Innovation Is the Way to The Future

According to the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, more than 35.5% of U.S. innovators were born outside of the United States, and 10% are children of those who immigrated. Over 50% of these immigrants descend from Hispanic and Latino countries. Many essential innovations (created by Hispanics and Latin Americans) have changed the United States as well as the world. Three major inventions, created by Latin Americans, have changed our world for the better. By exploring innovator Alfredo Moser’s revolutionary lamp, Pedro Paulet’s liquid-propellant rocket engine, and Baruj Benacerraf’s gene discoveries, we get a better comprehension of how essential Latin American pioneering is to the betterment of our world.  Using nothing more than a few plastic bottles, water, and a splash of bleach, inventor Alfredo Moser improved the lives of countless people. Living in Uberaba, Brazil, Moser experienced frequent electricity blackouts. “The only places that had energy were the factories - not people’s houses,” he says in an interview with BBC. His invention, the Moser Lamp, is a clear plastic bottle filled with a specific amount of water and bleach. A hole is drilled in the roof, placed according to the annual sun position and wattage requirements. It is sealed around the roof using polyester resin. Even during heavy rains, the bottle will not leak water into the home. This sustainable lighting alternative is cost-effective, only amounting to $1 each. MyShelter, a company specializing in alternative construction, hires people to create and install the bottles. Therefore, providing a small income and essential service to those in need. By using what he saw around him Alfredo Moser positively impacted countless lives in over 15 different countries. His invention will have a lasting impact on our world.  Pedro Paulet was a Peruvian space and rocket pioneer. His invention of the liquid fuel motor and the first modern rocket propulsion system made it possible for mankind to reach the stars. Paulet was the first person to build a liquid-propellant rocket engine. This discovery and innovation of his made it possible for the volume of the propellant tanks to be relatively low. As well as provide more thrust and allow a prediction for how long the rocket will stay lit. Furthermore, essentially bringing humankind one giant step closer to space launch and travel. Although he never lived to witness his success, due to his death in 1945, his miraculous discoveries are present in today’s space exploration.  Immunology is the study of the immune system. This field is essential for studying medical and biological sciences. Venezuelan-born American immunologist and pathologist Baruj Benacerraf won a Nobel Prize in medicine. His discovery and research on histocompatibility complex genes taught us that these genes help the immune system recognize foreign substances. Baruj Benacerraf paved the way in medicine through his discoveries and still is doing so today. Although he has passed, his research has been vital to understanding and battling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, his studies have allowed for safer organ transplants. As well as identifying the susceptibility of people to an autoimmune disease. His invention/discovery has changed the way we understand medicine; and how we will continue to apply it in the future. Whether it is improving lives through electric-alternative light, space travel, and vital genealogical medical advances, Latin American innovations have and will always be a part of humankind’s past and present. From now, into the future, these three Latin American innovations, and countless others, will leave a lasting impact on our world. La innovación es el camino hacia el futuro. ~Per Aspera Ad Astra~