How many inventors can claim that?! Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876. As the father of modern neuroscience, the list of his discoveries in this field is quite long, and most of them have very complicated names. Lin-Manuel Miranda. Gonzlez-Sanabria became the highest ranking Hispanic at NASA's Glenn Research Center in 2002. She also added co-inventor to her resume when she helped develop three patents in the field of optics. 11 Inspiring Famous Hispanic Scientists. I was surprised initially by the limited information available in peer-reviewed publications, credible online sources, and research data sets. Any references to data, third party rates, or products are subject to change without notice. Victor L. Ochoa Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. The Palmaz-Schatz Stent was given a patent, Johnson & Johnson, a healthcare provider, provided funding, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it. Bellis, Mary. Rea Ann Silva and her now famous invention. Ellen grew up in the Golden State and attended San Diego State University for a degree in Physics. Although progesterone was used in contraception before 1951, it needed to be injected. Isaac_Peral_(Ayuntamiento_de_Cartagena).jpg. Then it was up to Spanish-language media to get the word out. That honor for the earliest incubator ever developed goes to a device created in 1800s France. Modern scholars generally agree that "race . Here is a list of the best technological inventions developed by Latinos. The scientists and inventors listed below have invented Minecraft, GimKit, are kid scientists, scientists they may have seen on social media, and many more! In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, we took a look at some of those influential figures who have brought important innovations to a variety of . Dr. Baez led a long life of contribution to the sciences before passing away in 2007. 1938-2009. Born in Mexico in 1850, Victor Ochoa invented electric brakes for streetcars. Uruguayan entrepreneur and biochemist Alejandro Zaffaroni created a system for drugs to be administered to the body through skin bandages. He continued to study and teach privately until his death in London in July of 1906 at the age of 101. Ultimately, ALZA launched more than 20 prescription medications before being bought by Johnson & Johnson. Can you describe the problem? Born in Hungary and then later he migrated to Argentina, Jozsef Bir Laszlo was granted U.S. Patent 2,258,841 October 14, 1941 for a "Fountain Pen" - the father of the modern ballpoint pen. He would later, in 1907, sell the invention to the Seattle-based American Brake Company. Paper-bag-making machine. The system's upgraded version, reCAPTCHA, is now used by almost all web servers. His life story would make a great Hollywood movie. Rounding out our list of famous Hispanic inventors is Argentinian-born Dr. Domingo Liotta, a man regarded as a pioneer in the medical community. Later, in 2002, Silva was able to capitalize on the product and develop a commercial product that would earn her numerous honors and propel her business to the top of the cosmetics sector. She's written countless articles on health and wellness and contributed to the book "The Handmaid Mama" by Mary Helen Leonard as a prenatal yoga expert. He . Madam C.J. As a veteran of three space flights, logging over 719 hours in space, she was also an electrical engineer with patents on high-tech optical . Airplane. From searching for solutions to climate change challenges to finding cures for terminal illnesses, Latin American women innovators are . Born to a family of health professionals in Panama, Murillo-Rohde studied . Guillermo Gonzlez Camarena invented an early color television system. In 1790, Jos Antonio de Alzate invented the automatic shutter, which avoids overflowing in water tanks, cisterns and toilets. Though grouping such a diverse collection of people under a single rubric -- particularly the politically expedient but dubious term Hispanic - isn't ideal, it does make room to explore their wide-ranging array of backgrounds and accomplishments. Argentinian surgeon Domingo Liotta developed the artificial heart in the late 1950s. Year / period: 1871. As a teacher of vocal pedagogy, Garca was extremely curious about the mechanics of the human voice. Artificial Heart. He sold the patent in 1907 to the American Brake Company in Seattle. Mexican American physicist Albert Baez co-invented the x-ray microscope with Dr. Paul Kirkpatrick in 1948. He recently won the prestigious Lemelson-MIT prize and currently works full-time as the CEO of Duolingo. According toEncyclopedia Britannica, from 2013-to 2018, Dr. Ochoa worked as the director of NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. And one group of Latinos who are deserving of recognition is made up of scientists and inventors whose . In addition to inventing, Ochoa was also an ardent supporter of the Mexican Revolution and at one point there was a $50,000 bounty on his head. X-Ray microscope. His invention is still useful today in the study of phonics and the diagnosis of oral conditions like laryngitis. Walker (December 23, 1867-May 25, 1919) Smith Collection / Gado / Getty Images. He is best known as the creator of an electrical glove called the "AcceleGlove," which converts American Sign Language hand gestures into spoken and written words. Occasionally, miracles can occur in neonatal intensive care units, but its developments in technology that have made it easier for premature babies to survive. The first incubators were used in France in 1880, but Lvanos design, called the Incuven, regulates temperature and reduces risk of contamination to babies. It uses magnetic attraction to make it easier for trains to slow down. He is the president of Instabook Corporation, based in Gainesville, Florida. Each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated across the United States. Sara Alvarez Kleinsmith is a writer and wellness professional whose work has appeared in The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, and We Are Mitu. Born in Colombia, Miguel Forero was granted U.S. Patent 5,336,562 for "Polyolefin Yarns with Good Performance for Rugs and Carpets and Method of Producing the Same" and U.S. Patent 5,556,684 "Manufacturing Process for Synthetic Fiber Carpets Fixed by Fusion at Regular Intervals with Crests or Tufts, without Using Glues or Using Small Amounts of Glues, where Threads Do not Loosen and thus Obtaining the Carpets.". Garcia did not foresee the significance of laryngoscopy for medicine; instead, he was concerned about the movements associated with the development of the singing voice. She was born Sarah Breedlove on 12/23/1867 in Delta Louisiana. Learn about our current legislative initiatives. His primary invention was the Ochoaplane, created around 1908-1911, which underwent several designs over the years, starting with a simple version mounted on two bicycle frames, with a small motor in between, that weighed only about 250 pounds. Born in Uruguay, Alejandro Zaffaroni was one of the most innovative and impactful pioneers in the history of biotechnology. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde, PhD, RN (1920-2010): Changing the face of nursing. However,more famously, Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman astronaut, participating in four space shuttle flights for a total of 978 hours in space. According to Nature.com,Zaffaroni played a major role in the development of extended-release tablets, implantable devices, transdermal patches (notably the NicoDerm CQ nicotine patch), and inhalers, such as Adasuve. He also served as the head of research at a pharmaceutical company that developed one of the earliest effective birth control pills. Von Ahn is also a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the language-learning software Duolingo and a consulting professor in the Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mention their names and achievements below to share with the Direct Auto community! After spending his early years in Spain, he enlisted in the Spanish navy in 1866. He is also credited with developing clips for pencils and pens, which enable them to fit into shirt pockets. The most recent biotech business formed by Zaffaroni is Alexza Pharmaceuticals. Hispanic Heritage Month is in full swing. Nikola Tesla, (born July 9/10, 1856, Smiljan, Austrian Empire [now in Croatia]died January 7, 1943, New York, New York, U.S.), Serbian American inventor and engineer who discovered and patented the rotating magnetic field, the basis of most alternating-current machinery. He was the first to transmit the human voice via radio waves, sending a signal from one radio tower to another. "Hispanic or Latino refers to a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race. From award-winning astronauts to some of the brilliant botanists of the 21st century, we're celebrating these famous Hispanic scientists who've had a positive impact on their field. Although Lvano's invention, the Incuven, regulates temperature and lowers the risk of infection for infants, it was not the first ever developed. A brief listing of notable Black American inventors. He created his . Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. Walker pioneered the use of female sales agents, who . These are the most ironic inventions ever. Since then Villafaa has continued to be an innovator (with several patents) and a serial entrepreneur, founding another major company, St. Jude Medicalknow for the St. Jude valveas well as ATS Medical and several smaller companies. According to the Smithsonian Institution, Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman astronaut. The first time I discovered Dr. Ellen Ochoa (1958-) Mexican-American, who invented Optical Lenses for Space was on Google. Marianne Paguia Gonzalez, a technologist and systems engineer at JPL-NASA, gives us insights into her work for the space agency and a whole lot of pointers on getting into NASA. 1. ThoughtCo, Jul. Her tool included spoken descriptions of each topic and comprised a sequence of text and drawings on reels, all arranged under a magnifying glass sheet with a light for reading in the dark. Walker, she manufactured beauty products for other African-American women using formulas she developed after working for a pharmacist who taught her chemistry. ", Born in Bolivia, Hugo Tern Salguero was granted U.S. Patent 4,055,156 for a "Rotary Engine. The above are but a small yet significant selection of the many Hispanic people making great strides in various aspects of human life. Sign language can be complex and not everyone is fluent. The development of sign language dates back to the 17th century and has given those with hearing loss the ability to communicate easily. According to the National Museum of American History, it was implanted in a patient while they waited for a real human heart to be available for transplant. The Peral submarine is considered the worlds first electric battery operated submarine. His invention became famous in its day when opera singer Jenny Lind, who had had vocal damage from overuse in her early 20s, gave him credit for rescuing her career, thanks in part to Garca's groundbreaking device. Historically, September gives us plenty of reasons to rejoice. Today, transdermal drug patches are used to distribute contraceptives, antidepressants, nicotine, and pain medications. When not in prison, he was busy filing for USand international patents and even incorporated the International Airship Company in Patterson, New Jersey, presumably to manufacture his Ochoaplane. Returning to the topic of Nobel Prize winners, besides chemist Mario Molina mentioned above, there are several Hispanic Nobelists in the sciences who deserve recognition. Khler "for theories concerning the specificity in development and control of the immune system and the discovery of the principle for production of monoclonal antibodies. He spent time in both nations during the following years until passing away in Chile in 2003. First observed as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, the commemoration has expanded to a month-long event honoring the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. These inventions have changed the world in the last decade. Dr. Tang is named on 84 patents and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2018 for his co-invention of the OLED. 10 Awesome Latino Inventions. Victor Ochoa was the Mexican American inventor of the Ochoaplane. Courtesy of a Fulbright scholarship, he came to the USto earn a PhD in electrical engineering at George Washington University, where he received two USPatents (7,565,295 and 8,140,339) both for a method and apparatus for translating hand gestures for the AcceleGlove. These innovative creations and more wouldn't exist today if it weren't for the brilliant minds of these 10 African American inventors. In 1951, Miramontes, then a college student, was under the direction of Syntex Corp Ceo George Rosenkranz and researcher Carl Djerassi. Uruguayan-born Zaffaroni moved to the United States to pursue his doctoral degree at the University of Rochester. Ochoa is also known for inventing the ochoaplane, an adjustable wrench, and a pen and pencil clip, among other inventions. The app provides free language education covering 33 languages and serving about 300 million users worldwide according toNBC News. 10. Dr. Jose Hernandez-Rebollar was born in Puebla, Mexico, on the 14th of July, 1969. These Hispanic inventors, many of which toiled in obscurity have incredible stories that are worth sharing. Contrary to popular belief, the norethindrone version of the first birth control pill (Enovid-10) that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved in 1960 was created by a rival. In 1936, Ochoa returned to Sinaloa, Mexico, where he reportedly died nine years later. His best-known invention, the Ochoaplane was a small flying machine with collapsible wings. In conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month, the Department of Commerce's United States Patent and Trademark Office is recognizing some Hispanic Americans whose inventions contributed to the nation's social and economic well-being. He immigrated to the United States in 1884 and . But perhaps most important of all, September is when National Hispanic Heritage Month begins! The Spanish word for a pencil sharpener is el sacapuntas, and the first rendition of this invention was very unlike the one that we use today. Even after his death in 2014, Zaffaronis work continues to live on. America's white-male-centered imaginings of inventorship and patenting extend beyond the nation's borders, in . Additionally, on September 16 and September 18, respectively, Mexico and Chile commemorate their respective independence days. He would later make history by developing the first total artificial heart to be successfully implanted in a human in 1969. Spaniard Isaac Peral designed the first electrically operated submarine. A former captain in the Mexican Federal Army, he also served two years in jail and lost his U.S. citizenship for organizing an army in the United States for the purpose of invading Mexico. After his release, President Theodore Roosevelt restored his citizenship by a special proclamation in 1906. She created the mechanical encyclopedia to reduce the weight of the books that her students had to carry, make studying more appealing, and customize the learning materials to meet the needs of each individual student. The result was the creation of the term "Hispanic", first introduced in the US Census in 1970. Biography of Alexander Graham Bell, Inventor of the Telephone, Inventor Samuel Crompton and His Spinning Mule, Important Innovations and Inventions, Past and Present, Biography of Thomas Adams, American Inventor, May Calendar of Famous Inventions and Birthdays, The Most Impactful Inventions of the Last 300 Years, Mechanical Television History and John Baird, Black History Month - African American Patent Holders - B, August Calendar of Famous Inventions and Birthdays, Elephant Toothpaste Chemistry Demonstration, September Calendar of Famous Inventions and Birthdays. The word kayak means "hunter's boat", as they were originally built for hunting and used to drag animals . There she developed three optics-related patents, which help computers process information more quickly and efficiently. File a trademark application and other documents online through TEAS. Bellis, Mary. Before Ochoa was born, her family, originally from Mexico, relocated to California, where she was born and raised. Manny Villafaa at St. Jude Medical headquarters, June 27, 2013. Often know as Madame C.J. Lets start with inventor Victor LeatonOchoa, who was a fascinating character to say the least. In order to keep heart arteries open after an angioplasty, Palmaz created a balloon-expandable stent in collaboration with physician Richard Schatz. Bez is also the father of renowned folk singer Joan Baez. The list below is only a sampling of noted scientists through history and working in STEM fields today. Downing's design was the precursor for . Madam C.J Walker was an inventor, entrepreneur and first African American woman to become a millionaire. It was expanded to its current month-long duration by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. Chief among them was the invention of the diamond knife or scalpel and a significant advancement in the creation of electromagnetic lenses for electron microscopy based on superconducting technology. Linares invented the pressurized space suit in 1936, initially to protect people flying in hot air balloons to high altitudes. Gonzlez Camarena publicly demonstrated his color television with a transmission on August 31, 1946. In putting together my thoughts for Hispanic Heritage Month, I called on my old friend Dr. Jose (Joe) V. Martinez. Do you have a favorite Hispanic inventor of your own? Moving on to another impactful inventor is Albert Bez who co-invented an x-ray reflection microscope in 1948. Please let me know if you have recommendations for additional Hispanic inventors and innovators to include in my database! With only an elementary school education, Black inventor (and son of an enslaved parent), Garrett Morgan came up with several . She also contributed to creating three patents in the field of optics. And, on the 8th of September, 1888, it was launched. Thats why in the early aughts, Mexican scientist Jos Hernndez-Rebollar invented an electric glove that can turn sign language into spoken words and text. What NASAs work reveals about humanity's future, Phone-charging clothes material could go on sale in 'a few years' The Blueprint, How AI and RFID could solve the surge in lost airport luggage, Bing and Bard AI bubble burst: Microsoft, Googles Alphabet stocks tumble, The Titanic disaster and her lost souls: The how and why of the dead, The oldest ice skates made from bones were discovered in China, 7 Inventions from Mexico That Would Go on to Change the World, Hitec's 100 Most Influential Hispanic Leaders in Tech, 9 World-Changing Inventions from Spanish Inventors, Lyndon Johnson established the celebration, Kirkpatrick-Bez X-ray reflection microscop. While serving as Secretary of Health, he traveled to China and Israel, where he signed agreements with President Ephraim Katzir and Premier Chou En-lai. After having her invention stolen by a man who claimed that there was no way a woman could have invented such a . His invention was used in NASA's Voyager mission in 1979 to take pictures and video of Jupiter. Mara Gonzlez patented processes to diagnose invasive amebiasis, a parasitic disease that kills over 100,000 people each year. For his invention, Camarena became the first person in history to receive a patent for the development of a color television (U.S. Patent 2,296,019). Dr. Liotta developed the organ in 1969 at a hospital in Houston, Texas. For example, alongside Luis Alvarez, there are at least three other National Inventors Hall of Fame members who are Hispanic: Miguel Angel Ondetti, inducted in 2004 for captopril, the first of a new class of drugs known as angiotensin converting enzyme, or ACE, inhibitors (US Patent4,105,776); Julio Palmaz, inducted in 2006 for the first commercially-successful intravascular stent, known as the Palmaz Stent (US Patent4,733,665); and Alejandro Zaffaroni, inducted in 2012 for transdermal bandages for administering drugs (US Patent3,598,122). The sweltering summer heat begins to fade. As impressive as this was, the submarine's absence of a double hull and a diesel engine only limited its use to coastal actions. We are fortunate to have his papers in the Archives Center at the National Museum of American History. The X-ray reflection microscope was created in 1948 by Paul Kirkpatrick, a Stanford physics professor, and Mexican-American physicist Albert Vinicio Bez (1912-2007). A more recent Lemelson Center connection was made with Manuel Manny Villafaa, who is briefly highlighted in the Centers Places of Invention exhibition and whose papers are in the Archives Center along with his heart valve collection housed in the Museums Division of Medicine and Science. Ms. Mar-Spinola received a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from San Jose State University and a J.D. Mario Molina. Chewing Gum. The Three-Light Traffic Signal, Invented by Garrett Morgan in 1923. He also founded the Venezuelan Institute for Neurological and Brain Studies, the predecessor of the current Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC). Right: The Ochoaplane invented by Victor Ochoa around 1908-1911, undated, AC0590-0000009. Born in California, Ellen Ochoa was granted U.S. Patent 4,838,644 for "Position, Rotation, and Intensity Invariant Recognizing Method " and two other optical-related patents. Peral was becoming impatient and felt he was losing control of his invention. Miramontes wrote a new procedure for the synthesis of the progestin norethindrone, the active ingredient for what would become the oral birth control pill. Called the "Enciclopedia Mecnica" (Mechanical Encyclopedia), she received several patents for the device. Born in Los Angeles, California in 1958, Ellen Ochoa is probably the best known example of a successful Hispanic inventor and innovator. She would later spend many years working as a makeup artist for musicians like Dr. Dre, Eve, Tupac, and Brandi, among others, during her time at MTV. The World's Greatest Inventors And What They Invented Invented: A variation on the induction telegraph The magnitude of an inventors work can often be defined by the esteem in which he is held by fellow inventors. Learn about these trailblazing Hispanic Americans who made history. Patents, including U.S. Patent 5,971,952 for a "Breast Pump System Using Wall Vacuum Source.". According to the Smithsonian Institution, Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman astronaut. She participated in four NASA missions and spent 978 hours in space. Domingo Santo Liotta, who was born in Argentina to Italian immigrants in 1924, became a pioneer in heart surgery. She was looking for a way to allow her students to carry fewer books to and from classes, so she created a mechanical encyclopedia. Patents 4,229,845 and 5,046,203 for a "Collapsible Hammock Support.". In 1995, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology and has also been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. (1941-) is an engineer and inventor. 05. With an undergraduate degree in physics and a masters and doctorate in electrical engineering, she served as a researcher at Sandia National Laboratories and NASAs Ames Research Center and is the co-inventor ofthree optics-related USPatents(4,674,824, 4,838,644, and 4,949,389). Courtesy of NASA, A few stories of often overlooked inventors and innovators in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Check trademark application status and view all documents associated with an application/registration. Eyeglasses. Although today underwater travel and leisure is so commonplace that you can stay at underwater hotels like these, it was once a leading-edge and daring technological advancement. The color transmission was broadcast direct from his laboratory in Mexico City. Check out these everyday things that were actually invented for World War I. ", Born in Chile, Luis Alejandro Cavallo Caroca was granted U.S. Design Patent D582,231 for the "Ornamental Design of a Corkscrew" and also U.S. Design Patent D584,122 for the "Ornamental Design of Scissors.". His model was made using two mirrors and the sun for an external light source. Frank S. Greene, an electrical engineer, inventor, teacher, and advocate, was a Silicon Valley powerhouse. After more than 20 years of study and labor by Lvano and his colleagues, the United States granted Lvano's patent. He also supported tele-education for students attending medical school. VentureWell reports that Hispanic inventors file for patents at half the rate of Black inventors, a trend the USPTO is determined to . Chemist, Luis Miramontes co-invented the contraceptive pill. From 1958 to 1965, Arias Surez was the director of Chile's Instituto de Investigacin y Ensayos de Materiales (IDIEM, or Materials Research and Testing Institute). The audio and video signals were sent in the 40-meter band at 115 MHz. Downing who invented a public mailbox design that featured both an outer and inner safety door, ensuring that when a letter or package went in, it would be safe until it was picked up by the mailman. Dr. Ellen Ochoa, a veteran astronaut shown here on the flight deck of the space shuttle Atlantis on April 15, 2002, is currently the 11th director of NASAs Johnson Space Center. For the next three hours, you enjoy the vibrant colors and pristine pictures as your favorite team defeats the opposition. Though annoying at times, reCAPTCHA helps computers differentiate between robots and human beings, keeping internet users safe from malware and spam. This Spanish inventor was responsible for the creation of one of the lesser-known Spanish inventions, the pencil sharpener. This is a kind of irregular combat where a small . He made a number of inventions related to high speed trains. By Camilo Smith September 28, 2015 5:48 pm. Victor Celorio was granted US patents 6012890 and 6213703 for his invention. Mexican American physicist Albert Baez co-invented the x-ray microscope with Dr. Paul Kirkpatrick in 1948. What Were Other Inventions Made by Hispanics? If this scenario is a regular occurrence in your household, you have Guillermo Gonzlez Camarena to thank. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2012. Well, Zaffaroni helped create multiple biotechnology companies that are responsible for many brilliant medical breakthroughs. Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, STS-110 Atlantis mission specialist, works the controls of the Canadarm2 robotic arm in the Destiny Laboratory on the International Space Station, April 11, 2002. Additionally, he promoted the use of TVs to broadcast educational shows to Mexicans living in rural areas with high rates of illiteracy. Walker (real name Sarah Breedlove), born to formerly enslaved sharecroppers, was orphaned at just seven years old . In 1991, Ann Tsukamoto and her team patented a discovery that would change the medical field forever stem cell transplants. The Alaskan Inuit people were the first to build and use kayaks, at least 4,000 years ago. Born in Puerto Rico, Olga D. Gonzlez-Sanabria was granted U.S. Patent 4,505,998 for "Alkaline Battery Containing a Separator of a Cross-Linked Polymer of Vinyl Alcohol and Unsaturated Carboxylic Acid." Ms. Mar-Spinola is currently serving her second term as a PPAC member. Liotta's device was implanted in a 47-year-old patient with severe heart failure. This includes people who reported detailed Hispanic or Latino groups.". Of course there are many more inventors and innovators who merit further attention. Any copies of the burned patents that were obtained from the inventors were given a number as well, ending in 'X' to mark them as part of the destroyed batch. The inventor was issued U.S. Patent No. In 2005, the Lemelson Center featured Mexican graduate student inventor Jos Luis Hernndez-Rebollar in our Innovative Lives program series. Famous Hispanic people and inventors help us carry on Hispanic Heritage Month with pride and teach future generations about their culture and its contributions. NASA has much to thank the Spanish inventor.