20 unexpected inventions that have become commonplace
Forming / / December 19, 2019
1. Treadmill
The prototype of the sports facilities for the maintenance of body shape was a torture mechanism. In 1818, William Cubitt (William Cubitt) created wheels, intended to punish prisoners. The prisoners were held daily 3 352.8 meters for a moving staircase. Machine, workers working on energy, pumping water and crushed grains. If today's gyms were equipped with such mechanisms ...
2. Viagra
Viagra was originally a medicine for the heart. At the beginning of the XX century, scientists from the British company Pfizer attempted to create sildenafil citrate for the treatment of coronary heart disease. However, the drug was not effective. But he showed others known to all, quality.
3. microwave
Microwave oven was invented by Percy Spencer (Percy Spencer), who worked on the creation of radars to Raytheon Company. During operation, he noticed that the peanut candy lying in his pocket melted. According to other versions there was a chocolate or a sandwich. But actually it does not change: the first microwave oven was released in 1947 by Raytheon. Of course, up to modern standards it was well: the size of a man's height, and
consumption of electricity unlikely to allow it to become the subject of mass consumption.4. Toothbrush
Mass production of sanitary fixtures began in 1780. Before 1938, the toothbrushes were made from wool pigs or horses. Is not the best material, it must be said: it is great to feel the bacteria themselves and brushes dried up pretty bad. In Kievan Rus material was oak for the manufacture of sanitary appliances. Fortunately, progress is not standing still: today brushes are made of nylon.
5. Webcam
Thank coffee, because now you can chat on Skype. To come into the kitchen for coffee and find it empty the coffee maker is quite sad. Therefore, the University of Cambridge employees in 1991 created the first web-camera, real-time shows a coffee machine in their lab. Because of the practical needs of genius the coffee born a device that allows us to communicate face to face, even at a distance. And what about the coffee machine at Cambridge University, again it is not clear: The first webcam worked exactly 10 years and was cut off in 2001.
6. Bubble wrap
Invented by American engineers Alfred Fielding (Alfred Fielding) and Marc Chavannes (Marc Chavannes) wallpaper never became popular. Then they decided to sell his creation as a film for insulation of greenhouses. This idea also failed. But in 1959, they still managed to find a use his invention: bubble film was used as a safe packaging of IBM computers. Although we all know what it is really: who among us does not relieve stress, crushing air bubbles!
7. Pin
The first pins existed before our era. Then they were made from iron and bone. Pin in its modern form was invented by American engineer Walter Hunt (Walter Hunt) in 1849. He invented it only in order to pay a debt of $ 15. His patent he sold for only $ 400 (which is equivalent to approximately 12 000 dollars today). Creator for his life and has not received the recognition and did not even recognize what enormous profits bought his invention company W. R. Grace received subsequently.
8. Escalator
The world's first escalator was built in New York in the late XIX century. It was an easy ride, no practical value he had. But first escalator in the metro was made in London. I must say the English were psychologically to such are not ready. People who use it have experienced a real shock, because of what they were offered brandy and ammonia, to help calm down.
9. Potato chips
The first potato chips on the idea had to be tasteless. The visitor of a restaurant back ordered them fried potatoes with the comment "it is too crude." Offended the chef sliced the next batch of slices so thin as I could, and fried them until they become hard and brittle. Unfortunately for the chef (and fortunately for us) chips were delicious.
10. Chewing gum
People always something to chew on, to get rid of the remnants of food in the mouth. The ancient Greeks - the resin of the mastic tree, the Mayan - rubber, Europeans - chewing tobacco. Industrial production of gums began in the middle of the XIX century.
A curious story of a successful "chewing" brand Wrigley. At the end of the XIX century by William Wrigley - Jr. (William Wrigley Jr.) used chewing gum as an incentive for sellers to buy its products (like soap and baking powder). However, as a result of chewing gum has become more popular than the things that he really was trying to sell. Then Wrigley quickly refocused production.
11. X-radiation
German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered was named in his honor radiation in 1895. X in the English title of X-rays (X-ray) Means "unknown" because scientists initially did not know what it was Roentgen stumbled.
In the first X-ray shows the hand was the inventor's wife. Once a woman saw him, she said: "I saw my death." The discovery of X-rays was a breakthrough in science, for which the German scientist received the first Nobel Prize for achievements in physics.
12. Powder
As everyone should know, gunpowder was invented in China. But not everyone knows, under any circumstances. Taoist alchemists experimented with nitrate in order to discover the elixir of eternal life. Apparently, this idea failed, but a side effect of fruitless labors became gunpowder. Interestingly, before it had been opened "explosive" properties, the powder was used as a remedy for skin diseases and insects.
13. Headphones
At the end of the XIX century headphones basically use the phone operators and in general have not been associated with the music. At that time, they weigh from 3 to 5 kg. For a long time I used the headphones pilots, tank crews and radio amateurs.
mass conductor function in the world of music through the headphones got company Koss. Headphones have application to a portable turntable, and the exhibition in 1958 to them has been shown extraordinary interest. After that, it began production of the known headphones on an industrial scale.
14. Flashlight
The first lanterns were unable to provide a long light. They gave a flash of light, then their batteries needed a break to recharge. Today, technology has leaped forward, flashlights there for every taste, color, and for any practical activities: hiking, miner, diving and so on. And of course, no interruptions in the emission of light they do not suffer.
15. Popcorn
Initially popcorn Aztecs used as trim hats and necklaces. Glory to the first person who ate their ceremonial decorations! Kinozakuskoy the popcorn became the beginning of the XX century. If you are still wondering strange transformation of grains in your microwave oven, you should know that there's no magic. Just under heat boils water contained in grains of corn, because of what happens a small explosion.
16. High heels
High heels were created not to walk on them. Their original purpose was that the soldiers on horseback could better control the stirrups. Heels are especially useful when the soldiers had to stop you need to, for example, to make a shot from a bow. Today, women in high heels too often stop - simply because they are not very convenient to walk.
17. Sunglasses
In the XII century the Chinese judges wore prototypes of modern glasses to hide their emotions in court. The lenses were made of precious stones. Residents of the Far North worn wooden sunglasses with slits for the eyes to protect from snow blindness. And in the beginning of the XX century, the actors wore sunglasses to protect against UV rays that fall on them from the light sources on the set.
18. Bra
Bras have become popular due to the lack of metal during the First World War. They have been used in medicine since 1893, but the corsets remained the main type women's underwear until 1917. During the war, the ladies had to change their tastes, as the metal, used to make corsets, is now used for military purposes.
19. Ice cream
The father of Western medicine, Hippocrates prescribed to patients as a cure for ice cream. It is difficult to say whether this was an effective method of treatment, but by then the ice cream meant chilled food and wine. A recipe for the modern goodies in Europe brought Marco Polo in the XIII century.
20. the Internet
Internet has grown from a communication system developed in the US in the event of attack the USSR. Scientists have proposed the idea to transmit information via computers, if the enemy destroys the phone lines. Like this. And they say the military technology only sow chaos and destruction.