Who received the first US patent for the telephone in 1876?
AnswerAlexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was granted the US telephone patent in March 1876.
History · Facts & stats
Inventors facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about inventors and inventions, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
What does a patent give an inventor?
AnswerExclusive rights to an invention for a limited time
A patent lets the holder stop others from making, using or selling the invention for a set period.
Going deeper
Who invented dynamite?
AnswerAlfred Nobel
Alfred Nobel patented dynamite in 1867 and later used his fortune to fund the Nobel Prizes.
Elisha Otis is known for inventing what?
AnswerA safety brake for elevators
Otis's safety elevator caught the car if the rope broke, helping make tall buildings practical.
Swiss engineer George de Mestral was inspired by burrs stuck to his dog's fur to invent what?
AnswerThe hook-and-loop fastener
Studying burrs under a microscope led de Mestral to create hook-and-loop fasteners.
Expert level
Actress Hedy Lamarr co-invented a technology based on what idea?
AnswerFrequency-hopping radio signals
In 1942 Hedy Lamarr and George Antheil patented frequency hopping, an idea later used in wireless communications.
Which Scottish inventor gave the first public demonstration of a working television in 1926?
AnswerJohn Logie Baird
John Logie Baird demonstrated moving television images in London in January 1926.
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