News You Can Use: All Inventions Big and Small

An accidental invention to “cure” colorblindness

This month, Smithsonian Magazine has the story about an accidental discovery that’s led to glasses that correct colorblindness. Originally developed for surgeons to protect their eyes during laser surgery and help them differentiate between blood and tissue, the glasses were so popular that many started wearing them outside of the operating room. But no one discovered how they could help with colorblindness until a colorblind friend of the scientist who engineered the material borrowed his “sunglasses.” Much to the friend’s surprise, he could see orange for the very first time.

New book, Big Science, discusses the highlights of invention on the grandest scale

This past Sunday, The New York Times reviewed a new book that discusses the inventions behind big science and the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of innovation. Big Science by Michael Hiltzik talks about the history of huge science projects like cyclotrons, the Superconducting Supercollider, and ITER. The book’s themes show how scientists, engineers and inventors have worked together to create incredible capabilities.

American History Museum launches “Places of Invention” exhibit

If you’re in the Washington, D.C. area anytime soon, be sure to stop by the American History Museum to check out its new exhibit about American ingenuity. Using stories and anecdotes, the exhibit focuses on people and places that have pursued new ideas throughout history. And it includes stories from all across the United States – from the invention of precision manufacturing in Hartford, Connecticut in the late 1800s to clean energy innovations in Fort Collins, Colorado in the 2010s.

Check out this article from The Washington Post that highlights what to look for at the exhibit.

Want to learn more about how IV encourages interdisciplinary invention? Our recent post on how we approach invention sessions offers some insight into one of our processes.