This document discusses 10 everyday items that originated from military research and development efforts, including EpiPens, duct tape, microwave ovens, Silly Putty, Boeing 747s, GPS technology, the internet, Jeeps, walkie-talkies, and Super Glue. Many of these innovations were created by scientists and engineers attempting to develop new technologies for military applications but later found widespread civilian uses. Some items like microwave ovens and Silly Putty were even discovered by accident during military research experiments.

1. 10 Everyday
Essentials
Originally Created
by the Military

2. While military innovations are
often associated with weapon
development, they have also
contributed to products and
technologies with civilian uses.
From stylish sunglasses to favorite
snacks, numerous everyday items
have their origins in military
research, sometimes even by
serendipity.

3. EpiPens, crucial for treating severe
allergic reactions, owe their origin to
Sheldon Kaplan. In the 1970s, he
employed his auto-injector technology
to develop the ComboPen, initially
designed as a nerve gas antidote
auto-injector for the U.S. military, as
reported by Healthline.
EpiPens

4. In World War II, soldiers faced challenges with
flimsy box tabs for ammo. These tabs often
broke, causing difficulties in accessing
ammunition during combat. Vesta Stout, a
military mother, proposed the idea of a stronger
material to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who
concurred. The War Production Board then
tasked Johnson & Johnson with developing a
sturdier box tape, giving birth to duct tape.
Duct Tape

5. The microwave oven's creation was
serendipitous, as reported by Popular
Mechanics. In 1946, Percy Spencer, a
Raytheon engineer, unintentionally discovered
its potential while testing a military-grade
magnetron, typically used in radar systems. To
his surprise, the magnetron melted his snack.
Further experiments with eggs and popcorn
kernels showed that it could efficiently heat
eggs and pop popcorn. A year later, the first
commercial microwave using this technology
was introduced to the market.
Microwave Ovens

6. Similar to the microwave, Silly Putty came into
existence by chance, as reported by Thought
Co. Engineer James Wright was originally
aiming to develop a synthetic rubber for
various wartime uses like tires, boots, and gas
masks during World War II. While at General
Electric's laboratory in 1943, he experimented
by mixing boric acid and silicone oil,
unexpectedly creating a stretchy, bouncy blob
of goo. Although this substance didn't find a
wartime application, it went on to become one
of the 20th century's most beloved toys.
Silly Putty

7. The Boeing 747, one of the
world's largest civilian
airplanes, incorporates high-
bypass engine technology
initially designed for Boeing's
military transport aircraft, the
C-5A.
Boeing 747s

8. GPS Technology
GPS technology, initially employed by
the U.S. Navy in the 1960s, was used to
monitor submarines transporting
nuclear missiles. It relied on a
combination of satellites and radio
signals, as noted by NASA.

9. The inaugural functional model of
the internet, known as the
Advanced Research Projects
Agency Network (ARPANET), was
established in the late 1960s with
financial support from the U.S.
Department of Defense, as
reported by the History Channel.
ARPANET utilized packet
switching, enabling multiple
computers to communicate on a
unified network.
Internet

10. Jeeps
While Jeeps are now owned by individuals without military ties, the original Jeep
4x4 was created in the 1940s to facilitate the transportation of numerous Allied
soldiers worldwide.

11. While cellphones have largely taken over from
walkie-talkies, some businesses continue to
depend on them for communication. The modern
mobile phone can arguably trace its roots back to
this military technology. The two-way portable
radio, initially used in World War II, was developed
by the Galvin Manufacturing Corp. (later known as
Motorola) in collaboration with the U.S. Army to
enable field communication for soldiers, as
reported by Tedium.
Walkie-Talkies

12. Super Glue was originally developed by scientists
at Eastman Kodak as a means to prevent gunshot
wounds from bleeding excessively during the
Vietnam War, prior to receiving medical treatment.
Although the initial adhesive could lead to skin
irritations and infections, it proved to be a life-
saving innovation, as reported by Popular
Mechanics.
Super Glue