OMG Originations (Part 3 of Mini-Series)

This week's inventions are safety essentials! Without these inventions, some experiences would be a lot scarier!

1. SUBMARINE TELESCOPE LAMP! - Sarah Mather

• The submarine telescope lamp is a device that allows you to see while underwater! It consists of a tube with a lamp on the ends so you can see at night. You know the things you see in movies that pop up above water to spy on others, that was invented by the marvelous Sarah Mather!

• Sarah Mather started getting into inventions when she was only 14 years old. She had met a famous inventor, Benjamin Coston, who was well known in Philadelphia. However, Benjamin Coston became seriously ill and was not able to carry through his plans. Sarah Mather decided to follow through with his idea, and then in 1845, the submarine telescope lamp was patented!

• This device was even used during the Civil War! The North used it to spy on Confederate sea vessels in order to track movement and plans.

1. MARINE SIGNAL FLARE! - Martha Coston

• Signal flares are extremely important when going out into the ocean, or basically anywhere in the water. Signal flares are used when lost at sea, or if in danger. The flares produce a light that is spotted by the US Coast Guard and signals them to come and rescue you. They are very crucial to safety!

• Remember Benjamin Coston? This is his wife, Martha Coston! She too followed up on Benjamin Coston’s plans. Because he was seriously ill and unfortunately passed away, Martha became determined to finish out his plans. However, her life was full of tragedies, after she lost her husband, her mother became ill. Soon, her family's finances were depleted. At the age of 21, she had nothing to her name except 3 young children. She spent all her time working on the signal flare. She contacted the Navy, chemists, and manufactures. In August of 1858, she acquired US Patent No. 23536 for her work on her signal flare.

1. KEVLAR! - Stephanie Kwolek

• Kevlar is a very tough material, even stronger than steel! It is used in bulletproof vests, combat helmets, and face masks! Kevlar is used in armor for protection because of its high strength and low weight. It has high impact resistance, so it is the idea material for bulletproof vests!

• Stephanie Kwolek was a chemist. She invented Kevlar by accident! She was actually trying to make a lighter weight fiber for tires. A wonderful oops! Kwolek was best known in the 1950s and 1960s with polymers. She had many patents to her name for different types of polymers. She invented strong, stiff, and flame-resistant fibers!