Technology & Engineering:
* The Telephone: Alexander Graham Bell (1876)
* The Airplane: The Wright brothers (1903)
* The Computer: Though its roots are complex, American contributions include the ENIAC (1946), the transistor (Bell Labs, 1947), and the integrated circuit (Jack Kilby, 1958).
* The Internet: Developed by a team of researchers led by Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn (1970s).
* The Laser: Theodore Maiman (1960)
* The World Wide Web: Developed by Tim Berners-Lee, an American citizen working in Switzerland (1989).
* Space Exploration: The U.S. led the space race with inventions like the Saturn V rocket, Apollo program, and the Hubble Telescope.
Transportation:
* The Automobile: Though not invented solely by Americans, Henry Ford's Model T (1908) revolutionized mass production and accessibility.
* The Motorcycle: Sylvester H. Roper is credited with building the first practical motorcycle (1869).
* The Self-Propelled Tractor: Developed by John Froelich (1892).
Medicine & Healthcare:
* The Polio Vaccine: Jonas Salk (1955)
* The Insulin Pump: Developed by a team at the University of Minnesota (1970s).
* The Artificial Heart: Robert Jarvik (1982)
* The HIV/AIDS Drug AZT: Developed by a team at Burroughs Wellcome (1987)
Other notable inventions:
* The Zipper: Developed by Gideon Sundback (1913)
* The Electric Light Bulb: Thomas Edison (1879), though not the first to invent it.
* The Barbed Wire: Joseph Glidden (1874)
* The Cotton Gin: Eli Whitney (1793)
* The Washing Machine: James King (1797)
* The Refrigerator: Jacob Perkins (1834)
Important Notes:
* This is not an exhaustive list. Many other inventions were developed in the U.S.
* Collaboration and inspiration often played a role. Many inventions were built upon the work of others, including those from outside the U.S.
* Attributing inventions to specific individuals or nations is sometimes complex.
American inventors have made significant contributions to various fields. It's important to remember that innovation is a global endeavor, and many inventions are the result of collaboration and shared knowledge.