12. Hedy Lamarr
Hedy Lamarr is celebrated not only as a Hollywood star but also as a brilliant inventor. Together with George Antheil, she co-developed frequency-hopping technology to prevent signal jamming during World War II. Though initially overlooked, their innovation became the backbone for modern wireless communication, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. As the National Inventors Hall of Fame notes, Lamarr’s trailblazing work paved the way for countless wireless tech advancements that connect our world today.
