The mother of all inventions
From V2 rockets to antibiotics, innovations have changed the world. But which is the greatest in history?
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Science Museum
Stephenson's Rocket
By winning the Rainhill trials and achieving record-breaking speeds, Rocket changed the future in 1829. Its design principles set the standard for the steam locomotives that would carry people and goods
around the globe in the next 150
In pictures: the iconic inventions
The Science Museum, favourite haunt of aspiring astronauts and eccentric professors, celebrates its centenary this month. To mark the occasion, it is today launching a public vote to choose the most important scientific invention of the past few centuries. Curators have selected 10 objects which they believe to be most significant in the history of science, engineering, technology and medicine and are inviting the public to decide the winner. Voting will take place over the summer for the innovation which they believe has had (or will have) the greatest impact on the past, present or future.
The iconic objects are being organised into a Centenary Journey trail, which will open at the museum later this month. The winning object will be announced in October.
Tim Boon, chief curator of the museum, admitted the idea of scientific “progress” was controversial. “Some of the objects may divide opinion. Would we be better off if some of the “icons”, which have had negative consequences, had not been invented? We are looking forward to a great debate.”
Some of the museum’s supporters have already made their choice. Trevor Baylis, inventor of the clockwork radio, is voting for the V2 rocket engine: “It’s one of the greatest achievements of our time because it led to space exploration, and then satellite development, which then led to mobile phones and the astounding communication services we enjoy today.”
Musician Nitin Sawhney chooses penicillin: “As an asthmatic recovering from a debilitating bout of pneumonia, I am painfully aware of how important a role penicillin has played in curing my lung infection. In this regard I’m hardly alone.”
Television presenter and biologist Alice Roberts’s vote is going elsewhere:
“As a doctor and anatomist, I’m championing the X-ray machine. X-rays provided the first possibility of looking inside someone’s body without cutting them open.”
Television presenter James May votes for the Apollo 10, “as it represents the furthest reach to date of manned exploration.” Broadcaster Adam Hart-Davis believes the steam engine to be “the most important step forward in technology of all time.”
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Comments
Potable water is produced in the water treatment plant. Sedimentation + a coagulant and rapid gravity filters + chlorine. If you use slow sand filters the chemicals can be avoided. Anyway the Romans had it. Good inventions but not great.
From the 19th. century, the harnessing of electricity, as exemplified by Faraday's 'electric engine', showing for the first time its practical use.
From the 20 and 21st. century, the internet. No argument.
Perhaps this commentator could do with using the invention of the dictionary?
Without women there would be no more us, no warm supper and nothing to lookforward to under the sheets.
Without a doubt worth the spare rib and the best invention yet.
I can't believe that nobody yet has mentioned the humble loaf-slicer; surely the most important innovation since, well, since before sliced bread?
-Common language
-Movable type printing press
-Internet
Many other inventions shaped the world in one way or another, but I argue these three things did more to liberate humanity from the boundaries of darkness than any thing ever conceived.