10 NASA innovations used in daily life
march 21, 2025
Images: Shutterstock, Pexels
Many space innovations make our everyday lives easier. Here are 10 things invented by NASA that are commonly used today.
While freeze-drying was developed by Nestle in 1938, NASA later used it to create nutritious space food for astronauts by freezing cooked food under low pressure.
Frozen food
Nutritionally-rich Formulaid, which is used as an additive to infant formulas globally, was originally created by NASA while developing a recycling agent.
Baby formula
Invisible braces, which save many from embarrassment today, were developed by NASA to use in military technology.
Invisible braces
NASA consistently invested in the field of artificial limbs and prosthetics that have widespread use today.
Artificial limbs
Laser radar (LADAR) used in laser eye surgery, the most commonly performed laser vision corrective surgery, was originally developed by NASA.
LADAR
Memory foam was developed by NASA in 1996 to help make customisable seats for astronauts to partly alleviate the effects of gravity during takeoff and landing.
Memory foam
NASA developed the infrared aural thermometer through its Technology Affiliates Program which measures temperature by detecting thermal radiation.
Infrared thermometer
Embedded Web Technology software, or EWB, which essentially made Internet of the Things (IoT) possible, was first developed by NASA.
Internet of Things
NASA researchers created implanted devices that can track blood sugar levels and deliver insulin as and when needed. These are used today for managing diabetes.
Insulin pump
NASA originally developed specialised water filters to provide astronauts with clean water in space, paving the way for advanced water purification systems used today.
Water purification
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