Y’all I watched an entire documentary for this and I’m not citing a goddamn thing from it.

It involved dreadfully sad scenes with puppies. I watched it so you don’t have to.

Today’s Moment of Science… Laika, the sad tale of the Goodest Soviet Space Doggo.

In the US, we’ve slowly retconned the history of the space race into the story of America beating the Soviets in our quest to play hopscotch on the Moon. Space? Mere space? Pfft. Just a pit stop before turning the Moon into a star spangled golf course, motherfuckers.

But if we’re being a bit more honest with ourselves, the US was behind by nearly every measure for most of the race, and then we re-configured the finish line a smidge.

After the successful launch of Sputnik 1 in October 1957, a case of “fuck the Americans in the ego even harder” fever hit Moscow. Sputnik 2 was not only inevitable, the launch was moved up to a mere month away. Khrushchev wanted it to happen in time for the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik revolution.

Rarely are good decisions made based on the sentence “the launch date was moved up.”

The US and USSR both tested animals in suborbital flights through the late 1940s and 1950s, dipping a toe into space by proxy, sorting out how to not die in it. Suborbital flights didn’t present the same challenge or potential danger as launching into orbit. Now that the Soviets had pushed a Sputnik shaped raft out into space, some living critter would have to be the first to wade out and test the water.

If the Russians wanted any hope of yeeting humans off the planet to win this intercontinental dick waving contest without making said comrades too dead, it was best to send a lab rat up first.

Or if you’re running a propaganda machine, a Moscow street dog.

Many street mutts had been picked up by the USSR’s space program, voluntolding their lives to science. Soviet scientists figured being a homeless pup in Moscow was rock solid training for the relative comfort of space. They had already successfully trained and sent moscovite street pups on suborbital missions that were designed to return the dogs safely home. Some of them even succeeded, and we’re not discussing the less successful ones today.

Mutts named Albina, Mushka, and of course Laika were trained for this mission. They were chosen for temperament, size, and since everything is propaganda, cuteness. Only females were trained as they tended to be more docile, smaller, and most importantly, had an easier time peeing in a confined place.

And… look.
This isn’t pretty.

The dogs trained to endure long periods of time in small, pressurized vessels. They lived off gelatinous rations. They were put in centrifuges to simulate the g-forces they would endure. Medical devices were surgically implanted to monitor their vital statistics from space, and the images of them recovering from surgery are ghastly.

Of the three dogs, Laika was chosen to go to space. With a name roughly translating to ‘barker,’ she was about 5-6kg, and thought to be a samoyed mix, emphasis on the mix. Before the launch, one of the scientists brought Laika home to play with his children. The technicians who closed her into her spaceship kissed her on the nose before locking down the hatch.

Sputnik 2 was a rush job, sent up without any plans to attempt de-orbiting safely. There was no stable temperature control system in place. Everyone knew Laika would not be coming back.

During takeoff and her first three hours in space, her heart rate and respiration soared, then returned to normal. Sometime between five and seven hours into her voyage, no further signs of life were detected.

The mission to further demoralize the Americans I mean get the first bit of data from life in space? Super goddamn accomplished, comrades.

But at what cost?

Oleg Gazenko was one of the scientists who trained and selected Laika. Years after the Soviet Union collapsed, he said “The more time passes, the more I’m sorry about it. We shouldn’t have done it. We did not learn enough from the mission to justify the death of the dog.”

Future missions were planned with the intention of returning the dogs home. Some of them even succeeded. Star doggos Belka and Strelka were famously the first higher living organisms to return safely from outer space. Strelka had six puppies, one of which was named Pushinka (Fluffy) and gifted to President Kennedy in an adorable act of propaganda I mean diplomatic relations.

Laika has been memorialized in stamps, plaques, and statues for her unknowing heroism. The world’s first kosmonaut will always be a Moscow street dog.

This has been your Moment of Science, hoping Laika actually found a wormhole to Knowhere and re-emerged as Cosmo, the talking psychic Soviet space doggo.

To get the MOS delivered to your inbox five days a week and support my compulsive need to fact check the entire internet, including the podcasts, the comments section, and the porn, head to patreon.com/scibabe. 

The post MOS: Laika the Space Doggo appeared first on SciBabe.

In the world of design and architecture, creativity knows no bounds. Architects have a unique ability to turn their visionary ideas into breathtaking realities. Instagram has become a platform where these architects can showcase their remarkable talents, and there’s an entire page dedicated to celebrating their extraordinary creations. The Insta page ‘Architecture Hunter’ is one such platform that showcases breathtaking wonders from all around the world.

Let’s dive into their posts and explore some instances where architects have truly outdone themselves, leaving us in awe and deserving of all the recognition they receive.

More info: Instagram | Youtube | TikTok | Twitter | Pinterest

#1

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Crystal Lake Pavilion
_architecture: @marcthorpedesign
_renders: @_truetopia_
_location: Roscoe, NY, USA

Here is what the designers have to say about the project: “The Crystal Lake Pavilion is designed to be used for meditation and yoga classes as well as group therapy. The pavilion is a site-specific work, embracing the surrounding natural environment through its all glass skin and structural transparency”

#2

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Zen Building
_build: @bideseconstrutora
_architecture: @ema_arquitetura
_interior design: @giulianomarchiorato
_landscaping: @danielnunes_paisagismo
_light design: @studioreginabruni
_energy efficiency: @blocobase
_location: #Curitiba #Brazil
_illustrations: @blackhaus_studio

To be located in Curitiba, Brazil in 2026, the @bideseconstrutora Zen building will become a new postcard and design landmark for the city. Its architectural project was designed by the @ema_arquitetura, highlighting curves and robust lines. The common areas were inspired by the Japanese wabi-sabi concept. Offering contemplation, the elements have been carefully selected, and the curatorship of furniture is derived from renowned Brazilian contemporary designers.

#3

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Tiangang Zhixing Village
_architecture: SYN Architects
_photographer: @archi_translator
_location: Baoding, #China

——— “The original village committee building was comprised of five single-storey arches and porches, sloping roofs, and brick walls, which were previously somewhat hidden from the villagers – but the rhythm created by the repeated arches provided the architect with inspiration. Taking the arches as a starting point, we have expanded their scale on the northeast extension of the original arches, establishing a connection to form a series of trumpet-shaped volumes, with the roof and walls formed by a thin, curving concrete shell structure. In addition to the enlargement of the original five arches, we have also created an arched volume with a similar scale along the wall facing the street, creating a public space adjacent to the building, and providing a welcoming entrance for visitors” say the architects.

#4

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Punta Majahua
_architecture: @zozaya_arquitectos
_photographer: @manololangis
_location: #Trancones, #Guerrero, #Mexico

—— “The concept of Punta Majahua was designed to create luxurious beachfront residences, with a very organic, and fluid architectural style that would integrate the best way possible to accommodate the site. The masterplan of the project has six buildings with three floors each, and five to eight residences making a total of thirty-nine units, a covered garage area, paddle court, a family swimming pool with a semi Olympic lap lane, an administrative office, a gym, staffing and service area, orchards for the resident’s consumption, and green areas. Taking advantage of the location and geographic morphology of the land, we made it our top priority to build in the best location imaginable for these residences, situating them the closest we could possibly get to the ocean, and hence, obtaining spectacular ocean views, privacy between units and orientation to the north, which is ideal by the beach for reducing energy consumption, so as to keep the units sufficiently cooled” say the architects.

#5

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Thavi Cosmetic Showroom
_architecture: @sava_architects
_location: Vihn, Ngh An, #Vietnam

——— “The existing three-story retail building was built in the early 2000s for the purpose of selling electrical and home appliances. The client approached SAVA to refurbish and renovate it into a well-being and beauty spa. The brief is to create a facade that is both inviting and attractive. The client also requested an abundance of natural light and greenery inside of each space, which is currently dark and moldy. Our solution is to use fiber-reinforced concrete (FRP) planters as the building facade. The planters are designed in modules for higher quality and quicker fabrication, and their sizes have been optimized for easy transportation using standard trucks available in Vietnam”, say the architects.

#6

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Villas Kaybé
_architecture: @estudio__ipa
_visualization: @raumvisual
_location: #Tulum, #QuintanaRoo, #Mexico

#7

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Casa en Chipre
_architecture: @balzararquitectos
_visuals: @boavaestudio
_location: #Cyprus

—— “The house in Cyprus was born from the intention of taking advantage of the best views of the sea and integrating into the steep terrain on which it is located. The house rests on two points on the ground, modifying it as little as possible. It also takes advantage of the privacy and beauty of the rock to protect yourself from the views of the neighboring views and its unevenness to have a wide belvedere with sea views. The strategy carried out for the house consists of placing the house on a single level, on which almost all of its program is arranged. The main access is from the roof level and in the center of the house, through a staircase carved into the rock, the great protagonist of the house”, say the architects.

#8

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Sorrento House
_architecture: @robkennonarchitects
_photographer: @derek_swalwell
_location: Sorrento, #Victoria, #Australia

Here is what the architect have to say about this project: “The built form follows the lie of the land and is orientated to take in the view. The ground floor is anchored to the undulating landscape while the upper level extends out into the tree canopy, perched up high to capture the sea breeze. A careful calculation of tree roots and footings enabled the internal living spaces to be brought into close proximity with the surrounding landscape. This sense of living amongst the trees is enhanced by large glass panels and receding frames that create an almost non-existent threshold between interior and exterior. From this vantage point, there are endless views of the sky, the landscape and coastline beyond. The project takes a pragmatic approach to planning, understanding the requirements of a multi-generational household. Bedrooms and bathrooms have been organised as self-contained modules so that all of the children and grandchildren can comfortably stay”.

#9

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Casa Ohma
_architecture: @taac.mx + @sarajourdann
_photographer: @ricardodelaconcha
_location: Punta Zicatela, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, #Mexico

The simplicity of the palette of colors and materials, using only the prevailing white, with details in wood and straw, and a touch of red, makes this project a unique architecture. What are your thoughts on it? Comment below!

#10

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Oaklands
_architecture: @joeadsettarchitects
_location: #Brisbane, #Queensland, #Australia

——— “The design explores the dualities of being both sculptural form & functional building. Its sensuous, curved form echoes the contours of the unusual topography of the hill it is situated on. The building is shaped to maximise the unspoiled natural views of the river below and the mountains in the distance. It has aspects of both growing from, as well as being inserted into this truly remarkable landscape”, say the architects.

#11

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Villa Cava
_architecture: @espacio18
_interior design: @kaypongrac
_photographer: @cesarbejarstudio
_location: #Aldea Zamá, #Tulum, #Mexico

——— “The project was created with the intention of bringing people together in a space that offers rest, inspiration, and personal growth. The villa features an architectural concept inspired by a cave (cenote) with natural overhead lighting provided by a glass-bottom pool. The luxury is given through nature, providing a connection with the surrounding environment. The interior design of Villa Cava is a sight to behold. It transforms the project into a highly livable, hospitality-grade home. The house is a habitable sculpture, discovered through a concrete portal built around two existing mature trees that leads to the lobby area. This area is illuminated from above through a pool, providing a warm welcome with the effects of water and light on the walls”, say the architects.

#12

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Building in Glyfada
_architecture: @314architecturestudio
_location: Glyfada, Greece

ArchitectureHunterAnalysis: What draws attention to this project is its asymmetry in the first 2/3 of the building, followed by symmetry in the remaining 1/3. Concrete is no longer a heavy element, due to the lightness that the thin thickness of the slabs transmits. The rhythm of the wooden profiles on the entrance façade creates a visual balance, which together with the round window, which is the only non-rectilinear element, makes the project a perfect design harmony.

#13

Image source: architecture_hunter

Interesting concept of a house in #Arizona created by @reverse.orientalism

#14

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Autumn Scenery
_design & visualization: @vardanian_shushan

#15

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: The Community Centre
_architecture: @sanjay_puri_architects
_location: Akluj, #India

——— “Each floor recesses or cantilevers out to create north facing terraces at each level so that every activity extends into an open space. The temperatures in this region are in excess of 35°C for 8 months annually with the sun in the southern hemisphere. Taking cognizance of this, the vertical circulation & services occupy the southern side to reduce heat gain with all the facilities opening up towards the north. The east and west sides are shielded with vertical fins to mitigate heat gain while allowing filtered light into the spaces.
The roof top is landscaped with a café space. Although the requirements were extensive within this small plot with no garden spaces at the ground level , the design generates open landscaped terraces amounting to 75% of the site area.Designed to be energy efficient The Community Centre in Akluj is contextual to the climate and creates open spaces useable throughout the day within the small plots space restraints”, tell the architects.

#16

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: The Ravine
_designer: @aworkofsubstance
_photographer: @tommasorivaphotography
_location: #Bali, #Indonesia

——— “The spatial experience blurs the line between the indoor and outdoor, as people are guided toward the calming greenery enveloping the property. Taking after Bali’s distinctive vernacular architecture, the environ divides itself into public and private areas, with courtyards for quiet reflection. Each floor’s layout ripples outward to lush vistas of trees, framed by generous openings that respect tropical architecture’s connectivity with nature — a connection sacred to Balinese architecture, which has long been influenced and shaped by its landscape of forests, rice terraces, and fields. Recalling each other in an infinite dialogue, nature and man-made structures intertwine in a contagious rhythm — bringing to life expressive musical pieces reverberating in sacred celebrations and popular festivities”, say the architects.

#17

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Villa Ginepro
_architecture: @cp_groupe
_film: @architecture_hunter
_frameless windows: @skyframe_global
_location: #Sardegna, #Italy
_images: @marcellomarianafotografia

Designed by @cp_groupe, Villa Ginepro is situated on the Costa Smeralda coastline in the northeastern part of Italy’s Sardinia Island. Costa Smeralda’s name derives from the shades of its water and its picturesque beaches adorned with rocks. To recreate the idyllic essence of this coastal stretch, the architects envisioned a round villa that features stones and large rocks. Large frameless sliding windows by @skyframe_global were specified by the architects, seamlessly connecting the interior and exterior spaces. The pool, with its emerald hue, reflects the coastal lagoons, and the villa’s facade showcases the local granite, capturing the essence of the region.

#18

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Luum Zama
_architecture: @colab_tulum
_photographer: @cesarbejarstudio
_location: #Tulum, #QuintanaRoo, #Mexico

The circular design creates a sense of flow and continuity throughout the entire space, while the pool that encircles the architecture provides a refreshing and tranquil atmosphere. The house is surrounded by lush vegetation, which provides a stunning natural backdrop that complements the minimalistic aesthetic of the spa. The combination of the circular design, the pool, and the beautiful vegetation creates a sense of harmony and balance that makes this design a true oasis of serenity and beauty.
_text: @architecture_hunter

#19

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Casa WS
_architecture: @vtaller
_visuals: @ver_3d
_location: Zapopan, Jalisco, #Mexico

The design of this house prioritizes the integration of nature with the man-made structure. The use of concrete as the primary building material ensures the durability and longevity of the house, while the different plans allow for a dynamic and diverse living experience. The house’s layout is carefully crafted to maximize natural light, creating a sense of harmony and tranquility between the interior and exterior of the home. The surrounding vegetation is incorporated into the design, with greenery creeping up the walls and a carefully crafted garden that blurs the line between the inside and outside of the house. This concrete house, embraced by lush greenery, is a testament to the harmonious relationship between architecture and nature.

#20

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Casa Vai / Dragones
_architecture: @vtaller
_visuals: @ver_3d
_location: Mérida, #Yucatán, #Mexico

This house features several arches that add a touch of exuberance to its minimalist design. The arches, while intricately designed, are kept simple and elegant to fit the overall aesthetic. The house is surrounded by lush vegetation, which seems to have taken over the space, embracing the structure in its natural beauty. The rest of the house follows a similarly minimalistic design, with clean lines and a neutral color palette that enhances the overall sense of calm and serenity. Despite the natural elements that have found their way inside, the house remains a beautiful and tranquil space.

#21

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Flipped Vault
_architecture & visuals: @wafai___

——— “The project’s standout feature is the use of three inverted concrete vaults that are gracefully supported by longitudinal bearing walls. This form as a primary architectural feature sets the stage for a unique and intriguing design, serving as a defining element of the house’s character. The design approach extends beyond the structural elements to create an interior ambience that complements the overall architectural concept. The inverted vaults create a sense of openness and spaciousness, while the choice of materials plays a crucial role in shaping the atmosphere of the project. The design incorporates an earthy color palette and warm materials to create a tranquil and restful ambience. The bearing walls are finished with stacked slate stone, which adds a touch of natural beauty and texture to the space. This material selection creates a visual contrast against the exposed concrete elements, introducing a dynamic interplay between organic and industrial aesthetics. Additionally, the use of ashed black wood for the majority of the interior surfaces adds warmth and a sense of refinement to the space, creating a relaxing and
inviting atmosphere”, says the architect.

#22

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Casa Acantilado
_architecture: @zozaya_arquitectos
_photographer: @rafaelgamo
_location: Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, #Mexico

“Casa Acantilado conceptualizes the idea of providing light to the fishermen who navigate daily, it is developed as an element that emerges from the rocks, focused on the making of the place, mimicking the context thanks to the local materials and forms used, putting into practice the craft techniques and the vernacular architecture of the site” tell the architects.

#23

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Casa Alferez
_architecture: @ludwiggodefroy
_photographer: @arorygardiner
_location: #MexicoCity #Mexico

The concrete house nestled within the forest is a striking sight to behold. From the outside, the structure blends seamlessly into the natural surroundings, with its rough, earthy finish and flat roofline. The minimalist facade has a box-window that frames the forest’s beauty. Upon entering, the interior reveals an open, airy space that is flooded with natural light due to diverse zenith openings. The same concrete finish extends to the walls, floors, and even the furniture, creating a sense of unity and harmony within the space. The home’s simplicity and rawness evoke a sense of tranquility and grounding, making it the perfect sanctuary for those seeking solace in nature.

#24

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Illyrius
_architecture: @gg_loop
_visuals: @kiasm.studio
_location: Tirana, #Albania

——— “A modular and parametric system of generous balconies and terraces extends the apartments outwards and integrates greenery into the building. A system of continuous balustrades composes the façade in an organized way allowing a constructive optimization guaranteeing an organic, dynamic and aesthetically ever-surprising effect. The project is inspired by the history of the Albanian people whose origins date back to the region of Illyria, the Balkan peninsula on the Adriatic Sea, inhabited by numerous tribes whose collective name derives from their founder, Illyrius precisely. Son of Cadmus and Harmonia, or through other sources of Polyphemus and Galatea, Illyria is the ancestor and first ruler of Illyria”, say the architects.

#25

Image source: architecture_hunter

_project: Casa Ó
_architecture: @tetro.architecture
_visuals: @igormacedo.arquiteto
_location: Nova Lima, Brasil

Here’s what the architects have to say about their work: “The Ó House is about centrality. To preserve the nature that exists there in the middle; then the house embraces and protects it”.

The post “The World Needs To See This”: 25 Times Architects Really Outdid Themselves appeared first on DeMilked.

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.

Remember the saga last year where the person who showed up to do the job wasn’t the same person who interviewed for it? Wondering how they pulled that off?

A reader recently forwarded me an email her spouse received from a company whose entire business model seems to be that they’ll pay you to get fraudulently hired for jobs that you then (mostly) don’t actually work. Read on.

Hi [redacted],

Hope all is well with you. This is [redacted], the CEO of [redacted company name], a software development company based in Atlanta. Nowadays, we are receiving an overwhelming number of offers, and we are experiencing a lack of talented resources who can effectively communicate with clients.

We see that you are a developer with expertise that matches our needs. We are interested in offering you a non-stop ongoing contract, which is flexible based on your availability.

Your responsibilities will include taking calls with recruiters, HR managers, or teams before and after securing a job. You will be representing yourself on a call, and the actual development work will be delivered by [redacted company name]. We will be responsible for handling everything else and also assist you with every call.

Regarding compensation for you to speak on interviews (that we will assist you to pass), we will pay you on an hourly basis until we win a job. Once we secure a job, you will be expected to take a daily or a weekly scrum meeting, depending on their team culture. You will take the 25% of income from the job for taking these calls.

Given our ability to manage multiple jobs at once, if you handle calls for multiple jobs, this position offers you an exciting and stable income.

I am interested in speaking with you to discuss this partnership further.

Well then.

A Kamloops, British Columbia real estate was caught on camera opening a homeowner's refrigerator, helping himself to a container of milk, and then chugging it directly from the carton. The agent, Mike Rose, apparently unlocked the home with a key in a lockbox and was waiting for clients to arrive when, he says, he became parched as a result of stress and new medicine he was taking. — Read the rest

hey! please follow @lamebook on instagram! thank you!

Hedy Lamar was an actress famous during the Golden Age. She was often dubbed as “The most beautiful woman in the world”. However, a lesser-known fact about her was that she also dabbled in science and was the inventor of the frequency technology which we now use in Wifi and Bluetooth. However, her ideas were brushed off or stolen and she spent her life wishing people would notice her brains and not just her beauty. 

There are many women who contributed to science but were overlooked as a result of gender. In fact, science often comes off as a men’s only club even though there’s a multitude of inventions created by women that have significantly changed the world. Today, we celebrate these unsung heroes and their accolades which have greatly advanced humanity. Scroll below to find out more about these innovative women, that have actively helped shape the world we live in and have likely significantly but silently influenced our tomorrow as well. 

#1 Margaret Eloise Knight – Paper Bag

Image source: Boston Sunday Post, en.wikipedia.org

Margaret Eloise Knight is known for inventing a machine that could shape and glue paper into a flat-bottomed bag. The popularity of her invention caught the eye of a man who stole her idea to patent it himself. When Knight took him to court, he stated that a woman “could not possibly understand such mechanical complexities.” Knight won the case by proving that she had designed the machine, earning herself the right to patent it. She invented over 100 machines during her career and patented 20 of them.

#2 Gladys West – Global Positioning System (GPS)

In 1978, Gladys West became the project manager of Seasat, the first satellite to monitor the changing conditions and features of the oceans. Her work eventually evolved into GEOSAT, a satellite that could create models of the surface of the Earth. With her team, she developed a program to compute satellite orbits with extreme accuracy, assisting in the formulation of a mathematical representation of Earth’s shape, the geoid. The geoid is a critical component of GPS technology, used to determine the precise location of a GPS receiver on the Earth’s surface.

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org, en.wikipedia.org

#3 Ada Lovelace – The First Computer Programmer

English Countess Ada Lovelace, daughter of poet Lord Byron and mathematician Anne Isabella Noel Byron, holds a unique place in the annals of science as the first computer programmer. Her collaborations with Charles Babbage on the Difference Engine project led her to recognize the machine’s potential beyond mere calculations. Lovelace was the first to publish an algorithm intended for this machine, thus earning her the title of the world’s first computer programmer.

Image source: picryl.com, en.wikipedia.org

#4 Shirley Jackson – Telecommunications Research

Theoretical physicist Shirley Jackson etched her name in history as the first African American woman to earn a doctorate from the prestigious MIT in 1973. With her groundbreaking work on subatomic particles at Bell Laboratories, she laid the foundation for inventions like the portable fax, the touch-tone telephone, solar cells, fiber optic cables, and the technology integral to caller ID and call waiting.

Image source: EdisonTechCenter, en.wikipedia.org

#5 Maria Telkes – First 100% Solar-Powered House

Maria Telkes, a visionary Hungarian scientist, introduced the world’s first thermoelectric power generator in 1947. Harnessing this groundbreaking technology and the principles of semiconductor thermoelectricity, she engineered the pioneering solar heating system for the Dover Sun House and designed the first thermoelectric refrigerator in 1953, securing more than 20 patents throughout her career.

Image source: New York World-Telegram and the Sun staff photographer, en.wikipedia.org

#6 Elizabeth “Lizzie” Magie – Monopoly

Elizabeth Magie crafted The Landlord’s Game in 1904. This innovative board game served as a critique of unchecked capitalism and was the first version of the iconic Monopoly. However, Charles Darrow claimed her game as his own and sold it to Parker Brothers in 1935. Eventually, the company tracked down Magie, but only offered her $500 for her groundbreaking invention. In 2019, Hasbro (the company that now owns the game) received criticism for releasing Ms. Monopoly, a supposedly feminist version of the game that still doesn’t recognize the woman behind the original concept.

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org, en.wikipedia.org

#7 Jeanne Villepreux-Power – Aquarium

French marine biologist Jeanne Villepreux-Power came up with an invention that significantly simplified the study of marine life: the aquarium. Her creation offered a controlled environment for observing marine species. Villepreux-Power improved her design by introducing two additional models. One featured a glass compartment within a cage for watching shallow-water dwellers, and the other consisted of a caged aquarium adjustable to different depths. Her work led her to become the first female member of the Catania Accademia in Sicily and numerous other scientific academies.

Image source: André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri, en.wikipedia.org

#8 Sarah Breedlove – Specific Hair Care Products

Better known as Madam C.J. Walker, Sarah Breedlove became the first self-made female millionaire in the United States. She was only 20 when she realized that black women struggled with hair loss and scalp diseases because of inadequate plumbing and harmful product ingredients. Over several years, she developed her own hair care product line, specifically targeting African American people, and branded them as Madam C.J. Walker, chosen to evoke Parisian luxury. She also set up a school to train hairdressers. This initiative created employment opportunities for thousands of African American women. As her wealth and influence grew, she made considerable donations to African American schools, orphanages, and retirement homes.

Image source: Scurlock Studio, en.wikipedia.org

#9 Hedy Lamarr – Frequency-Hopping Technology

Hedy Lamarr was a glamorous black-and-white film star, but did you know she was also a gifted inventor? She worked with a composer to develop the principle of “frequency hopping,” an innovation aimed at preventing torpedo control signals from being jammed by enemies. Even more impressively, this technology became the foundation for many modern-day inventions, including GPS and our precious Wi-Fi.

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org, en.wikipedia.org

#10 Helen Lee – DNA-Based Instant Blood Diagnostic Kit

Chinese medical researcher Helen Lee developed an instant blood diagnostic kit based on DNA that can immediately detect infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis B, and chlamydia. Her test cartridges, unlike others, don’t necessitate cold storage or transportation, making them ideal for regions with limited technical infrastructure.

Image source: European Patent Office, new.epo.org

#11 Grace Hopper – Computer Programming

In 1944, Grace Hopper co-designed Harvard’s behemoth Mark I computer together with Howard Aiken. Hopper’s ingenuity resulted in the compiler, a transformative tool that translated written language into computer code. She’s also behind the popularization of the term “debugging,” born while removing a moth stuck in the device.

Image source: James S. Davis, en.wikipedia.org

#12 Katalin Karikó – Modify Messenger Ribonucleic Acid

Katalin Karikó, a Hungarian American biochemist, developed a way to modify messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for safe use in humans. This innovation laid the foundation for mRNA-based vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, and heralded prospective therapies for cancer and heart disease.

Image source: European Patent Office, en.wikipedia.org

#13 Stephanie Kwolek – Kevlar

Stephanie Kwolek, a Polish American chemist, transformed material science in 1965 by inventing Kevlar. This super-material, five times stronger than steel, now underpins over 200 applications ranging from bicycle tires, body armor, and frying pans to building construction and musical instruments.

Image source: Science History Institute, en.wikipedia.org

#14 Gertrude B. Elion – The Woman Who Made Organ Transplants Possible

Gertrude B. Elion was the biochemist and pharmacologist behind multiple curative treatments. Her work contributed to the development of treatments for viral diseases, including one of the first treatments for AIDS. Last but not least, she’s behind the creation of azathioprine, the first immunosuppressive used to fight rejection following an organ transplant — one of the greatest medical advances in centuries.

Image source: CUNY TV, en.wikipedia.org

#15 Melitta Bentz – Coffee Filters

Originally a housewife, Melitta Bentz grew tired of the challenges associated with making coffee and decided to devise a solution. After testing numerous materials, she created a coffee filter, obtained a patent, and established a business for its production. Within a year, she was selling hundreds of filters, and by 1928, her company was employing dozens of people. Known for her generosity and supportive work schedules, she also instituted “Melitta Aid,” a welfare fund for her employees. And if the name sounds familiar, don’t be surprised: the Melitta Group is still making coffee, coffee makers, and filters today.

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org, en.wikipedia.org

#16 Mary Anderson – Windshield Wiper

During a visit to New York City in 1902, Mary Anderson observed the danger of driving in bad weather conditions. This motivated her to devise a mechanism — a lever inside the vehicle controlling a rubber blade on the windshield — designed to enhance visibility. Despite initial difficulties in marketing her invention, the windshield wiper eventually became standard equipment on Cadillac vehicles in 1922.

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org, en.wikipedia.org

#17 Nancy Johnson – Ice Cream Maker

Nancy Johnson forever altered our summers in 1843 when she earned a patent for a hand-operated ice cream maker — an innovation still utilized today. With her device, she turned sweltering hot days into opportunities for delicious, cooling relief.

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org, en.wikipedia.org

#18 Agnès Poulbot – Auto-Regenerating Tire Tread

Agnès Poulbot and co-inventor Jacques Barraud designed an “auto-regenerating” tire tread that enhances tire durability and performance, significantly reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions from vehicles equipped with them.

Image source: European Patent Office, new.epo.org

#19 Josephine Cochrane – Dishwasher

Josephine Cochrane’s invention, the mechanical dishwasher, transformed household chores forever. The device used pressurized water to clean dishes held in a rack and was initially marketed to hotels before becoming a standard home appliance.

Image source: Post of Romania, en.wikipedia.org

#20 Katharine Burr Blodgett – Non-Reflective Glass

During World War II, Katharine Burr Blodgett was a crucial mind behind several inventions, including gas masks, smoke screens, and a technique for de-icing airplane wings. However, her work in chemistry resulted in her most important creation: non-reflective glass. This technology is used in several applications today, including eyeglasses, car windshields, and computer screens.

Image source: Smithsonian Institution, en.wikipedia.org

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