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Diverse Voices: Blood Transfusion Pioneer Dr. Charles Drew

Raise a pint (of blood) in honor of Dr. Charles Drew’s life-saving research and inventions!

Blog

Inventing Life-Saving Epinephrine Auto-Injectors

Peanuts—a tough nut to crack for those with allergies.

Blog

Nurse Innovations Crucial to Pandemic Response

During times of crisis, nurses turn to their innate innovative behaviors to derive new solutions for the needs of their patients.

Blog

Disaster Board Games

Board game inventions can help us cope with crises.

Blog

Lupe Hernandez and the Invention of Hand Sanitizer

Sorting out the facts in an oft-told story.

Blog

Remembering Dr. Patricia Bath

Pathbreaker, physician, educator, role model, and inventor of the Laserphaco Probe for the treatment of cataracts.

Beyond Words

Inventing Green: Inventor Profiles

Contemporary inventors in diverse fields are committed to "inventing green." Here are a few of their stories . . .

Encouraging Innovative Thinking

The Legacy of Dr. InBae Yoon

Dr. Yoon passionately believed—like we do—that everyone is inventive.

Blog

O Canada! Inventors from Across the Border

Inspired by visitor stories submitted to our Places of Invention map about Canadian inventors and inventions

Blog

DIY Innovation in the Hospital

Scientists, clinicians, and patients have always been do-it-yourself innovators.

Blog

A Heartfelt Story

The invention of the AED—the automated external defibrillator—saves lives every day.

Places of Invention

Be Still, My Heart: Behind the Scenes in the Cardiac Collections

A group of small archival boxes lay nestled together, each holding a cardiac pacemaker or valve. "It's like being a kid in a candy store," exclaimed inventor Manny Villafaña.

DO Try This at Home!

Extract DNA at Home!

DNA is inside the cells of every living thing, including you.

Places of Invention

Invention hot spot: The rise of "Medical Alley" in Minnesota in the 1950s–1970s

Places of Invention tells the stories of historic and modern communities where people, resources, and spaces have come together to spark inventiveness.

Spark!Lab

To get inspiration for themes and activities as we develop the new Spark!Lab, the team has been taking "field trips" to different collections areas in the Museum. Here are some highlights from our visits to the Physical Sciences and Medical collections.

Places of Invention

Manny’s Medical Alley

On a recent research trip to Minnesota for "Places of Invention," I had the special opportunity to meet one of the region’s pioneers, Manuel (“Manny”) Villafaña. You may not know his name, but you’ve probably heard of at least one of the seven medical-device companies he has founded in Minneapolis, including Cardiac Pacemakers Inc. (CPI) and St. Jude Medical.

Places of Invention