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NASA: All Around You

Although most people today will never set foot on the moon, it's likely you come into contact with a NASA byproduct every day. Partnering with various research teams and companies, NASA continues to spawn a vast array of new technologies that have improved our daily lives. In fact, NASA has filed more than 6,300 patents with the U.S. government.

The best part? You don't need to be a rocket scientist to appreciate some of NASA's greatest innovations.

How NASA Works
Before we ponder the major innovations that have come out of its research labs, let's take a look at NASA itself. In 1958, President Eisenhower signed the Space Act, officially creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. From the beginning, the purpose of the new organization extended way beyond spaceships and moon boots. But why? Read on to find out.

NASA & Your Smile

Between working on those $12 million space suits and making major advances in better-tasting food for astronauts on various space vehicles, NASA scientists are working on projects to make all of us look better.
If you are happy today with the way your teeth look, you just might want to thank NASA.

Good for Astronauts, Good for Us

To protect against the dirt and particles that are in space, NASA needed a special coating for its space equipment, particularly astronaut helmet visors.
Find out how technology that NASA has developed may be sitting right in front of your nose.

More Cool NASA Innovations

We can't list out all 6,300 patents that have stemmed from NASA research, but there are a few that almost all of us have in our homes today. A few standouts include ear thermometers, wireless power, smoke detectors, international calling, tires and water purification, among others. Read the full story for the rest.