August 1942, Los Angeles

What connects a 1930s sex scandal with Wi-Fi and mobile communications networks? Austrian film actor Hedy Lamarr! The daughter of a Jewish banker, Lamarr was born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler in Vienna. In 1933, she was catapulted to fame after appearing in nude scenes in the film Ecstasy, and later emigrated to the United States. Not only did she appear in numerous Hollywood movies, but

she also contributed to war efforts against Germany. Working together with the composer George Antheil, Lamarr invented a radio control for torpedoes, which they patented in 1942. Although the invention was ultimately not used in the war, the technology behind it still affects our lives today through its use in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices.