Mária Telkes, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Mária Telkes

Hungarian–American scientist and inventor

Date of Birth: 12-Dec-1900

Place of Birth: Budapest, Hungary

Date of Death: 02-Dec-1995

Profession: inventor, chemist, biophysicist

Nationality: Hungary, United States

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Mária Telkes (December 12, 1900 – December 2, 1995) was a Hungarian-American biophysicist, scientist and inventor who worked on solar energy technologies.Telkes is considered one of the founders of solar thermal storage systems, earning her the nickname "the Sun Queen".She was a prolific inventor of practical thermal devices, including a miniature desalination unit (solar still) for use on lifeboats, which used solar power and condensation to collect potable water.
The still saved the lives of airmen and sailors who would have been without water when abandoned at sea.She moved to Texas in the 1970s and consulted with a variety of start-up solar companies, including Northrup Solar, which subsequently became ARCO Solar, and eventually BP Solar.