Stephanie Kwolek was an American chemist best known for inventing Kevlar, a strong and lightweight synthetic fiber. Born on July 31, 1923, in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, she earned a degree in chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University. Kwolek's work at DuPont led to the development of Kevlar in the 1960s, which is widely used in bulletproof vests and other protective gear. Kwolek's invention has had a significant impact on safety and materials science, earning her numerous awards, including induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. She passed away on June 18, 2023, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of chemistry.