Inventions that wouldn't exist without women

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- International Women's Day is a time to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

Let's celebrate the female inventors, entrepreneurs, and creators who brought us achievements that some folks couldn't live without.

Hedy Lamarr had a hobby of doing science experiments when she wasn't a contracted MGM actress.

During World War II, Hedy and a friend presented the US Navy with their patent on a "spread-spectrum radio" which looks like a precursor to today's wireless technology.

You can thank Melitta Bentz for your morning cup of coffee.

The German housewife's invention, patented in 1908, can be sipped without worrying about gross coffee grinds muddling up our mornings.

Ruth Graves Wakefield did the best thing for chocolate chip cookie lovers.

Back in 1938, Wakefield was running the Toll House Inn when she came up with a brilliant idea to chop up a Nestle chocolate bar and add it to a new cookie recipe.

Not long after, Nestle bought the rights to the recipe and the Toll House name.