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Maria Telkes, born on December 12, 1900, and passed away on December 2, 1995, was a Hungarian-American scientist who specialized in biophysics and invention, particularly focusing on solar energy technologies. In 1925, she relocated to the United States to pursue her career in biophysics. She officially became an American citizen in 1937 and commenced her work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with the aim of finding practical applications for solar energy in 1939.
During World War II, Telkes devised a solar distillation device, which was deployed towards the end of the war. This invention played a crucial role in saving the lives of stranded airmen and sailors who were victims of torpedo attacks. Her ultimate aspiration was to adapt this technology for use in impoverished and arid regions. Colleagues affectionately referred to her as “The Sun Queen.” Telkes is recognized as one of the pioneers in the development of solar thermal storage systems. Following the war, she held the position of associate research professor at MIT.
In the 1940s, in collaboration with architect Eleanor Raymond, she designed one of the earliest solar-heated houses known as the Dover Sun House. This innovative structure stored energy from the sun each day. In 1953, they also created a solar oven suitable for use by people at different latitudes, including children.
Mária Telkes received the Society of Women Engineers Achievement Award in 1952, becoming its inaugural recipient. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she was honored with a lifetime achievement award from the National Academy of Sciences Building Research Advisory Board in 1977. Throughout her career, Telkes held more than 20 patents.
Maria Telkes: Early Life
Maria Telkes was born in Budapest, Hungary, on December 12, 1900. She became interested in science at a young age and went on to study physical chemistry at the University of Budapest. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 1920 and her doctorate in 1924. A year later, she moved to the United States to work as a biophysicist at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
In 1937, Telkes started working at Westinghouse Electric as a research engineer. This marked the beginning of her work in solar technology, where she created devices that turned heat into electricity. In 1940, she joined the Solar Energy Conversion Project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and began working on practical ways to use solar energy.
Maria Telkes Biography
| TIME | EVENT |
| 1900 | Maria Telkes was born on December 2nd. |
| 1920 | Studied physical chemistry at the University of Budapest and graduated with a degree in B.A. |
| 1924 | She received her Ph.D. |
| 1925 | Became an instructor at the institution and decided to immigrate to the United States. |
| 1937 | Became an American citizen and a research engineer at Westinghouse Electric.
Also developed instruments that converted heat into electrical energy; |
| 1939 | Made her first forays into solar energy research as part of the Solar Energy Conversion Project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and worked on thermoelectric devices powered by sunlight. |
| 1945 | Remained at MIT after the war and became an associate research professor in metallurgy. |
| 1948 | Designed and constructed the world’s first modern residence heated with solar energy which was built in Dover, Massachusetts. |
| 1952 | Became the first recipient of the Society of Women Engineers Achievement Award. |
| 1953 | Improved the existing heat exchanger technology to create solar stoves and solar heaters and received a $45,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to create a universal solar oven that could be adapted for use by people living at all latitudes. |
| 1977 | Received a lifetime achievement award from the National Academy of Sciences Building Research Advisory Board for her contributions to solar-heated building technology and the Charles Greeley Abbot Award from the American Solar Energy Society |
| 1980 | Assisted the U.S. Department of Energy in the development of the world’s first solar-electric residence built in Carlisle, Massachusetts. |
| 1995 | Said her goodbyes |
Maria Telkes: Career
In 1924, Telkes came to the United States and stayed with a family member who was the Hungarian consul in Cleveland, Ohio. During her stay, she got a job at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation to study the energy produced by living things. While working there, she and George Washington Crile came up with a device that could measure brain waves using light. They also collaborated on a book called “Phenomenon of Life.”
Afterward, Telkes worked as a scientist at Westinghouse, where she created special metals for devices that turned heat into electricity. Later on, she reached out to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to join their new solar energy program, and they hired her in 1939. She remained at MIT until 1953.
Desalination
During World War II, the U.S. government recognized Telkes’s expertise and asked her to help the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) as a civilian advisor. In this role, she created a machine that used sunlight to make saltwater into freshwater. She finished a test version of it in 1942. Maria Telkes Invention was significant because it provided clean water for soldiers in tough situations and also fixed water problems in the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, it took longer to start using the machine because Hoyt C. Hottel kept changing the contracts for making it until the war
Heat Storage
Telkes identified a big issue when it came to designing solar-heated houses, which was storing thermal energy. She specialized in materials that could soak up or give off heat when they changed from a solid to a liquid form. She wanted to use materials like molten salts, particularly Glauber’s salt (sodium sulfate), to store thermal energy in heating systems.
Hottel, who led the solar energy fund at MIT, initially supported Telkes’s approach and believed her work could greatly impact their project. However, he wasn’t as enthusiastic about solar power as Telkes and their project’s funder, Godfrey Lowell Cabot, who strongly believed in solar energy. This led to clashes in their personalities.
In 1946, the team attempted to use Glauber’s salt in their second solar house design, but they encountered issues with the material. Hottel and others blamed Telkes for these problems. Despite the backing of university president Karl Compton, Telkes was moved to the metallurgy department, where she continued her research on thermocouples. While she was no longer part of the MIT solar fund, Cabot wanted her to come back and encouraged her to keep working on the problem independently.
Dover Sun House
In 1948, Telkes began working on the Dover Sun House along with architect Eleanor Raymond. This project was funded by philanthropist and sculptor Amelia Peabody. They designed a system that used a special salt called Glauber’s salt to capture heat from the sun and release it later when needed.
The system used sunlight that came through glass windows to warm the air inside. This warm air then moved through a metal sheet into another space. Fans then pushed this warm air into storage areas filled with the special salt (sodium sulfate), which were located between the walls of the house. This process helped heat the house as the salt cooled down.
For the first two years, the house was a success and received a lot of attention. It was even considered very important for science. However, by the third winter, there were problems with the Glauber’s salt. It separated into liquid and solid layers, and its containers started to corrode and leak. Because of these issues, the owners removed the solar heating system and replaced it with an oil furnace.
In 1953, George Russell Harrison, who was in charge of science at MIT, raised concerns about the lack of productivity of the solar fund at MIT. This led to a report that favored the ideas of someone named Hottel and criticized both Cabot and Telkes. As a result of this report, Telkes lost her job at MIT in 1953.
Solar Powered Oven
In 1953, Mária Telkes was employed at the New York University College of Engineering, where she continued her research on solar energy. Telkes obtained a $45,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to create a solar-powered oven, with the aim of making heating accessible to people worldwide who lacked advanced technology. The key requirements for this project were to ensure that the oven could reach a temperature of 350°F (175°C) and be user-friendly.
Following her time at the university, Telkes worked in various industries. Initially, she served as the director of solar energy at the Curtiss-Wright Company. Later, she focused on developing materials for extreme conditions like space while working at Cryo-Therm from 1961 to 1963. This work involved contributing to materials used in missions like Apollo and Polaris missiles. Subsequently, she held the position of director of solar energy at Melpar, Inc. from 1963 to 1969.
In 1969, Telkes became part of the Institute of Energy Conversion at the University of Delaware, where she started researching photovoltaic cells for electricity generation. In 1971, she played a role in constructing the first house capable of generating both heat and electricity from sunlight.
In 1981, Telkes collaborated with the US Department of Energy to develop and construct the first fully solar-powered home, known as the Carlisle House in Carlisle, Massachusetts.
In 1964, she delivered a speech at the inaugural International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists in New York.
Mária Telkes once stated, “I am intrigued by things that are deemed impossible. I enjoy accomplishing tasks that others believe cannot be achieved.”
Maria Telkes Inventions
Maria Telkes was a productive inventor, obtaining over 20 patents during her career. Maria Telkes Inventions include:
- A solar-powered device that turned seawater into drinking water for stranded soldiers during World War II, developed in collaboration with OSRD.
- The Dover Sun House, a successful solar-heated home designed in partnership with architect Eleanor Raymond, which helped popularize the term “solar energy.”
- A solar-powered oven whose design is still in use today.
Maria Telkes Quotes
- “The sun is an abundant source of clean, renewable energy.”
- “Harnessing the power of the sun can provide sustainable solutions for our energy needs.”
- “Solar energy holds the key to a greener and more sustainable future.”
- “Through innovation and research, we can unlock the full potential of solar power.”
- “Solar energy is a gift from nature that we must utilize wisely.”
- “By tapping into solar power, we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.”
- “In the face of climate change, solar energy offers hope and resilience.”
- “Solar technology has the power to transform communities and improve lives.”
- “The sun is a constant reminder of the incredible power and beauty of nature.”
- “Let us embrace the sun’s energy and make it a cornerstone of our energy systems.”
- “Solar energy is not just an alternative; it’s the future.”
- “Innovation and collaboration are vital to advancing solar energy technologies.”
- “Every ray of sunshine is a potential source of clean energy.”
- “Solar power empowers individuals and communities to become energy independent.”
- “We have the responsibility to harness solar energy for the well-being of future generations.”
- “Solar energy is a sustainable solution that knows no boundaries.”
- “Nature has provided us with an abundant source of energy; it’s up to us to harness it.”
- “Solar energy is not a distant dream; it’s a tangible reality we can embrace.”
- “Through scientific exploration, we can unlock the secrets of solar energy and optimize its use.”
- “The sun’s energy is inexhaustible; let’s tap into its potential.”
- “Solar power is a testament to the incredible power of nature’s design.”
FAQs on Maria Telkes Biography
How did Maria Telkes invent solar energy?
Telkes created a system that could collect and save sunlight, and fans would use it when necessary. Her way of storing the energy was based on chemistry. She figured out a method to store solar power by turning a sodium sulfate solution into crystals.
Who was known as the Sun Queen?
Her name, Mária Telkes, became well-known around 40 years ago because of her groundbreaking work in solar energy. She was so famous for this that people called her the 'Sun Queen.'
What was Maria Telkes known for?
Maria Telkes, a scientist from Hungary who lived in America, is famous for her work in solar energy. She created the solar distiller and made the first solar heating system for homes before she passed away in 1995.
How many inventions did Maria Telkes make?
Telkes, who obtained approximately 20 patents during her career, remained connected to the University of Delaware and worked as an advisor for numerous global companies and organizations until she passed away at 94 years old.
Who invented solar still?
Maria Telkes, who was trained in biophysics, started working with solar energy in 1939 as part of a project at MIT. During World War II, she created a device that used the sun's heat to turn seawater into clean drinking water by turning it into vapor and then cooling it down again.
