13 things invented, discovered or thought up in Arizona
This is, by no means, an exhaustive list. These are just a few of the things amazing Arizonans have contributed to the world.
Dendrochronology
Dendrochronology, or tree-ring dating, is a science developed by astronomer A.E. Douglass in Flagstaff. He also founded the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at the University of Arizona.
PawSense
Has your cat ever crashed your computer? PawSense is software designed by Chris Niswander, a graduate in computer science at Arizona State University. The software detects when it is your cat on your keyboard instead of a human operator and blocks the input. It even gives you the option of telling the computer it's really you and not the cat. Just make sure your cat can't spell "human."
Chimichanga
The chimichanga, a fried burrito, was first made at El Charro in Tucson, although there are those who dispute that.
Pima Cotton
Pima cotton was developed at the University of Arizona.
Ping golf clubs
Ping golf clubs were developed by Karsten Solheim. He began in his garage in California, but completed the task after moving to Arizona. The name comes from the sound a club makes when it connects with a golf ball.
Jet skis
The Jet Ski was invented by Clayton Jacobson II in 1972 (after his license agreement with Bombardier expired) and is now made by Kawasaki. This photo taken in 2012 shows then Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and wife Ann Romney on a jet ski on Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Keystone Kool Deck
Keystone Kool Deck for swimming pools was invented by Tucson's Mortex Manufacturing Company in 1962. The deck is considerably cooler to bare feet than typical concrete.
Miranda Warning
The Miranda warning came about when Ernesto Miranda was arrested in 1963 and claimed that he was not aware that he could refrain from incriminating himself by speaking to police without a lawyer present. Here, retired Phoenix Police Capt. Carroll Cooley shows a photograph of himself that is on display, Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at the Phoenix Police Museum in Phoenix. Cooley was the arresting officer of Ernesto Miranda on March 13, 1963, that led to the landmark self-incrimination case that reached the Supreme Court and resulted in Miranda Rights that law enforcement uses when arresting a suspect. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Pluto
OK, Pluto wasn't invented in Arizona, but it was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in Flagstaff. For years it was the ninth planet in the Solar system until it was demoted to dwarf planet status. This combination image taken Monday, July 13, 2015, and released by NASA shows Pluto, left, and its moon, Charon, with differences in surface material and features depicted in exaggerated colors made by using different filters on a camera aboard the New Horizons spacecraft. In this composite false-color image, the apparent distance between the two bodies has also been reduced. (NASA/APL/SwRI via AP)
Rubberized asphalt concrete
Charlie McDonald, a Phoenix engineer developed rubberized asphalt that is used for paving many roadways. It is more durable and quieter than regular asphalt.
TASER
TASER stands for Tom A. Swift's Electric Rifle. It was invented in 1974 by NASA employee Jack Cover in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Eegee's
We can't talk about Arizona wonders without mentioning our favorite. Eegee's frozen fruit confection was thought up right here in Tucson. A stop at Eegee's is a requirement for most Tucson natives returning home to visit family and friends. It can be a lifesaver in the summer.
KangaRing
Take a look at the state flowers for each and every one of the United States.