During the 20th century, citizens of France made major contributions to the health, fashion, travel and entertainment of the world. The majority of people think of the damage to France from both World Wars and the effects it left on their economy when they think of France in the 1900’s. But the truth is that they are responsible for many inventions that have made a huge impact on the whole entire world’s life. They contributed to changes in travel, medicine, and also many things that have made peoples lives easier and safer.
For instance, George Mathe was responsible for the development of the first successful bone marrow transplant procedure to ever be preformed. Researchers had cured mice of leukemia by annihilating all the diseased bone marrow with radiation and then injecting healthy bone marrow. The researchers never tested any of this on ANY human being. In 1958, a nuclear reactor accident occurred in Yugoslavia and several physicists were exposed to the radiation. Dr. Mathe injected healthy bone marrow into those affected by the radiation and they survived.
An additional discovery was made by a French doctor who was named Jerome Lejeune who discovered the existence of Down Syndrome. HE worked his whole entire life to help those families with disabled children and traveled the world giving speeches about genetics.
The worlds of national defense, travel and of the study of underwater sea life have been greatly influenced by inventors from France. The sonar and ultrasonic age that now exists came from inventors from France. Throughout World War 1, Paul Langevin worked on ways to detect German submarines. This led to discovering the use of sonar systems that are so important still to this day. The modern day helicopter was designed by French professors. It was the very first machine to raise itself vertically from off the ground. For those who love to explore and study underwater creatures, Jacques Cousteau designed a high pressure cylinder that provides oxygen to divers. It straps to your body so you can breath while exploring underwater. This device is called the Aqua-Lung and a majority of all scuba divers use it as a part of their gear now.
French engineers did not always think about science, medicine or national defense. In the late 1950’s Andre Cassagnes created a new toy called the Etch-a-Sketch, which is now in the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York! He used many metal particles and the tip of a pencil in the design. Those that are sold today still are made using the same design of a red frame box with two knobs. Over 100 MILLION have been sold of this toy that thousands of children play with all throughout their years of growing up.
Another memorable French design was called the “atom”. This design had nothing to do with science at all. A French engineer named Louis Reard is credited for this design in 1946. He was in a competition to create “the world’s smallest bathing suit”. He called his version of this bathing suit the bikini and it was a bra top with two triangles that were connected by strings for the bottom. His idea came for it when he noticed that many women wanted to get a better tan. He claimed that a two-piece bathing suit could not be considered a real bikini unless it could be pulled through a wedding ring. This is using barely ANY FABRIC at all!
The final product I’d like to mention was designed by a French catering company salesman in 1960. His name was Pierre Verdon and his product was called the Robot-Coupe. It later became known as the Le Magi-Max in France. The Cuisinart Food Processor was born after he got help from an American designer. This invention has helped cooks and caterers prepare food much easier in kitchens today.
Lives all over the world have been influenced by these French inventions and too many more to mention. The French are very intelligent and amazing for creating these ideas that have helped the rest of the world in the areas of health, fashion, travel and entertainment.
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