The Super Soaker creator’s next big idea? A heat engine that could power the future

Lonnie Johnson changed the world once with the Super Soaker; now he’s aiming higher. Based in Atlanta, the inventor and former NASA engineer is developing a revolutionary heat engine called JTEC that can convert solar heat directly into electricity, helping fight climate change. Johnson shares his journey from toy innovation to energy breakthroughs. Despite the challenges and naysayers, it’s his passion for turning vision into reality that keeps him going. Credits: @AllThings1990s @RetroToysandCartoons @JTECEnergy @nationalinventorshalloffame/YT|Getty|Stell Simonton/AJC|Thomas S. England/Getty|Lonnie Johnson