In the early 20th century, as biologists began to explore the chemical reactions occurring within cells, Ida Hyde invented a tool for studying muscle and brain cells using ultra-fine electrodes. This was a significant achievement that marked a new turning point in medicine.
In 1870, as a teenager, Hyde worked to support her family, eventually learning a trade and working in a clothing factory in Chicago, USA. Despite her family’s opposition, Hyde dreamt of entering an academy rather than accepting the limited fate of women at the time, which involved minimal education and primarily domestic responsibilities. After years of attending night classes, Hyde was accepted into Cornell University, where she graduated with a degree in biology in 1891 and began working at the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory.
International scientific interest in this young scientist began when her research on octopus embryos sparked a debate between two European biologists. This opportunity allowed Hyde to attend the University of Heidelberg in Germany. However, as a woman, she was restricted from attending certain lectures and had to rely on notes from other students. By 1896, upon returning to the United States, she became the first female researcher at Harvard Medical School. Hyde’s research caught the attention of the president of the University of Kansas, who invited her to establish the school’s physiology department.
During her tenure as a faculty member, Hyde studied the nervous, circulatory, and respiratory systems in various organisms, ranging from grasshoppers to humans. Deeply concerned about public health and women’s education, she traveled throughout the Midwest to speak about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases.
In 1918, Hyde achieved significant scientific accomplishments in the later years of her career. While researching single-celled organisms, she invented a device capable of injecting and transferring substances from individual cells while simultaneously applying electrical stimulation. According to a report by Hyde in 1921, this represented a technical revolution in physiology, as the ultra-fine electrodes were highly effective for controlling electric pulse machines for the brain. Twenty years later, these ultra-fine electrodes were “reinvented” by Judith Graham and Ralph Gerard from the University of Chicago, who were largely unaware that this invention had been previously developed by Hyde.
Although Hyde is not widely recognized as an inventor, she is remembered for establishing a funding foundation aimed at providing opportunities for women in the field of biology. Currently, the University of Kansas manages this fund, fulfilling Hyde’s wish to award scholarships to outstanding female scientists and students.
Young Talent (according to Technology Review)
