Random Fun Facts about Inventions

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We’ve created this list of 275 random fun facts about inventions for your enjoyment and for you to share with friends!

Random Fun Facts about Inventions


Table of Contents

Random Fun Facts 1-25

Here are 25 random fun facts about inventions:

  1. The wheel is considered the most important invention in human history.
  2. The light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison in 1879.
  3. The microwave oven was invented by Percy Spencer in 1945.
  4. The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.
  5. The first electric washing machine was invented in 1908.
  6. The first fax machine was invented in 1843.
  7. The first computer mouse was invented by Doug Engelbart in 1963.
  8. The first automobile was invented by Karl Benz in 1886.
  9. The first camera was invented by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1826.
  10. The first airplane was invented by the Wright brothers in 1903.
  11. The first artificial heart was invented by Dr. Robert Jarvik in 1982.
  12. The first steam engine was invented by Thomas Newcomen in 1712.
  13. The first television was invented by John Logie Baird in 1926.
  14. The first helicopter was invented by Igor Sikorsky in 1939.
  15. The first electric guitar was invented by Adolph Rickenbacker in 1931.
  16. The first ice cream maker was invented by Nancy Johnson in 1843.
  17. The first traffic light was invented by Garrett Morgan in 1923.
  18. The first air conditioner was invented by Willis Carrier in 1902.
  19. The first submarine was invented by David Bushnell in 1775.
  20. The first pencil with an eraser was invented by Hymen Lipman in 1858.
  21. The first battery was invented by Alessandro Volta in 1800.
  22. The first printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440.
  23. The first ballpoint pen was invented by László Bíró in 1938.
  24. The first zipper was invented by Gideon Sundback in 1913.
  25. The first digital camera was invented by Steven Sasson in 1975.

Random Fun Facts 26-50

Here are another 25 random fun facts about inventions:

  1. The first ATM machine was invented by John Shepherd-Barron in 1967.
  2. The first pacemaker was invented by Wilson Greatbatch in 1958.
  3. The first rubber band was invented by Stephen Perry in 1845.
  4. The first safety pin was invented by Walter Hunt in 1849.
  5. The first windshield wiper was invented by Mary Anderson in 1903.
  6. The first can opener was invented by Ezra Warner in 1858.
  7. The first fire extinguisher was invented by George Manby in 1818.
  8. The first diving suit was invented by Augustus Siebe in 1839.
  9. The first bicycle was invented by Karl von Drais in 1817.
  10. The first traffic cone was invented by Charles P. Rudabaker in 1914.
  11. The first lawnmower was invented by Edwin Budding in 1830.
  12. The first safety razor was invented by King C. Gillette in 1901.
  13. The first disposable diaper was invented by Marion Donovan in 1950.
  14. The first bar code was invented by Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver in 1948.
  15. The first synthesizer was invented by Robert Moog in 1964.
  16. The first calculator was invented by Blaise Pascal in 1642.
  17. The first digital watch was invented by Hamilton Watch Company in 1972.
  18. The first Velcro was invented by Georges de Mestral in 1941.
  19. The microwave oven was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar in his pocket melted.
  20. The first electric washing machine was invented in 1908 by Alva J. Fisher.
  21. The first car radio was invented in 1929.
  22. The first cell phone was invented in 1973 by Motorola engineer Martin Cooper, who made the first call to his rival, Joel Engel, at Bell Labs.
  23. The first computer mouse was invented in 1964 by Douglas Engelbart.
  24. The first electric guitar was invented in 1931.
  25. The first video game was invented in 1958.

Random Fun Facts 51-75

Here are another 25 random fun facts about inventions:

  1. The first television remote control was invented in 1950.
  2. The first telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.
  3. The first typewriter was invented in 1868 by Christopher Latham Sholes.
  4. The first ATM machine was invented in 1967.
  5. The first digital camera was invented in 1975.
  6. The first electric clock was invented in 1840 by Alexander Bain.
  7. The first fountain pen was invented in 1884.
  8. The first hearing aid was invented in the 17th century.
  9. The first light bulb was invented in 1879 by Thomas Edison.
  10. The first pacemaker was invented in 1950.
  11. The first photocopier was invented in 1938.
  12. The first record player was invented in 1877 by Thomas Edison.
  13. The first sewing machine was invented in 1790 by Thomas Saint.
  14. The first steam engine was invented in 1712 by Thomas Newcomen.
  15. The first telephone answering machine was invented in 1898.
  16. The first traffic light was invented in 1868 by J. P. Knight.
  17. The first video cassette recorder was invented in 1956.
  18. The first wristwatch was invented in 1868.
  19. The first artificial heart transplant was performed in 1982.
  20. The first atomic clock was invented in 1949.
  21. The first balloon flight across the English Channel was in 1785.
  22. The first bicycle was invented in 1817.
  23. The first helicopter flight took place in 1907.
  24. The first hot air balloon flight was in 1783.
  25. The first human heart transplant was performed in 1967.

Random Fun Facts 76-100

Here are another 25 random fun facts about inventions:

  1. The first powered airplane flight was in 1903.
  2. The first satellite was launched in 1957.
  3. The first successful parachute jump was made in 1797.
  4. The first successful steamboat was invented in 1807 by Robert Fulton.
  5. The first successful submarine was invented in 1620 by Cornelius Drebbel.
  6. The first successful telephone call was made in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell.
  7. The first transatlantic telegraph cable was laid in 1866.
  8. The first airplane flight across the Atlantic was in 1919.
  9. The first artificial satellite was launched in 1957.
  10. The first automobile was invented in 1885 by Karl Benz.
  11. The first digital computer was invented in 1937.
  12. The first manned mission to the moon was in 1969.
  13. The first personal computer was invented in 1975.
  14. The first satellite navigation system was invented in 1978.
  15. The first successful heart transplant was performed in 1967.
  16. The first steam locomotive was invented in 1804.
  17. The first webcam was created to monitor a coffee pot at Cambridge University.
  18. The first portable computer, called the Osborne 1, weighed 24 pounds.
  19. The first alarm clock was created by Greek philosopher Plato.
  20. The paperclip was invented in 1899 by a Norwegian named Johan Vaaler.
  21. The first successful parachute jump was made in 1797 by André-Jacques Garnerin.
  22. The first electric traffic light was invented in 1912 by Lester Wire.
  23. The first computer mouse was invented in 1963 by Douglas Engelbart.
  24. The first calculator was created in the 17th century by the French mathematician Blaise Pascal.
  25. The first successful helicopter flight took place in 1939, by Igor Sikorsky.

Random Fun Facts 101-125

Here are another 25 random fun facts about inventions:

  1. The first electronic television was invented by Philo Farnsworth in 1927.
  2. The first commercial jet airplane was the British de Havilland Comet, which made its maiden voyage in 1952.
  3. The first air conditioning unit was invented in 1902 by Willis Carrier.
  4. The first artificial heart was implanted in a human in 1982.
  5. The first mobile phone call was made in 1973 by Motorola engineer Martin Cooper.
  6. The first successful heart transplant was performed in 1967 by Dr. Christiaan Barnard.
  7. The first successful kidney transplant was performed in 1954 by Dr. Joseph Murray.
  8. The first successful liver transplant was performed in 1967 by Dr. Thomas Starzl.
  9. The first ATM (Automated Teller Machine) was installed in a London bank in 1967.
  10. The first email was sent in 1971 by computer engineer Ray Tomlinson.
  11. The first website was created in 1991 by British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee.
  12. The first commercial digital camera was sold by Kodak in 1991.
  13. The first 3D printer was created in 1984 by Chuck Hull.
  14. The first successful human-powered flight was achieved by the Gossamer Condor in 1977.
  15. The first successful solar-powered flight was achieved by the Solar Challenger in 1981.
  16. The first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.
  17. The first digital computer, called the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), was invented in 1946.
  18. The first airplane, the Wright Flyer, was flown by the Wright brothers in 1903.
  19. The first electric car was created in 1834 by Thomas Davenport.
  20. The first successful steam-powered locomotive, called the Rocket, was built in 1829 by George Stephenson.
  21. The first practical light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison in 1879.
  22. The first radio transmission across the Atlantic Ocean was made by Guglielmo Marconi in 1901.
  23. The first successful human flight by a powered aircraft was made by Orville Wright in 1903.
  24. The first jet engine was invented by Sir Frank Whittle in 1930.
  25. The first successful submarine was built in 1620 by Dutch inventor Cornelius Drebbel.

Random Fun Facts 126-150

Here are another 25 random fun facts about inventions:

  1. The first successful steamboat was built in 1807 by Robert Fulton.
  2. The first commercial typewriter was invented by Christopher Sholes in 1868.
  3. The first electric washing machine was invented in 1908 by Alva J. Fisher.
  4. The first vacuum cleaner was invented in 1901 by Hubert Cecil Booth.
  5. The first disposable razor was invented by King Camp Gillette in 1901.
  6. The first modern toothbrush was invented in 1938 by Dupont de Nemours.
  7. The first automatic dishwasher was invented in 1886 by Josephine Cochran.
  8. The first traffic light was invented in 1868 by J.P. Knight.
  9. The first modern sewing machine was invented by Isaac Singer in 1851.
  10. The first vending machine was invented in 1883 by Percival Everitt.
  11. The first artificial snow was produced in 1949 by the chemical company Snow Floss.
  12. The first battery-powered flashlight was invented by David Misell in 1899.
  13. The first roller skates were invented in the 1700s by Belgian inventor John Joseph Merlin.
  14. The first modern bicycle was invented in 1885 by John Kemp Starley.
  15. The first helicopter with a single main rotor and tail rotor configuration was invented by Igor Sikorsky in 1939.
  16. The first gas-powered automobile was invented by Karl Benz in 1886.
  17. The first successful airplane flight by a woman was made by Harriet Quimby in 1911.
  18. The first successful parachute jump from an airplane was made by Leslie Irvin in 1919.
  19. The first successful hot air balloon flight was made by the Montgolfier brothers in 1783.
  20. The first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth was Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.
  21. The first spacecraft to land on the Moon was the Apollo 11, in 1969.
  22. The first successful spacecraft landing on Mars was the Viking 1, in 1976.
  23. The first successful spacecraft to explore Jupiter was the Galileo, in 1995.
  24. The first successful spacecraft to explore Saturn was the Cassini-Huygens, in 2004.
  25. The first successful spacecraft to explore Pluto was the New Horizons, in 2015.

Random Fun Facts 151-175

Here are another 25 random fun facts about inventions:

  1. The first cell phone was invented by Martin Cooper in 1973.
  2. The first successful heart transplant was performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard in 1967.
  3. The first artificial heart was implanted in a human in 1982.
  4. The first successful human genome sequencing was completed in 2003.
  5. The first 3D printer was invented in 1986 by Charles Hull.
  6. The first digital camera was invented by Steve Sasson in 1975.
  7. The first successful solar-powered airplane flight around the world was completed in 2016.
  8. The first successful autonomous vehicle (self-driving car) was developed by Google in 2009.
  9. The first commercial drone delivery was made by Amazon in 2016.
  10. The first successful hoverboard (a self-balancing scooter) was developed in 2013.
  11. The first wearable fitness tracker was developed by Fitbit in 2009.
  12. The first commercial electric car was developed by Tesla Motors in 2008.
  13. The first computer mouse was invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1963.
  14. The first graphical web browser was developed by Tim Berners-Lee in 1990.
  15. The first computer game, Spacewar!, was developed in 1962 by Steve Russell.
  16. The first video game console, the Magnavox Odyssey, was released in 1972.
  17. The first computer virus was developed in 1971 by Bob Thomas.
  18. The first successful mass-market personal computer was the Apple II, released in 1977.
  19. The first laptop computer was developed by Xerox in 1973.
  20. The first MP3 player was developed by Saehan Information Systems in 1997.
  21. The first online bookstore, Amazon.com, was launched in 1995.
  22. The first social networking site, Six Degrees, was launched in 1997.
  23. The first instant messaging service, ICQ, was launched in 1996.
  24. The first search engine, Archie, was developed in 1990.
  25. The first successful e-commerce transaction was made by a pizza hut in 1994.

Random Fun Facts 176-200

Here are another 25 random fun facts about inventions:

  1. The first smartphone was the IBM Simon, released in 1993.
  2. The first successful crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter, was launched in 2009.
  3. The first successful peer-to-peer file sharing platform, Napster, was launched in 1999.
  4. The first successful online auction site, eBay, was launched in 1995.
  5. The first successful digital music download store, iTunes, was launched in 2003.
  6. The first successful electronic book reader, the Sony Librie, was launched in 2004.
  7. The first successful smartwatch, the Pebble, was launched in 2013.
  8. The first successful commercial flight was made by the Wright brothers in 1903.
  9. The first successful jet engine flight was made by the British in 1941.
  10. The first successful supersonic flight was made by Chuck Yeager in 1947.
  11. The first successful moon landing was made by the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.
  12. The first successful space shuttle launch was made by the Columbia in 1981.
  13. The first successful Mars rover was launched by NASA in 1996.
  14. The first successful reusable rocket, SpaceX’s Falcon 9, was launched in 2015.
  15. The first successful GPS satellite was launched in 1978.
  16. The first successful communication satellite was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.
  17. The first successful artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.
  18. The first successful nuclear power plant was built in Obninsk, Russia in 1954.
  19. The first successful fusion reactor, the Joint European Torus, was built in 1983.
  20. The first successful fuel cell vehicle, the Honda FCX, was launched in 2002.
  21. The first successful electric car, the General Motors EV1, was launched in 1996.
  22. The first successful wind turbine was built in Scotland in 1887.
  23. The first successful solar cell was built by Bell Labs in 1954.
  24. The first successful hydroelectric power plant was built in Appleton, Wisconsin in 1882.
  25. The first successful gas turbine power plant was built in Switzerland in 1939.

Random Fun Facts 201-225

Here are another 25 random fun facts about inventions:

  1. The first successful robot, the Unimate, was invented by George Devol in 1954.
  2. The first successful motion picture, The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat, was made by the Lumière brothers in 1895.
  3. The first successful animated feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, was made by Walt Disney in 1937.
  4. The first successful video game, Pong, was created by Atari in 1972.
  5. The first successful computer mouse was invented by Doug Engelbart in 1964.
  6. The first successful personal computer, the Apple II, was launched by Apple in 1977.
  7. The first successful graphical web browser, Mosaic, was developed by Marc Andreessen in 1993.
  8. The first successful digital camera, the Kodak DCS, was launched in 1991.
  9. The first successful 3D printer, the SLA-1, was invented by Chuck Hull in 1984.
  10. The first successful touchscreen phone, the IBM Simon, was launched in 1993.
  11. The first successful smart home device, the X10, was developed in 1975.
  12. The first successful barcode scanner was developed by N. Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver in 1948.
  13. The first successful calculator, the Curta, was invented by Curt Herzstark in 1948.
  14. The first successful compact disc, the CD, was developed by Philips and Sony in 1982.
  15. The first successful DVD player, the DVD-101, was launched by Toshiba in 1996.
  16. The first successful MP3 player, the MPMan, was launched in 1998.
  17. The first successful e-commerce website, Amazon.com, was launched in 1995.
  18. The first successful online auction site, eBay, was launched in 1995.
  19. The first successful social media site, Six Degrees, was launched in 1997.
  20. The first successful instant messaging service, ICQ, was launched in 1996.
  21. The first successful blogging platform, Blogger, was launched in 1999.
  22. The first successful online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, was launched in 2001.
  23. The first successful search engine, Archie, was launched in 1990.
  24. The first successful online payment system, PayPal, was launched in 1998.
  25. The first successful virtual reality headset, the Oculus Rift, was launched in 2016.

Random Fun Facts 226-250

Here are another 25 random fun facts about inventions:

  1. The first successful electric toothbrush, the Broxodent, was launched in 1954.
  2. The first successful disposable razor, the Gillette Blue Blade, was launched in 1901.
  3. The first successful safety razor, the Gillette Safety Razor, was invented by King Camp Gillette in 1901.
  4. The first successful paper clip, the Gem, was invented by Johan Vaaler in 1899.
  5. The first successful ballpoint pen, the Biro, was invented by László Bíró in 1938.
  6. The first successful mechanical pencil, the propelling pencil, was invented by Samual Mordan and John Isaac Hawkins in 1822.
  7. The first successful stapler, the Hotchkiss stapler, was invented by Henry Hotchkiss in 1895.
  8. The first successful post-it note, the Press ‘n Peel, was invented by Spencer Silver in 1968.
  9. The first successful sticky tape, the Scotch tape, was invented by Richard Drew in 1930.
  10. The first electric toothbrush was invented in Switzerland in 1954.
  11. The first cell phone was invented in 1973 by Martin Cooper.
  12. The first digital camera was invented in 1975 by Steve Sasson.
  13. The first video game console, the Magnavox Odyssey, was released in 1972.
  14. The first DVD player was sold in Japan in 1996.
  15. The first touchscreen phone, the IBM Simon, was released in 1993.
  16. The first 3D printer was created in 1984 by Chuck Hull.
  17. The first GPS system was created in the 1970s by the United States Department of Defense.
  18. The first artificial heart was implanted in a human in 1982.
  19. The first pacemaker was implanted in a human in 1958.
  20. The first successful kidney transplant was performed in 1954.
  21. The first successful liver transplant was performed in 1963.
  22. The first successful heart transplant was performed in 1967.
  23. The first successful lung transplant was performed in 1983.
  24. The first successful pancreas transplant was performed in 1966.
  25. The first successful hand transplant was performed in 1998.

Random Fun Facts 251-275

Here are another 25 random fun facts about inventions:

  1. The first artificial knee replacement was performed in 1968.
  2. The first artificial hip replacement was performed in 1960.
  3. The first contact lens was invented in 1887 by F.E. Muller.
  4. The first eyeglasses were invented in Italy in the 13th century.
  5. The first hearing aid was invented in the late 19th century.
  6. The first stethoscope was invented in 1816 by René Laennec.
  7. The first X-ray machine was invented in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen.
  8. The first MRI machine was invented in 1971 by Raymond Damadian.
  9. The first CT scanner was invented in 1972 by Godfrey Hounsfield.
  10. The first ultrasound machine was invented in 1957 by Ian Donald.
  11. The first ECG machine was invented in 1901 by Willem Einthoven.
  12. The first EEG machine was invented in 1929 by Hans Berger.
  13. The first endoscope was invented in the early 1800s by Philip Bozzini.
  14. The first dental drill was invented in 1864 by George Fellows Harrington.
  15. The first paper clip was invented in 1899 by Johan Vaaler.
  16. The first zipper was invented in 1893 by Whitcomb Judson.
  17. The first safety razor was invented in 1901 by King Camp Gillette.
  18. The first disposable razor was invented in 1901 by Benjamin Gilmartin.
  19. The first air conditioner was invented in 1902 by Willis Carrier.
  20. The first vacuum cleaner was invented in 1901 by Hubert Cecil Booth.
  21. The first automatic dishwasher was invented in 1886 by Josephine Cochrane.
  22. The first washing machine was invented in 1851 by James King.
  23. The first clothes dryer was invented in 1892 by George Sampson.
  24. The first microwave oven was invented in 1945 by Percy Spencer.
  25. The first electric toaster was invented in 1893 by Alan MacMasters.
  26. The first electric kettle was invented in 1891 by Arthur Leslie Large.
  27. The first electric iron was invented in 1882 by Henry W. Seeley

We hope you liked these random fun facts about inventions!

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