A master of synthetic fibers, this chemist's work is found in everything from bulletproof vests to sports equipment.

American chemist Stephanie Kwolek is bulletproof. She put her expertise in polymer research at chemical company DuPont to the test and created Kevlar. The super-strong, lightweight material is now used in bulletproof vests, work gloves, fiber-optic cables, and sports equipment, among other things. In 1994, Kwolek was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Last updated 5 years ago · 3.4K views · SOURCE