Test your knowledge with these top questions!
Which company created Post-it Notes after Spencer Silver developed a weak adhesive in 1968?
Spencer Silver made a weak adhesive at 3M in 1968 and Art Fry used it for Post-it Notes in 1980.
Manufacturers created a modern version of Bubble Wrap that cannot pop to solve what issue?
Traditional rolls consist mostly of air and are bulky to store. The modern version features interconnected channels that ship completely flat until inflated by the user.
Which Swiss engineer invented Velcro after studying burrs stuck to his dog in 1941?
George de Mestral studied burrs on his dog after a 1941 hike and copied the hooks for Velcro.
Bubble Wrap originally failed in the consumer market because inventors intended it for what use?
Inventors Al Fielding and Marc Chavannes designed the material in 1957 to capitalize on a popular home decor trend, but consumers found the plastic aesthetic unappealing.
Which DuPont chemist accidentally discovered Teflon while making a new refrigerant in 1938?
Roy Plunkett found a slippery white solid in a refrigerant cylinder in 1938, later sold as Teflon.
Bubble Wrap finally achieved commercial success by providing what specific service?
IBM needed a reliable way to ship their delicate, new 1401 data processing systems in 1959 without relying on messy packing materials like newspaper or sawdust.
Which Raytheon engineer invented the microwave oven after a magnetron melted chocolate in 1945?
Raytheon engineer Percy Spencer found a magnetron melted chocolate in 1945 and built the microwave oven.
The signature pockets in Bubble Wrap resulted from what initial manufacturing error?
The creators were trying to fuse two plastic shower curtains together using a heat-sealing machine, which accidentally captured the iconic small pockets of air.
Why did the fashion industry initially reject Velcro in the 1950s?
Early versions were made of bulky nylon that lacked elegance, so designers favored traditional zippers and buttons until space-age fashion became a trend.
Why did NASA extensively use Velcro during the Apollo space missions?
In zero gravity, unsecured items could float away and damage equipment, so astronauts even placed patches inside their helmets to scratch their noses.