Gave so many speeches and seminars, that he circled the world 57 times in his lifetime.When he flew on jetliners, he stuffed his jacket with newspaper to keep from getting a cold.The Carbon 60 atomic isotope, which resembles a spherical geodesic dome, is called "buckminsterfullerine" in his honor (The atoms are called "buckyballs" for short).Had so many engagements in so many parts of the world, he was known to wear four wristwatches at once.Among his architectural and design awards are the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Architects and the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects.Was awarded 25 patents.Wrote 28 books.Received 47 honarary doctorates in the arts, science, humanities and engineering.Coined the terms "Spaceship Earth" and "Synergenic". He is often credited with coining the term "Dymaxion" (a fusion of "dynamic", "maximum" and "tension"), but it was suggested to him by a friend.Invented a number of engineering and architectural innovations, the most famous and popular of which was the geodesic dome.Lived in poverty several times in his life.Developed his universalist world-view while in a suicidal depression.Served in the U.S. Navy as a cartographer. This led to his development of a distortion-free map of the world that folds into a globe.Was very nearsighted.Once received a letter that was simply addressed, "Bucky Fuller, USA".A diagram of a geodesic sphere is engraved on his grave marker.His wife died two days after him.The term "Fullerese" was used to describe his unique handling of the English language to describe his technological and psychological concepts. This often included using nouns as transitive verbs ("Technology serves to advantage others.").Was a member of MensaFather-in-law of documentary filmmaker Robert Snyder .Was an avid boater, and owned a yacht he named "Intuition".The unusual inscription on his headstone, "Call Me Trimtab", refers to his belief that a single person can have a profound influence on the world. When a ship's rudder must be moved, the trimtab (the smallest moving part used to steer a ship) is adjusted to create a low pressure area on one side, thereby turning the rudder and changing the ship's course.Designed a three-wheeled car he dubbed the "Dymaxion Transport". Despite being 20 feet long, the vehicle, thanks to its rear-wheel steering (not unlike the rudder of a ship), could be steered into a U-turn within its own length. A fatal crash of a prototype, incorrectly blamed on the Dymaxion's steering and not the other car involved, resulted in much negative publicity and scared away any potential investors. The project was finally scrapped. Three prototypes were built. Only one exists, and is only partially restored.Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 300-302. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.Awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan .