Did you know that January 17 is a holiday? Many of you might not know about it, but it’s actually called “Kid Inventors Day.” It was created to pay homage to all of the child inventors of the world, and to encourage children to dream big and come up with their own inventions.
So let’s have a look back at some of the most amazing kid inventors of all time.
1. Philo Farnsworth — TV
Philo Farnsworth conceptualized a way to project images onto a piece of glass when he was 14 years old. His concept was so complex that even the scientist who helped him was baffled by it.
2. Margaret Knight — Flat-Bottomed Bags
When she was 12, Margaret Knight, known as “the female Edison,” developed a machine that created flat-bottomed bags. She went on to invent roughly 90 different products, and she held 26 patents.
3. Louis Braille — Braille
Fifteen-year-old Louis Braille invented a way for blind people to read with his now-famous dotted reading mechanism.
4. Chester Greenwood — Earmuffs
At 15 years old, Chester Greenwood ran into a conundrum. In the winter, his ears were constantly cold. Wrapping a scarf around his head didn’t feel right, and putting gloves over them was annoying, so he invented earmuffs.
5. Param Jaggi — Exhaust Cleaners
In 2008, a 15-year-old named Param Jaggi invented a way to clean up exhaust from cars so that they released less carbon dioxide into the air.
6. Peh Yong — Cooling Umbrella
A six-year-old invented a cooling umbrella to be used in hot, sunny weather.
7. Benny Benson — Alaskan Flag
Thirteen-year-old Benny Benson was chosen as the winner of a contest to design Alaska’s flag.
8. Frank Epperson — Popsicles
At only 11 years old, Epperson invented the popsicle by mistake when he left his drink outside in the cold with a stirring stick in it.
9. Blaise Pascal — Calculator
Of course a calculator was invented by a kid. Kids hate doing math. In 1642, Pascal invented the first calculation machine for his father, who was a tax collector. He was only 18 years old.
10. Ralph Samuelson — Water Skiing
Ralph Samuelson invented water skiing in 1922 at the age of 18 by using wooden skis with leather bindings around them.
11. George Nissen — Trampoline
Gymnast George Nissen invented the trampoline when he was only 16 years old. He was inspired by the nets that caught trapeze artists, and he built the concept in his garage.
12. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster — Superman
When they were both 18, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created the most iconic superhero of all time.
(via MNN)
Take that, adults! These inventors prove that the imaginations of children should never be underestimated.