Give it up for these innovators in science! We have these five creators, researchers and inventors to thank for very disparate things – like the discovery of the Plesiosaur, raincoats that keep us dry and the piano to keep us entertained!  Read on to find out which incredible minds we have to thank – and for what!

1. Charles Macintosh’s humble raincoat. If you’ve ever stood in the pouring rain but managed to stay dry under your raincoat, you have Charles Macintosh to thank. In 1823, the Scottish chemist developed waterproof fabric after trying to find alternative uses for waste products like coal and tar. Of course, there was room for improvement, for Macintosh’s original waterproof fabric was easily punctured and the materials deteriorated quickly.  Over time the raincoat has been perfected, and we are very grateful for Macintosh’s invention.  We’re also very dry!
2. Mary Anderson’s hardworking windshield wiper. In 1903, Mary Anderson patented the “window cleaning device for electric cars and other vehicles.” Today we know it as the windshield wiper!  Mary came up with the idea when she was riding in a trolley and she noticed that the driver had to stop frequently to exit the trolley and remove snow and sleet from the front window.  She knew there had to be a better way to handle this.  So, Mary crafted and patented a design that allowed drivers to clear their windows from inside their car.  Her original design relied on the driver pulling a lever inside the car, but it would eventually develop into the modern windshield wiper we know today.  Thanks, Mary!
3. David Bushnell’s water-loving submarine. David Bushnell was born into a farming family in rural Connecticut, but his passion for knowledge drew him to New Haven to attend Yale College (now Yale University). Bushnell spent much of his time experimenting with exploding, underwater gunpowder charges, and in 1775 he invented the first submarine.  It was named “Turtle” and it was immediately used in the Revolutionary War to help attack the British.  While it was mostly unsuccessful during its attacks, it proved that the submarine had potential to become a valuable asset to America’s military.
4. Bartolomeo Cristofori’s ubiquitous piano. Italian musician Bartolomeo Cristofori is credited with giving us the “harpsichord that plays soft and loud.”  However, you may know it as the piano.  Cristofori added a hammer mechanism to a harpsichord and its ability to strike the strings at different intensities allowed for softer and louder sounds.  Unfortunately, Cristofori’s invention did not receive much acclaim in his lifetime, but the piano has evolved into one of the most beloved instruments in history.
5. Mary Anning’s massive marine reptiles. Mary Anning grew up on the southern shores of Great Britain in an area rich with fossils from the Jurassic period. Mary had a challenging childhood, for her family was dependent upon the sales of their fossil findings in order to survive. When Mary was only 10 or 12 years old, she discovered one of the first specimens of the Ichthyosaurus- a large marine reptile.  She went on to make many more skeletal discoveries, including another large marine reptile, the Plesiosaur.