Engineer and inventor Lonnie Johnson, a former NASA scientist, created the Super Soaker in 1982 while experimenting with a new type of heat pump.

Engineer and inventor Lonnie Johnson, a former NASA scientist, created the Super Soaker in 1982 while experimenting with a new type of heat pump. The powerful water gun became one of the best-selling toys of the 1990s, generating hundreds of millions in revenue for Hasbro.Despite its success, Johnson later discovered he had been underpaid royalties. After a lengthy legal battle, he was awarded nearly $73 million in 2013, 21 years after inventing the toy. The settlement recognized his rightful earnings and reaffirmed his status as one of America’s great modern inventors.Did you know? 🎓