Untold Legends: Hedy Lamarr - Hedy Lamarr: 5. Pianos and patents

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The Hollywood star wants to help defeat Hitler, so Hedy Lamarr comes up with an invention. Troubled by what is happening in the Second World War, Hedy works with the avant-garde composer, George Antheil on an idea. France has been invaded and there are torpedo attacks on the ships, SS Volendam and SS City of Benares. Hedy and George want to stop Nazi U-boat forces from jamming the radio signals used to guide Allied torpedoes. They take their idea, an application of frequency hopping, to the National Inventors Council in the US. Will they get their patent?

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Untold Legends is from the BBC World Service, Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Published on Tuesday, 29th July 2025.

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