Asia is one of the most ancient countries in the world, so it’s no surprise that they have developed major groundbreaking scientific developments instrumental to the world’s societal advancement! Yes, we’ve heard of paper invented in China, of silk spun with the invention of the loom in China, Samsung phone brands developed in South Korea, but what else? In this week’s Technology Corner, we will be continuing the series for May: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Yay for Asian representation in Los Angeles, one of the most diverse cities in the nation!

Let’s review a history of peculiar and important Asian technology in this Falcon’s Flyer edition – not just scientific or mathematic technology, but also food technology!

1. Flavored Ices (1200s)

Ice cream was actually born in China in the 1200s. You may credit Italy with crafting their special, world-renowned gelato, but Marco Polo actually brought back the idea of flavored ices when he returned from his visit to China! In Italy, these Chinese “ices” developed into Italian gelato and decadent ice creams.

1. Gaming Systems (1990)

Yup, anime, manga, and Dance Dance Revolution are all popular entertainment assets invented in Japan, but your household tech was probably invented in Japan and imported to the United States. Gunpei Yokoi developed the Nintendo Entertainment System, while Ken Kutaragi developed the Playstation. These have been revolutionary pieces of technology for many kids within the United States!

1. The Thermobaric Weapon: The Bomb that Ended the Afghanistan War

Nguyet Anh Duong, a refugee fleeing Vietnam with her family during the Vietnam War of 1975, led a team of scientists to develop the Thermobaric Weapon, an extremely precise bomb that ended a war. The bomb was crafted so perfectly that when dropped at the right time, destroyed that exact building target. As the millions of Americans held their breath for results, they learned that the bomb hit only the target as the rest of the neighboring buildings stayed completely intact. It was a major victory and confidence boost for the United States, and such an extraordinary feat by Asian Americans!

This month, be proud of your heritage and celebrate diversity. May is not only the month of our Blessed Virgin Mary, but also a time to stand proud for who you are. Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month!

To read about more significant Asian developments, visit:

1. https://www.thoughtco.com/g00/amazing-asian-inventions-195168?i10c.referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thoughtco.com%2Famazing-asian-inventions-195168
2. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/08/magazine/building-saddam-hussein-s-bomb.html?pagewanted=all
3. http://jackiebongwright.com/writings/articles-3/vietnamese-bomb-lady-shines-in-u-s-navy/