50 Inventions that Changed the World

The 50 inventions that changed the world are the innovations that, from one moment to another, changed the course of history, because they introduced objects, techniques, practices, ideas or innovative concepts to improve the daily life of societies or to promote the development of a discipline or a production process. For example: The steam engine was a great invention that revolutionized production systems.

All the most important inventions in history are a symbol of the creative capacity that human beings possess. Inventions can be completely new creations or a modification of an existing product, activity or knowledge. However, to be considered as such, they must have a high level of impact and use, and contribute to the progress of humanity.

Inventions can arise through two possible routes:

• By chance or accident. The course of human evolution has been marked by a long succession of chance discoveries. Experts estimate that 30-50% of all inventions are accidental in some way. For example: microwave.
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• As a result of experiments. The moment of invention can also come through research that has the objective of introducing an improvement in a certain field. In this way, most scientific discoveries originate after painstaking laboratory work that ultimately produces the result that a researcher hoped to find. For example: print.

Examples of inventions that changed the world

1. The wheel. The invention of the wheel has its first records between the 5th and 4th millennia BC. c. in Mesopotamia. Without the wheel, our industrialized civilization cannot be conceived, since it is the fundamental piece for transportation, work and daily life.
2. Print. The invention of the printing press arose around 1450 at the hands of Johannes Gutenberg who, after years of research and essays in secret, he developed a printing system that transformed the spread of knowledge on the European continent. The printed letter allowed knowledge to reach all social classes and expand faster.
3. The harvester. The invention of the combine harvester can be traced back to the year 1835, when Hiram Moore and James Hascall built and operated the first combine harvester in Michigan, United States, which they patented a year following. This invention was a revolution in the world of agriculture, as it mechanized and streamlined agricultural processes.
4. the assembly line. The invention of the assembly line, although many attribute it to Henry Ford, the true creator is said to have been Ransom Eli Olds, founder of Oldsmobile in 1901. The assembly line led to the transition from a craft economy to a market economy with the advent of factories during the Industrial Revolution. Not only did it help reduce production costs, but it also increased the quality of life for employees and helped create more reliable products.
5. The lever. The invention of the lever comes from prehistoric times. Its daily use, in the form of zigoñales, is documented from the third millennium BC. c. on cylinder seals from Mesopotamia. The lever was the first step in improving the way of building by allowing, for example, the lifting of the Egyptian pyramids. It is considered the simplest machine that exists and consists of a mechanism that allows the force applied at a given moment to be multiplied.
6. The nail. The invention of the nail dates back more than 2000 years. At the time of the Roman Empire, it broke out and was decisive for the improvement of constructions, since the wooden boards could be better held together by means of nails. Like the screw, it is one of the most important inventions in the history of construction and caused a true revolution in the creation of both buildings and public infrastructure.
7. anesthesia. The invention of anesthesia is attributed to Horace Wells, a Connecticut dentist who first used nitrous oxide to extract teeth in 1844. It was a paradigm shift in the field of health and a huge step for social welfare. Its importance cannot be denied because its discovery allowed medical interventions to last longer without agony or pain for the patient.
8. Television. Television was invented by John Logie Baird, who held the first public demonstration of his television system in Soho, London. It was originally created as a complement to radio to transmit news with moving images, but, to date, it is a means of mass communication.
9. The air conditioning. The invention of air conditioning dates back to July 17, 1902, when Willis Haviland Carrier designed the first modern system of this device. However, a principle of air conditioning was invented by Lord Kelvin, in 1842. This device has made life easier in countries with high temperatures.
10. paper money. The invention of paper money has its starting point in China, specifically in the year 618 AD. c. during the Tang dynasty, although its use was not official until 812 AD. c. Symbolizing money through banknotes allowed the development of the economy in a massive way, since it facilitated trade between populations.
11. the space rocket. The invention of the space rocket was in charge of Robert Hutchings Goddard, who was responsible for the first flight of a rocket propelled with liquid fuel (gasoline and oxygen), launched on March 16, 1926, in Massachusetts, United States Joined. A great invention that allowed travel beyond our planet.
12. formula milk. The invention of formula milk dates back to 1860, when Henry Nestlé invented this food based on dehydrated cow's milk and cereals. It turned out to be the first commercial substitute for breast milk and was vital for the lower classes.
13. The photograph. The invention of photography has two key moments of emergence: on the one hand, the first images photographs obtained in history were the work of Nicéphore Niepce, who in 1826 obtained the first image photographic; on the other, in 1839, Louis Daguerre patented the daguerreotype, considered the first photographic camera in history. Photography changed the course of painting, also of culture and the way the world is seen and represented.
14. Radio. The invention of radio happened in stages. It started in 1887, when Heinrich Hertz detected electromagnetic radiation from powerful electrical charges. Later, in 1894, Oliver Lodge transmitted and received waves to represent the dots and dashes of the Morse code, already widely used in wire telegraphy, creating an early form of radio. At the same time, in 1895, Alexander Popov improved the system for receiving electromagnetic waves and laid the foundations for modern antennas. However, it was not until 1901, when Guillermo Marconi, based on these works and those of Nikola Tesla, developed commercially invented and built a transmitter powerful enough to send messages across the ocean Atlantic. Radio was a great invention that sparked the evolution of communications, broadcast media, and even commerce.
15. the mechanical clock. The invention of the mechanical clock dates back to the Middle Ages. During the 14th and 15th centuries, numerous mechanical clocks were made in Central and Western Europe. When this type of watch appeared, a different way of conceiving time and, above all, of managing it was born.
16. The Telegraph. The invention of the telegraph dates back to 1835, when the first telegraphic model developed by Samuel Morse appeared. Morse's apparatus, which issued the first public telegram in 1844, was in the form of an electrical switch. Until its appearance, the information moved as slowly or as fast as the human being who transmitted it through a trip.
17. The barcode. The invention of the barcode dates back to 1948 and was patented on October 7, 1952 by Joseph Woodland, Jordin Johanson and Bernard Silver in the United States. This invention revolutionized logistics and, more generally, commerce.
18. The sailing boat. The invention of the sailing boat has its origin in Egypt about 5,500 years ago, when man first relied on sails to move on the water. This is an invention that radically changed the way of traveling and moving through seas and oceans.
19. oil drilling. The invention of oil drilling dates back to August 27, 1859, when Colonel Edwin Drake operated the first extraction tower in northwestern Pennsylvania after many attempts failed. Through oil drilling, energy sources changed, which meant a great advance for society.
20. the cement. The invention of cement is attributed to the ancient Romans. However, it was in the 19th century when Joseph Aspdin and James Parker patented it, in 1824 exactly, as "Portland", named for its dark greenish gray color similar to the stone of this same Name. Later, Isaac Johnson, in 1845, obtained the prototype of modern cement, with a mixture of limestone and clay calcined at high temperature. Civilization has been built on this material and it has become essential for the construction of buildings and infrastructures.
21. steam turbine. The steam turbine was invented by Charles Parsons, who introduced it in 1884. The first turbine-powered ship dates back to 1897. Twenty years after its invention, it was already in use in power plants and ocean liners. It has become one of the most innovative inventions, revolutionizing navigation and the generation of electrical energy.
22. Battery. The invention of the battery or electric cell was in charge of Alessandro Volta, in 1800, and since then other creations have been developed that improved the first prototype. This invention was fundamental for the development of humanity, because it provided electrical energy to various objects, such as household appliances, cell phones, cars and laptops.
23. the gregorian calendar. The invention of the Gregorian calendar has its origin in Europe and is named after its promoter Pope Gregory XIII, who promulgated its use through the bull Inter Gravissimas. Starting in 1582, it gradually replaced the Julian calendar, promoted by Julius Caesar and used from 46 BC. c.
24. pasteurization. The invention of pasteurization dates back to April 20, 1864, when Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard saw the need to pasteurize basic food products, such as milk, so that they could be transported long distances without being affected by the decomposition. Pasteurization consists of a thermal process that is carried out on food with the intention of reducing the presence of bacteria, protozoa or any pathogen of this type. This idea was a real breakthrough for global public health.
25. the pacemaker. The invention of the pacemaker was developed in the 20th century by different scientists who gradually improved the system and power supply of this device. Its origin stems from the invention made in 1958, in Stockholm, by Dr. Senning, a cardiac surgeon who performed cardiac stimulation on a patient using two leads sutured to the epicardium and a generator.
26. Writing. The invention of writing has different spatio-temporal origins. The oldest arose in Mesopotamia, at the end of the fourth millennium BC. C., whose society used it to represent objects and quantities. Over time, two types of writing were developed, phonetic and ideographic. This invention marks the end of prehistory and the beginning of history, since it allows the registration of different knowledge, historical events, literary works, among others.
27. The phone. The invention of the telephone is attributed to Antonio Meucci, who in 1854 built his first prototype to connect his office with his bedroom so he could talk to his wife, who was immobilized in bed by a disease. Due to economic difficulties, he did not formalize his patent. In 1876, the Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell was the first to formally patent it, and for many years, along with Elisha Gray, they were considered the inventors of the telephone. It was an extraordinary advance in giving the human being the opportunity to talk to someone who is at a long distance.
28. the sextant. The sextant was invented in 1730 by John Hadley and Thomas Godfrey. This was designed for maritime navigation and opened a new dimension of exploration during voyages, allowing the angular height of the sun above the horizon to be obtained.
29. nanotechnology. The invention of nanotechnology emerged in 1980 thanks to the contribution of different scientists, among whom is Kim Eric Drexler. It is a technology with practical application that allows manipulating elements on a nanometric scale, that is, on the smallest possible scale, whose emergence modified the world, because it is applied in computing, medicine, engineering, chemistry, molecular biology, among other sciences, to manufacture products that improve people's lives.
30. nuclear fission. The invention of nuclear fission is due to Otto Hahn and Lise Meitner, although he was the first the only one to receive the Nobel Prize for his invention. Although it is very controversial for its great power of destruction, it undoubtedly changed many things by introducing new sources of energy.
31. the contraceptive pill. The invention of the first contraceptive pill arose on October 15, 1951, when Luis Miramontes managed to the first time the synthesis of norethynyltestosterone, a powerful antiovulatory agent, similar to progesterone. It immediately became the active ingredient in the first birth control pill. It was fundamental for the so-called sexual revolution and, above all, for the emancipation of women through it.
32. Computer. The invention of the first programmed computer was designed by Konrad Zuse in the thirties of the twentieth century. In 1944, the first electromechanical computer appeared, which had basic functions, but was the basis for those that came later. This innovation revolutionized the world, because it allowed different jobs to be carried out more easily. However, it was not until 1971 that the first home computers began to be sold.
33. The car. The invention of the automobile is dated January 29, 1886, by Carl Benz, who patented his three-wheeled "gasoline-powered motor vehicle." That same year, Gottlieb Daimler created the first four-wheel motorized carriage. The automobile modified the transport system and also the configuration of the cities, which had to change their physiognomy to allow their circulation.
34. The compass. The invention of the compass dates back to around the 2nd century, in China, and had as its objective to conceive an object that could determine directions in the open sea. Both on land and at sea, this invention helped better orientation for travelers.
35. The Internet. The invention of the internet was born in the sixties of the 20th century, when the United States created a network exclusively military to, in case of a Soviet attack, be able to have access to information from any country place. In the 1980s, Tim Berners-Lee and scientists at MIT created HTTP and, later, the World Wide Web, which became the essential infrastructure of the digital age. It is considered one of the most important inventions in history because it brought about a large-scale change.
36. vaccination. The invention of vaccination is attributed to Edward Jenner, who in 1796 discovered the smallpox vaccine. This discovery made it possible to combat and eradicate smallpox, a disease that had become a serious epidemic on several continents. Vaccination is part of the so-called preventive medicine. Over the years, it can be assured that it has saved countless lives.
37. internal combustion engine. The invention of the internal combustion engine was developed by Nikolaus Otto, who in 1886 patented his design, based on Alphonse Beau de Rochas's 1862 studies. This type of machine is a heat engine in which part of the energy released by burning the fuel is transformed into work, that is, into movement. Two examples of this engine are diesel and explosion.
38. Paper. The invention of paper is believed to have happened in 105 BC. C and is attributed to Ts'ai Lun, in China. Its development and perfection has been long and was essential for the image and the word, for its diffusion and its permanence over time.
39. optical lenses. The invention of optical lenses or glasses is attributed to two Franciscan monks, Alejandro de la Espina and Roger Bacon, around the middle of the 13th century. Its massification was essential to allow many people access to reading and study, but it also allowed the manufacture of the telescope and the microscope.
40. penicillin. The invention of penicillin was discovered by chance by Alexander Fleming in 1928 and is the most widely used antibiotic in the world. Penicillin managed to stop many deadly diseases, until then, from being deadly.
41. The bulb. The light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison, who in 1880 created the first commercial electric light bulb. This innovation changed the world, because it allowed people to carry out in their homes those activities that only they worked during the day, that production hours in factories were extended and that the streets and highways were better lit.
42. the airplane. The invention of the airplane dates back to 1903, when the Wright brothers made the first flight in this new means of air transport. With its creation, a much faster way of traveling was originated, allowing longer transfers that cross the planet.
43. gunpowder. The invention of gunpowder was discovered in China between the 7th and 9th centuries. In the West it appeared in the 12th century with the original formula of saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur and carbon, as recorded in the writings of the English monk Roger Bacon. Gunpowder has been decisive for armed conflicts and for the development of mining.
44. The fridge. The invention of the refrigerator was in charge of Carl Von Linde, who patented was responsible for patenting the first refrigerator that worked with liquefied gas in 1876. It meant the possibility of better preserving food, which helped prevent diseases.
45. The health system. The invention of the health system has its first records in Antiquity. However, it was not until the 19th century that they were installed in modern cities, such as Paris, London and Hamburg. This innovation was fundamental for human beings, because it allowed to improve hygiene and, consequently, health.
46. The steam machine. The invention of the steam engine was created by James Watt, in 1765. It was the driver of the Industrial Revolution, because it was used to improve the operation of industrial production artifacts, locomotives, ships, among others.
47. The credit card. The invention of the credit card arose within the offices of the Chase Manhattan Bank, at the hands of its director, under the form of a professional card. It was instituted in its majority form around the 1940s and spread from the middle of the century. Thanks to this, people can buy items and services on credit.
48. The robot. The invention of the robot has its origin from the ancient world. The "modern" concept began to be developed with the start of the Industrial Revolution, which allowed the use of complex mechanics, and the subsequent introduction of electricity. This made it possible for small, compact machines to work. At the beginning of the 20th century, the idea of ​​a humanoid was introduced. Robots are one of the most important inventions in history because their use has led to great advances in production processes and even in the simplification of domestic tasks.
49. Internet search engines. Internet search engines were invented in 1996 thanks to Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Both began a project that would lead to the appearance of the most used search engine today: Google. The initial project was called BackRub, which was the name of the technology used to develop it. Today it is impossible to conceive of using a computer without going through them.
50. Cellphone. The invention of the first cell phone came in 1973, but it was only in 1980 that it went on sale to the public. This innovation was fundamental, because it allowed its users to communicate with others, but without the need to stay in a fixed place. The cell phone evolved until it became the smartphone that, in addition to being used for make calls, take pictures, send emails, connect to social networks, etc. others.

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