. The importance of penicillin and the ways it could be used was not demonstrated until 1939 by Dr. Howard Florey, but before that Alexander Fleming atuddied it. Eventually penicillin was used in great quantities to treat injjured soldiers. -
helicopters
Igor Sikorsky invented the first helicopter in America in 1939. At first he flew the helicopter while it was attached to the ground but soon flew free. In 1943, helicopters whent into work in the US Navy. -
Electron Microscope
Earlier prototypes of the electron microscope led to the development of the first commercial transmission electron microscope in 1939. It had a magnification of 30,000 and could anylyse very small details. New supirior instruments were produced throughout the war and improved upon afterwards. -
ATM (Automatic teller machines)
Luther Simjian patented the first ATM in 1939. This machine did not turn out to be as succesfull at first but was the starting point for future ideas. John Shepherd Barron later made a more modern version of the ATM in England and later sold them to the United States where they were reintroduced. -
Jet Aircraft
The first jet aircraft was the German Heinkel He-178. The first succesfull flight took place in 1939, but despite the remarkable speed of over 400 miles per hour, the German Air Force was not interested until late into the war. This plane started a new age of jet aircraft which, had it earlier, might have given an edge to Germany during World War II. -
Nylon
In 1930, nylon was first discovered as a substitute for silk by researchers for the DuPont Company. In 1939 at the World's Fair, it was introduced in fishing line, surgical sutures, and toothbrush bristles. Nylon stockings started being commercialy produced in 1939 as well, and they were a huge success. By 1942, nylon became part of the war in the form of parachutes and tents and today has become the second most used synthetic fiber in the U.S. -
Period: to
World War II
Many discoveries and inventions were made during World War II out of the necessity and breakthroughs of the war. -
Color Television
Designs for color TV were proposed before 1940, but CBS researchers invented and produced one, looking at the earlier designs. Then CBS sold some color TV sets and began broadcasting on some East Coast stations. CBS was sued later on and these lawsuites along with low sales stopped production. New companies redesigned color televisions after that. -
Jeep
In 1940, the U.S. demanded a lightweight, all terrain vehicle for reconnaissance to be designed in 49 days. The Bantan Car Company of Butler along with Karl Probst as the designer, met the deadline and started production. The resulting vehicle pleased the Army and they soon asked for new models from other companies. -
Aerosol spray can
Concepts of aerosol cans were explored years before, but in 1941 Americans Lyle D. Goodhue and William N. Sullivan created the modern spray can. They constructed a portable, pressurised, refillable spray can that was used to protect soldiers from mosquitoes carrying malaria during World War II. -
V-2 Rocket
This German missile was fired from Peenemunde, a German island, and succesfully traveled 118 miles. These long-range missiles were very destructive during the war. German scientists had been developing long-range rockets for a while but the V-2 was the first succesfull one. The scientists were led by Wernher von Braun. After the war the Soviet Union and United States captured scientists and samples of the rockets so they could reproduce them. -
Kidney dialysis machines
Dr. Willem J. Kolff invented the kidney dialysis machine in 1944. This machine was a medical development that had the potential for saving people suffering from kidney falure when they had no hope before. -
Microwave oven
Microwaves were first used in radar devices but Percy Spencer accidently found out that this energy could quickly cook food. Early microwaves were big and expensive but by 1967, domestic microwaves were introduced. It took some time for microwaves to gain the popularity they ave earned today. -
slinky
The slinky was invented in 1945 by Richard James and Betty James. Richard worked as a naval engineer and came up with the idea for a slinky when watching the tension springs he was working with fall to the ground. Slinkys became very popular right away and Betty and Richard continued on to build and own a toy buisness.
