Editor’s spotlight — updated daily
Jacques Yves Cousteau
France
Jacques Cousteau co-invented the Aqua-Lung in 1943, revolutionizing underwater exploration. His 1956 film The Silent World, co-directed with Louis Malle, won both the Palme d'Or and an Academy Award. From 1968, his TV series The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau introduced ocean wonders to a global audience. He also led a successful campaign to protect Antarctica from mineral exploitation in 1990.