This Day in Science History - February 18 - Stainless Steel

February 18^th is Harry Brearley's birthday. Brearley was an English metallurgist who discovered "rustless steel" or stainless steel. He was searching for a new steel to use to minimize corrosion of gun barrels that would still resist the high temperatures and pressures associated with firing a gun. He discovered that if he added chromium and nickel to ordinary carbon steel, a thin layer of protection from rust appeared.

Find out more about what makes stainless steel 'stainless', or how to remove odors using stainless steel, and what else occurred on this day in science history.