Important Inventions League
What do you think is the most important invention?
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Mains water infrastructure
Old
System to pipe clean water directly into households and remove waste water. Essential for public health and hygiene.
Challenged: 373
Won: 289 Lost: 84
Wheel
Ancient
A round item that rotates around an axel causing the wheel to turn. Potters wheels from 5000BC may be the earliest examples of the wheel.
Challenged: 375
Won: 290 Lost: 85
Writing
Ancient
Writing is how a language is represented as text, signs and symbols. It began around 4000BC as a way to record the growing number of trade transactions.
Challenged: 353
Won: 278 Lost: 75
Antibiotics
Old
Used to stop the growth of micro-organisms like bacteria and fungi. Mould or plants were used by the ancient Chinese. Fleming discovered the first penicillin in 1928.
Challenged: 818
Won: 507 Lost: 311
Vaccinations
Old
Causes immunity to diseases. Discovered by Edward Jenner in 1796 who used cowpox as an immunisation for smallpox in humans.
Challenged: 584
Won: 390 Lost: 194
Irrigation
Ancient
Water is pumped or channelled onto land where there is not enough rain for crops to grow. First used in Egypt in 6000BC to grow barley.
Challenged: 813
Won: 490 Lost: 323
Paper
Ancient
Made from woodpulp, rice, hemp, cotton or modern synthetic fibres. Paper making started in China during 2nd century BC and was used for writing and wrapping things.
Challenged: 363
Won: 263 Lost: 100
Farming
Ancient
From small plots of land used to supply a family with food and fuel, to huge commercial farms. The ability or inability to provide food has been central to human history.
Challenged: 357
Won: 256 Lost: 101
Penicillin
Old
Antibiotic used for bacterial infections. Discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. During WWII it was used to treat infected wounds saving an estimated 12-15% of lives.
Challenged: 335
Won: 238 Lost: 97
Anaesthetic
Old
Anaesthetic blocks pain or sensation. The use of opium poppies dates back to 4200BC. Early use of medicinal anaesthetics include Chloroform in 1831 and Ether in 1842.
Challenged: 347
Won: 243 Lost: 104
Desalinisation
Modern
The removal of excess salts and minerals from water. Sea water is desalinised to be used on ships, submarines or in areas where fresh water is scarce.
Challenged: 442
Won: 286 Lost: 156
Computers
Modern
A machine that manipulates data according to instructions. In 1837 Charles Babbage designed a programmable mechanical computer. Modern day computers emerged in the 1940s.
Challenged: 384
Won: 249 Lost: 135
Printing press
Ancient
Invented in the 1430's by Johann Gutenberg. The printing press replaced block printing in Europe. The metal printing pieces were hard wearing and allowed moveable print.
Challenged: 361
Won: 236 Lost: 125
Internet
Modern
Interconnected networks of computers, consisting of millions of smaller networks allowing access to information and services like email and online businesses.
Challenged: 551
Won: 329 Lost: 222
Light bulbs
Old
Source of artificial light. Swan and Edison are credited the invention in the 1870s. They commercially produced light bulbs and installed electric lighting into houses.
Challenged: 388
Won: 245 Lost: 143
Steel
Ancient
A metal alloy consisting of iron and carbon. Steel was first made in East Africa in 1400BC. It was not widely produced until 1850 but is now a very common material.
Challenged: 366
Won: 232 Lost: 134
Bread
Ancient
Bread is made from flour, water and usually salt and yeast. It can be baked, steamed or fried. Basic flat breads can be traced back to Neolithic times.
Challenged: 602
Won: 349 Lost: 253
Steam engine
Ancient
Converts steam into mechanical power. It was essential to the industrial revolution in the 1800s; but Hero of Alexandria built the first steam engine in the 1st century.
Challenged: 577
Won: 332 Lost: 245
Soap
Ancient
Soap is made from oils or fats that react when mixed and heated with ash. It is used with water for washing. Soap used by the Babylonians in 2800BC has been found.
Challenged: 457
Won: 269 Lost: 188
Glass
Ancient
A solid material that light can pass through. The manufacturing of glass can be dated back to 3000BC. Sand is heated until molten and poured or 'blown' into shape.
Challenged: 777
Won: 426 Lost: 351
Cars
Old
Form of personal motor transport. Ferdinand Verbiest built the first steam powered car in 1672, but Karl Benz patented the first petrol driven motor car in 1885.
Challenged: 595
Won: 332 Lost: 263
Money
Ancient
Money is any token that is socially and legally used in exchange for goods or services. Precious metals, shells, banknotes and even cigarettes have been used.
Challenged: 360
Won: 207 Lost: 153
Radio
Old
Wireless communication. Guglielmo Marconi sent and received the first transatlantic radio signal in 1895. Radio programs broadcast news, music and entertainment to homes.
Challenged: 569
Won: 301 Lost: 268
Aeroplanes
Old
The Wrights were the first to achieve a controlled powered flight in 1903. Powered flight went on to change travel and warfare.
Challenged: 605
Won: 318 Lost: 287
MRI scans
Modern
Magnetic resonance imaging is a method of producing images of the inside of an object. Lauterbur and Mansfield share the 2003 Nobel Prize in Medicine for the invention.
Challenged: 583
Won: 307 Lost: 276
Woven cloth
Ancient
To make cloth threads are woven together at right angles. Neolithic fabrics and possibly even earlier have been found by archaeologists.
Challenged: 351
Won: 190 Lost: 161
Concrete
Ancient
Concrete is made from cement, gravel and fine sand. Once dry it sets like stone and can be used for building. It is used more than any other man made material on earth.
Challenged: 543
Won: 278 Lost: 265
Abacus
Ancient
A calculator often made from beads threaded on wires or rods. The beads are moved as part of the calculation. The first were used by the Babylonians in 2400BC.
Challenged: 342
Won: 173 Lost: 169
Tinned food
Old
Method of preserving food sealed developed during the 1800's. By WWI it had developed into a convenient way to feed troops on the frontline and families at home.
Challenged: 564
Won: 280 Lost: 284
Television
Modern
System to broadcast and receive moving pictures and sound. The first sets were available to buy in the 1930s. TVs are now household items for entertainment and news.
Challenged: 368
Won: 180 Lost: 188
Central heating
Old
Warming the whole building from just one source of heat. The Romans used warm air under floors and in walls. In 1716 Martin Triewald first used water to distribute heat.
Challenged: 759
Won: 369 Lost: 390
Sails
Ancient
Sails act like vertical wings when placed in the wind to propel ships. In 4000BC the Egyptians began to use one large sail in addition to oarsmen for more speed.
Challenged: 587
Won: 282 Lost: 305
Nuclear power
Modern
Use of a nuclear reaction to release energy for heat and the generation of electricity. In 1954 the first nuclear power plant generated electricity for a USSR power grid.
Challenged: 365
Won: 170 Lost: 195
Telescopes
Ancient
Invented in 1608 by Hans Lippershey. His telescope consisted of a convex and concave lens that magnified objects three or four times.
Challenged: 361
Won: 163 Lost: 198
Suspension bridges
Old
High points suspend cables attached to the bridge. Simple suspension bridges are still made like Inca rope bridges. The suspended-deck bridge was developed in the 1900s.
Challenged: 570
Won: 267 Lost: 303
Contraceptive pill
Modern
Contains hormones used to deliberately reduce the chance of pregnancy. Introduced in the 1960s, it had a big social impact giving women control over their fertility.
Challenged: 582
Won: 270 Lost: 312
Mobile phones
Modern
A portable electronic device for making phone calls. In the 1980s size meant that many were fitted into cars. It wasn't until the 1990s when they became pocket sized.
Challenged: 576
Won: 262 Lost: 314
Morse code
Old
Method for sending a message using electrical pulses, noise or flashing light. Dots, dashes and pauses make up the code. Created by Samuel Morse's in the 1840s.
Challenged: 768
Won: 356 Lost: 412
Wireless power
Modern
Electrical energy is transmitted without the use of connecting wires. In 1975 Bill Brown beamed 30 kW over a distance of 1 mile.
Challenged: 365
Won: 151 Lost: 214
Camera
Old
Cameras capture life-like images. Recording pictures of real life in either still photographs or moving video. The first permanent photo was taken in 1826.
Challenged: 584
Won: 259 Lost: 325
Intensive farming
Modern
A high use of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers to produce more and therefore cheaper food. Animals are also kept in large numbers in limited space.
Challenged: 338
Won: 133 Lost: 205
Space travel
Modern
The first spaceflight was in 1961 when Yuri Gagarin made one orbit around the Earth aboard the Vostok 1. Space tourism is now available but very expensive.
Challenged: 400
Won: 156 Lost: 244
Greenhouses
Old
Glass building used to grow plants. The heat trapped by the glass warms the air and soil. Greenhouses were first built in Italy in the 1600s to house exotic plants.
Challenged: 555
Won: 233 Lost: 322
X-ray photography
Old
A form of electromagnetic radiation creating images of internal organs or bones used for medical diagnosis. First demonstrated by Rontgen in 1896.
Challenged: 901
Won: 406 Lost: 495
DVDs
Modern
"Digital Versatile Disc" or "Digital Video Disc" used mainly for video and data storage. Developed during the 1990s, DVDs can store 6 times more information than CDs.
Challenged: 339
Won: 124 Lost: 215
Biro
Old
Laszlo Josef Biro invented the modern ball point pen in 1938. The ball in the tip of the pen is needed to pick up the sticky but quick drying ink.
Challenged: 336
Won: 121 Lost: 215
Bicycle
Old
A bicycle has two wheels and is powered by the person riding it. Introduced in the 1800s the bicycle went through many changes to improve comfort and practicality.
Challenged: 582
Won: 238 Lost: 344
Batteries
Ancient
Batteries store chemical energy so that it can be used electrically. Earliest batteries may date from 250BC but the modern battery was invented 1780s by Luigi Galvani.
Challenged: 664
Won: 276 Lost: 388
Guns
Old
Weapons that fire projectiles. The earliest depiction of a gun dates to the 1100s. The introduction of firearms changed modern warfare which now relies on them.
Challenged: 551
Won: 216 Lost: 335
Chocolate bar
Old
Introduced in the late 19th century the chocolate bar was a new convenient way of buying chocolate. Packaged and sized as a sweet snack for one person.
Challenged: 364
Won: 120 Lost: 244
Elevators
Old
Device to move goods or people up and down. Archimedes may have built an elevator in 236 B.C. Lifts were installed in English and French palaces during the 1700's.
Challenged: 364
Won: 107 Lost: 257
Photocopier
Old
Makes paper copies of text or images. Chester Carlson began experiments in 1938 the invention was not marketed until 1947. It is still the most convenient way to copy.
Challenged: 367
Won: 104 Lost: 263
Denim jeans
Old
Trousers made from cotton, traditionally dyed with indigo and designed as hard wearing work trousers. In the 1950s blue denim jeans became a fashion item for teenagers.
Challenged: 583
Won: 211 Lost: 372
Air conditioning
Modern
Adjusts air temperature and humidity to make buildings and vehicles more comfortable. Modern electrical air conditioning was invented by Willis Haviland Carrier in 1902.
Challenged: 560
Won: 186 Lost: 374
GM food
Modern
Foodstuffs that have had their genes altered to produce new or useful traits. Developed since the 1990s. It is controversial due to ethical and environmental concerns.
Challenged: 572
Won: 187 Lost: 385
Acupuncture
Ancient
A type of traditional Chinese medicine dating from 3000BC. Needles are put into specific areas of the body to treat illness and pain.
Challenged: 806
Won: 301 Lost: 505
Reality TV
Modern
A term used since 2000 to describe a TV program that uses unscripted, real people and actual events. Programs like 'hidden camera' shows had existed prior to this.
Challenged: 802
Won: 274 Lost: 528
Botox
Modern
Trade name for Botulinum, one of the most poisonous naturally occurring toxins in the world. In minute doses it causes muscle paralysis for medical and cosmetic use.
Challenged: 396
Won: 45 Lost: 351
