Inventions Facts for Kids
Genius facts about great inventions
The microwave oven was invented by accident in 1945 when engineer Percy Spencer noticed a radar device had melted the chocolate bar in his pocket. He patented the first microwave cooker the following year.
Post-it notes were invented in 1974 when Art Fry at 3M used a weak adhesive that a colleague had accidentally created. The glue was considered a failure because it was not sticky enough — until Fry realised it was perfect for bookmarks.
The first bicycle-like device was invented in 1817 by German baron Karl von Drais and was made entirely of wood. It had no pedals — riders pushed themselves along with their feet.
Walter Hunt invented the safety pin in just three hours in 1849 while twisting a piece of wire. He sold the patent for $400 to pay off a debt — not realising it would become one of the most useful inventions in history.
Paper was invented in China around 105 AD by a court official named Cai Lun, who made it from bark, rags, and old fishing nets. It took more than 500 years for the secret of papermaking to reach Europe.
Louis Braille invented his raised-dot reading system in 1824 when he was just 15 years old. He based it on a military code used by soldiers to read messages in the dark.
LEGO bricks were invented by Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Kristiansen in 1949, and the name 'LEGO' comes from the Danish words 'leg godt' meaning 'play well'. Today, about 36 billion LEGO bricks are made every year.
Spectacles were first invented in Italy around 1290 and were a luxury item that only wealthy people could afford. Early glasses had to be held up to the face because the arms that hook over your ears were not invented until the 1700s.
Wilhelm Röntgen accidentally discovered X-rays in 1895 while experimenting with cathode ray tubes and noticed they could pass through skin and reveal bones. He called them 'X' rays because he did not know what they were.
The magnetic compass was invented in China more than 2,000 years ago and was first used for fortune-telling rather than navigation. Sailors only began using compasses at sea around 1000 AD.