Ten Everyday Things We Wouldn't Have Without NASA.

NASA is responsible for things you've never even realized. 

SOURCE: http://ipp.nasa.gov/

Funding towards space programs have created many different kinds of technology that we use all the time. Some of the most basics things may not have been discovered or invented if not for our interest in exploring the stars. Through a variety of sources, but mainly NASA's website, I have discovered ten things that we use all the time that came from space programs. These are in no particular order but are all things that would make our lives very different if we didn't have them.

1. Light-Emitting Diodes: Regularly called LEDs are a common source of lighting and have been since they were invented. Their original use was to grow plants in space, because they can provide a light similar to sunlight (only without UV) that allows plants to grow. Besides use for lighting and growing, there is ongoing development in using these lights to reduce pain and relax muscles in hospital patients.
2. Video Enhancing & Analysis: We have all seen those cop shows where they have a blurry man on a 5 fps security camera 50 feet away. Then they just request their technology expert to enhance the video and it somehow becomes 1080p HD video with enhanced optical zoom. While that may be pretty exaggerated, less extreme technology is used quite often in FBI work. NASA developed this technology to help stabilize and analyze video from handheld cameras used during dark or unstable conditions in space. Now it’s used to catch criminals.
3. Solar Panels: Turning energy from the sun into electrical energy did exist prior to NASA’s missions. However, efficient and light-weight technology did not exist, and the other solar technology was very poorly designed. NASA needed a much more efficient way to put solar panels on long flight (days) aircraft without adding weight. This newly created solar technology is what we use nowadays.\
4. Advanced Prosthetics: The advancements in robot technology as well with the research into new materials done by NASA for use in space had a lot of use on earth as well. Robotic limbs with artificial muscle systems that were made for robot arms to move materials in space also work in artificial limbs for humans or animals. The materials used for space flight that have very low friction is used in prosthetics to stop friction between skin and the limb, as well as prevent heat and moisture buildup.
5. Temper Foam: Also known as memory foam, are those mattresses that they constantly advertise on television but nobody buys because they are also heat resistant and usually cause people to drown in their own sweat. However this memory foam is used in other technologies as well including; race-cars, military, amusement parks, and prosthetics. Usually used in them as high energy absorption materials (they can take a hit) was originally used as padding for aircraft crashes.
6. Water Purification: Not your everyday water purifier in your kitchen. These kinds of systems do more than just remove small traces of calcium and zinc from your water. These systems developed for life in space are able to turn waste water, sweat, or urine into drinkable clean water. This technology has many clear uses throughout the world, and in places where clean water is non-existent.
7. Modern Sunglasses: No, NASA didn't invent stained glass. They did however invent the technology to block out harmful UV rays in glass. Effectively making the everyday sunglasses that we use. This technology was needed because of the lack of atmosphere in space allows much more of the electromagnetic spectrum to hit spacecraft. So they needed windows and other structures that block out the harmful rays before they reach human retinas.
8. Satellite Television: The first satellite used for communications was launched by NASA in 1962. There’s not much else to say about this one.
9. Ventricular Assist Devices: Most people probably don’t know what this is, but it is used all the time with all the heart conditions people have nowadays. Whenever people go under heart surgery this is the device that takes the place of the heart’s job (pumping blood) when their current heart is being operated on. There was no space need for this one, but instead it was a collaboration between NASA and MicroMed technology.
10. Safety Grooving: These are the little grooves in highways that are used to increase traction between tires and effectively slow down and stop vehicles. These are mostly found on the shoulders of highways in case someone goes off the road. They were originally used to slow down aircraft during landings on shorter runways.

With all this innovation why don't we focus more on this kind of research? Who knows what else we will stumble upon?

FUTURE RESEARCH: What are the costs and benefits of exploring Mars or other planets? Who can more effectively innovate---federal government or private industry?