The Hollywood Star Who Invented Wi-Fi

Hedy Lamarr was not just a screen icon, but the mastermind behind a radio technology that paved the way for modern Wi-Fi. She designed a secret communication system to stop enemies from jamming torpedo signals.

During the Second World War, Lamarr realized that radio-controlled torpedoes could be easily jammed by disrupting their single frequency. She developed a frequency-hopping technique that made the signal impossible to track or block. Although the military did not immediately adopt her invention, it became the foundation for today's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology. It is truly remarkable that one of the most glamorous stars in history was secretly solving complex engineering problems between takes.