Turbines
Stodola worked out a theory of how to design a turbine so that it turns the energy of steam into rotation as efficiently as possible. His calculations were used in power stations and ships, and later in gas turbines, which also gave rise to jet engines. Stodola's turbines still produce a large share of the world's electricity.
Prostheses for war invalids
During the First World War he worked with the surgeon Ferdinand Sauerbruch on a prosthetic arm that the patient could control with his own muscles. It was one of the first steps towards today's bionic prostheses.
Teacher
Stodola's students and friends included prominent scientists. Albert Einstein wrote him an admiring letter for his 70th birthday. Stodola received the James Watt Gold Medal, the highest award for mechanical engineers.