H is for Heart Pacemaker

In celebration of Canada’s 150^th birthday, my theme for the 2017 Blogging From A to Z Challenge, is CANADA. 

Join me throughout April (every day except Sundays) to learn more about the inventions, the people, and the cultures that make up one of the greatest countries in the world.

Heart Pacemaker

I know what you’re (probably) thinking, and the answer is no, I didn’t forget hockey. It’s true that hockey is considered “Canada’s sport,” but three years ago, a book came out that provides compelling evidence that hockey originated in Britain, not Canada (like almost everyone thought)—and its first players include one of the most famous scientists of all time: Charles Darwin!

The book, On the Origin of Hockey, is written by a trio of trustworthy hockey historians, and while the “evidence” may be tough to swallow for some, Canadians can still take credit for the incredible game we know it to be today. 

While we’re on the subject…Go Oilers! (Sorry, had to say it.) 

The origins of hockey may be up for debate, there’s no question about who invented the heart pacemaker. 

Known as the “Father of Bioengineering," John A. Hopps, a Canadian electrical engineer from Manitoba, was testing whether radio frequency could restore body temperature when he made an unexpected discovery—he found that by using mechanical means the heart could be artificially started again after it was exposed to a cooling process. 

With this discovery, he built the first artificial heart pacemaker in 1950—and is credited for saving millions of lives. 

Gotta jet—but check back tomorrow for ANOTHER life-saving invention by a Canadian. If you’re just logging in to the A to Z Blogging Challenge, be sure to check out my archived posts, starting with “A”here.

See you tomorrow!

~ Chase Superman Duffy