NASA physicist Valerie Thomas helped lay the groundwork for modern 3D imaging decades before it became mainstream. In 1980, she invented the “illusion transmitter,” a device that creates lifelike 3D images using curved mirrors—technology that went on to influence film, medical imaging, and NASA research itself. Despite her impact, her contributions have largely remained outside public recognition, highlighting how scientific breakthroughs are often remembered without the innovators behind them.
Source: @spectacular
