Humankind achieved some amazing engineering and science feats in the 20th century. We have decided to give a tribute to the inventions of the 20th century by making a list of eight of those inventions. Check out the list below and let us know what you think of it;
The Airplane
We shall kick the list off with something that is obvious; the airplane. The invention of the airplane made the world a smaller space indeed. The airplane was invented in 1903 by Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright, the brothers that decided to bring a myth to life. However, it was Charles Lindberg’s solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean that forced the world to take the airplane seriously. Industries were revolutionized with the invention of aircraft including communication, satellite, commerce, and business.
The Television
Television was created in 1926 by John Logie Baird, and it went on to change the world for the better, despite what the older generations have to say about it. The television with its broadcasting of news and information has created new industries that impact cultures and raise concerns over issues such as class, race, gender, and other societal issues.
The Computer
We are going to ask you to do the impossible; imagine a life without the smartphone or your laptop. Yeah, seems quite bleak, right? But it is possible nonetheless. However, some of the biggest scientific developments and discoveries would not have been made if it wasn’t for the computer. The very first programmable computer, the Z1, came into being in 20th century between 1936 and 1938. From helping humanity make its trip to the moon to developing communications, the computer has helped us create a plethora of technologies that are embedded in our daily lives.
The Radio
It is generally underappreciated, however; the radio was actually among the first major inventions of the 20th century. It was the result of a joint collaboration of many scientists including Nikola Tesla and Guglielmo Marconi. The radio became one of the most used forms of communication in the world. It not only served as a social bonding tool but also doubled as a place for news, education, and emergency broadcasts.
Nuclear Power
The creation of nuclear power changed the world in more than one ways. It was developed in the 1940s as a means for producing bombs, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that the research for the nuclear energy switched gears and changed its aim towards peace. As of today, about 11% of the world’s energy is created from around 450 power reactors thus making it the world’s second-largest source of low-carbon power. 50 countries have nuclear energy research industries that range from the industrial field to the medical field.
The Automobile
The automobile was undergoing development in Europe during the 19th century. However, it was able to make its debut in the early 20th century. Once it did make its way, it quickly replaced horses and buggies. It was popularized by Henry Ford’s Model T in 1908; the automobile was able to impart a greater degree of freedom and mobility to individuals.
Antibiotics
The face of modern medicine was changed forever with the antibiotics. It is considered to be one of the greatest inventions of 20th century. Death by bacteria was so common that even a small little bug’s bite could prove to be fatal. Antibiotics such as the penicillin that was discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming have helped greatly reduce the mortality rate and enabled people to live longer lives. Only penicillin was able to help save the lives of millions of soldiers in World War II.
Internet
The list of inventions from the 20th century is always incomplete without the mention of the Internet. Apart from being used for creating memes, putting up cat videos, and trolling online, the Internet has made quite an impact all over the world ever since the first connections for it were laid back in the late 1950s. The Internet has shaped education, science, music, modern media, travel, communication, and much more.
