10 Secrets You Didn’t Know About NASA
5. The Stuff They Invented (And The Stuff They Didn't)
Perhaps the most-cited things NASA "invented" are the hook-and-loop fastener, better known as Velcro, and Polytetrafluoroethylene, which is thankfully referred to most commonly as Teflon.
However, NASA played zero part in the genesis of either of these.
The fastener was invented by a Swiss man named George de Mestral, who set up the Velcro company in 1950s. NASA were among the first major bodies to use the invention, as it allowed astronauts to get in and out of heavy space suits with ease.
As for Teflon, that was invented back in the '30s, long before NASA was even a thing. It acts as a very efficient heat shield and the agency use it all the time.
So, NASA didn't invent these two things, but that doesn't mean they're totally useless.
Research into alternative means of oxygen creation led to the discovery of substances used in modern baby formula. And, in the '90s, an employee invented a sensor that paved the way for modern cameraphones.
NASA didn't help you cook dinner or fasten your shoes, but it did make taking pictures of your baby feeding a lot easier.