Dreams are “a series of thoughts, visions, or feelings that happen during sleep.”

We’ve all had them before; some may have been scary while others may have been enjoyable. Though dreams are a curious category, there even have been some that have turned into famous ideas.

Today, we’re going to share three inventions that came to be because of dreams!

The sewing machine – Elias Howe is the inventor of the sewing machine and his invention idea to build a machine that would automate the sewing process came from a spooky dream. After failed attempts at using a needle with points about both ends and the eye in the middle, Howe dreamt that he was taken captive by a group of natives that danced around him with spears. As he saw them dancing with spears moving back and forth quickly and menacingly, he noticed that all of their spears had holes near their tips. When he woke up from this dream, he had a “lightbulb” moment in that he had finally found the solution to his problem. From this dream, Howe discovered a better way to sew by adding a hole to the tip of each needle where the thread could be caught after it was sewn through the cloth. It was this dream that made the sewing machine possible in 1845.

The periodic table of elements – Dmitry Mendeleyev was the mind behind the periodic table of elements. It’s said that after three days of non-stop work, he finally decided to give his mind a rest. This would turn into a 17-hour slumber during which he dreamt of an arrangement of elements that would forever change chemistry as we know it. Once we woke up from his dream, he immediately recorded his thoughts and from there, the periodic table of elements was invented.

The theory of relativity – E=MC². This equation is classified as one of the most influential theories in science. If it weren’t for Einstein’s dream, the theory of relativity wouldn’t exist. The dream was of Einstein sledding down a mountain at a high rate of speed that continued to increase; the sled eventually was traveling at the speed of light. It was at this point that the stars began to change in appearance and he began to develop his idea of relativity. This would, in time, lead to his general theory of relativity that we know today.

If you’re in a creative rut, catch some Z’s and look to your dreams for inspiration. Who knows, maybe one day you can turn your dreams (literally) into reality!

If you’re feeling inspired, submit your invention idea, today!

Copyright Davison, 2015

Sources:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dream

http://mentalfloss.com/article/12763/11-creative-breakthroughs-people-had-their-sleep

http://dreamstop.com/6-famous-ideas-came-dream/

Images:

https://images.rapgenius.com/ed3ec4365eebde800e92307e1d80f930.512x512x1.png

http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/12/122212-004-84710B91.jpg

http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/tableofelements.png

http://en.es-static.us/upl/2013/09/emc2-albert-einstein-300×214.jpg

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