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Inventions

© Debbie St. Germain

An invention is something a person creates that did not exist before. Your CD player, computer, car, television, and all of your electronic devices are objects that did not always exist. They exist now because someone had the vision and imagination to create something that would change the course of our daily lives.

Someone like the Reverend Julius A. Nieuwland, who wanted to create a synthetic rubber that was resistant to abrasion and wear. We know that product as neoprene.

Men like John Ericsson, who changed history when he invented propellers, which led to his design of the first warship: the Ironclad. Without Nicolaus A. Otto, we would not have the gasoline engine. Tape recorders would not exist without the genius of Joseph Begun, who built the first recorder for broadcasting, later used in the 1936 Olympics. From these ideas, he developed the first consumer tape recorder.

You probably don't think about it, but without Douglas Engelbart, you might not be sitting at your computer reading this article. Engelbart's vision became a reality when he invented the mouse, which made possible the future of home computing and the Internet. You can thank Philo T. Farnsworth, who at 14 years of age sketched out an idea for electronic video on a blackboard, which led to the invention of television.

There are many unknown and known inventors who, through their dreams, created the products that you use in your everyday life. If you would like to learn more about inventors and inventions, or learn how you too can be an inventor, follow the links below.

American Inventors and Inventions Short biographies and stories on inventors and inventions.

Ancient Chinese Technology Learn about the inventions and discoveries that made China a leader in the advancement of science and technology.

Devine Time Take an interactive journey with inventions, focused on technology. You need to sign in with a screen name to gain access to the site, but no personal information is required.

Important Historical Inventors and Inventions A list of names and inventions. There are no biographies, but the list can be a good starting point if you are looking for names or inventions for your reports.

Invention Snatchers Students can learn the fundamentals of Internet research and discover more about inventions by participating in the invention derby. Grades 4 through 8.

Inventors and Inventions Selected stories on inventors and inventions from the Discovery Channel.

The copyright of the article Inventions in Science for Kids is owned by Debbie St. Germain. Permission to republish Inventions in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.