We are constantly changing, our main goal being development. Throughout the twentieth century and to the present, progress has gained considerable momentum, and humanity has witnessed events that have changed the world. Here is a list of 10 things that have marked the modern world:
- The plane
Just as the locomotive represented the transport revolution in the 19th century, so the airplane is seen for the 20th century. This means of transportation has made the world smaller by giving us the opportunity to travel anywhere in the world in just a few hours.
- Construction of missiles
The rocket proved to be useful in many more areas than initially thought. It is used today as a weapon and as a way to explore outer space. The missile concept, however, is much older. The first recorded projects are those of Conrad Haas, in 1529.
- The laser
The laser is also one of the inventions that have proven to have several uses. The principles of operation were enunciated by Einstein in 1916, and since then, the laser has been used as a weapon, but most importantly, as a new method in surgery.
- Antibiotic
Hundreds of lethal diseases up to that point found their antidote with the advent of penicillin in 1928. Before, any bacterial infection could be lethal, and the mortality rate dropped considerably with this invention.
- Hologram
Holography is a method of recording a three-dimensional image on a generally two-dimensional medium. The idea belongs to the Hungarian physicist Dennis Gabor, being developed in 1947. Considered an advanced photography technique, the principle of operation is based on the distribution of photographic information over the entire surface of the hologram. From safety documents and labels used in the pharmaceutical industry to the revolution of dental treatments, this invention has so far exceeded 500 million units produced.
- Genetically modified organisms
Genetic engineering has developed methods that allow the modification of organic chemical structures. As a result, cloning, in vitro insemination and tissue production have been possible to replace food. Through the same principle, researchers today are trying to create synthesized blood and artificial organs.
- Landing
“A small step for man, a big step for humanity.” Man has always been enchanted by the universe, and with the first landing on the moon, controversy arose together with hundreds of questions. The landing was a very important moment, as it managed to open the horizons of all mankind.
In 1971, Ray Tomlinson invented the first e-mail service. Before Yahoo and Gmail, digital correspondence could only be sent between computers connected to a common network. Reproducing all the necessary elements (address, mailbox, letter), with the advent of the Internet, this way of transmitting the messages we use today has spread worldwide.
- The Internet
Perhaps the most appreciated invention was that of the World Wide Web. This “canvas” allows us to store and transmit information almost instantly. Tim Berners-Lee’s collection of documents enjoyed immense popularity among researchers, and gradually the network was opened to more users, in order to offer everyone unlimited access to information.
- Nanotechnology – molecular manipulation
Nano-metric scale technology is a launching pad for countless projects. The things we only saw in SF movies are now possible or will be in the future, thanks to this progress.