Ukrainians’ inventions that changed the world

The first submarine Chaika (gull).
The undecked flat-bottom boat Chaika used by the Zaporozhian Cossacks was built in the XVI-XVII centuries. A reed belt was fixed to gunwales in order to submerge the boat and operate it underwater. Chaika was capable of maintaining a speed of about 15 kilometers an hour that allowed the Cossacks to easily evade Turkish galleys.

Watch-glucometer for diabetics.
Transcarpathian scientist Petro Bobonich invented a glucose meter in the form of a wristwatch. It helps diabetes sufferers measure blood sugar levels at any moment without puncturing the skin.

Environmentally friendly fuel.
Volodymyr Melnikov, the engineer from the town of Slavutych, Kyiv region, designed the apparatus that recycles waste wood into fuel pellets. A furnace heats sawdust to a temperature of 300 degrees centigrade under superhigh pressure, and plant glue is resultant from this process. Then a working press compresses a mass with a force of 200 tons per square centimeter, resulting in a fuel pellet similar to anthracite.

Desalination of seawater.
A seawater desalination technique for drinking was developed by Prof. Leonard Smirnov of the Odessa State Academy of Refrigeration. Frozen in a special way, seawater turns into crystals from whose surface salt, hazardous substances as well as the heavy isotopes of hydrogen that affect genes, and the human nervous system, are removed.

Evminov prophylactic device.
The reason behind the development of a trainer, and a popular method for preventing and curing diseases of the spinal column was a personal serious injury suffered by their inventor Vyacheslav Evminov. During experiments with the determination of loads, and bodily exercises at different angles, which intensified the metabolic processes and strengthened spine muscles, the trainer named “Profilaktor Evminova” was invented.

Hurricane abatement device.
Viktor Bernatsky, the assistant professor at the Department of Physics and Technology of the Rivne State Humanitarian University, developed a unique device used for coastal protection from hurricanes. The device catches the streams of a strong wind and reduces its force by airflows directed against hurricane flows. The Ukrainian scientist was awarded the gold medal of the European Scientific-Industrial Chamber for this device.

The fastest car in the world.
Designed by Kharkiv inventor Vladimir Nikitin in 1966, the superspeed car KhADI-7 was equipped with the 400 horsepower helicopter gas-turbine engine GTD-350. Although the design speed of the car amounted to 400 kilometers an hour, it was not reached for lack of a fit highway. However, KhADI-7 was capable of developing a speed of 320 km/h within a distance of one kilometer during a race on the Chuguev highway.

Picture tube.
Together with physicist Nikolai Lyubimov, Joseph Timchenko developed the “snail” jumping mechanism two years before the Lumiere brothers came up with their invention. The principle of action of the mechanism served as a basis for the creation of a kinescope. Two films made with the help of the first kinescope were shown in Odessa in 1893. Whereas Joseph Timchenko outstripped the Western inventors of the Cinematographe, his device was not patented.Aprender a correr