The impact of women on Science, technology and innovation improve the lives of millions of people. Thanks to their ingenuity and dedication, many of them create solutions that revolutionized different industries and areas of knowledge. These inventions not only generated social and economic changesbut they also positioned their creators as global references.
Today, many of these inventions are used daily and remain fundamental in modern life. Below, we present five of the most important inventions created by women that, in addition to changing history, generated million-dollar profits.
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Oil refining and petrochemical processes around the world are guaranteed thanks to the creation of Edith Flanigen who allows this industry to earn millions
5 million-dollar inventions created by women
1. Urine Test Strips – Helen Free
Free, one american chemistry, revolutionized the field of medicine when he developed the urine test strips in 1956. Together with her husband, Alfred Free, Helen created this device to monitor blood levels. glucose in patients with diabetes, improving diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The strips, which change color when detecting glucose, allow for quick and easy testing both in laboratories and at home.
The impact of this invention was enormous. Before its creation, diabetes testing was complicated and time-consuming. With test strips, glucose measurement became accessible and efficient, saving lives and improving the quality of life of millions of people. Helen Free was also a pioneer in the use of these strips to detect other diseases, such as urinary infections.
Today, test strips remain a key component in medical diagnosis and an indispensable product in the monitoring of diabetic patients worldwide. Your creation generated millions of dollars and transformed the way we understand medical testing.
2. Anti-leukemia drug – Gertrude B. Elion
Gertrude B. Elion, a notable american biochemistry, was responsible for one of the most important advances in the lfight against cancer: drug development 6-mercaptopurineused to treat leukemia. His work in the 1950s changed the landscape of oncological treatments and paved the way for the creation of new medications.
Elion not only discovered 6-mercaptopurine, but also led the research of Imurana drug that allowed kidney transplants to be performed without the body rejecting the organ. These discoveries not only saved countless lives, but also earned this incredible professional the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1988.
His career was an example of perseverance and commitment. Despite having faced barriers for being a woman in a field dominated by men, Elion demonstrated that her work could not only transform medicine, but also had the potential to generate a million-dollar economic impact, thanks to the commercialization of her discoveries.
3. Molecular sieves for oil refining – Edith Flanigen
This brilliant chemistry changed the way the oil with his invention of molecular sieves in 1956. These tools, made of microporous crystalline structures, allow purify and separate mixtures hydrocarbon complexes. This technology became essential in oil refining and significantly reduced energy costs in industry.
Flanigen’s invention not only improved the efficiency of gasoline production, but also had a great impact on the petrochemical industrybeing applied in water purification and other industrial processes. Throughout her career, Edith Flanigen registered more than 100 patents and received several awards for her contribution to science.
Thanks to its invention, oil production is cleaner and more efficient, which not only benefits companies in the sector, but also the environment. Their work has generated millions in profits and remains crucial to the energy industry.
4. Disposable diaper – Marion Donovan
Donovan, a American architect, revolutionized the world of maternity when in 1951 she patented the first version of the disposable diaper. Tired of the repetitive and cumbersome tasks of washing cloth diapers, Donovan invented a waterproof cover that kept babies dry and made life easier for parents.
Despite the initial resistance from the manufacturers, the professional persevered and ended up selling the rights to her invention for one million dollars, a huge figure for the time. Its creation was the first step towards the modern disposable diaper, which became an indispensable product for parents around the world.
Through his ingenuity, Donovan made parenting easier and created a million-dollar industry that, to this day, continues to grow and evolve. His invention changed the lives of generations of families and remains one of the products most used in the domestic environment.
5. Maritime signaling with flares – Martha Coston
This woman was a key inventor in the maritime fieldcreating a system of signaling with flares that saved thousands of lives on the high seas. In 1859, after perfecting some sketches by her late husband, Coston patented a system of flares with colored flashes that allowed communication between ships in the middle of the night.
This invention was adopted by the United States Navy during the Civil war, giving them a crucial strategic advantage. Coston flares were not only used by the armed forces of several countries, but also by commercial and private vessels. His invention had a massive impact on maritime safety and generated millions of dollars in sales.
Martha Coston Not only was she a successful inventor at a time when women had little access to the industrial world, but she also created a company that lasted for more than a century, producing and improving its signaling systems.
Source: Ambito

I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.