The 10 Most Famous Inventions

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What are the 10 most famous inventions?

The 10 Most Famous Inventions

The Light Bulb
Although we think of Thomas Edison as the inventor of the light bulb, the light bulb didn't begin or end with his contribution. The first patent for a light bulb was obtained by Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans. In 1879, Thomas Edison purchased the patent and improved on the light bulb with his invention of a carbon filament. That filament lasted for 40 hours, but by the time Edison was done he had a filament that could last for 1200 hours. Later improvements in the light bulb gave us bulbs that don't go black and the tungsten filament.

The Printing Press
The printing press is credited with changing all of Western civilization after being invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th Century. By making the Bible more widely available, this invention weakened the central authority of the state sponsored churches and led to the Reformation. Not many people realize that this famous invention was most likely invented several centuries earlier in China. Probably because Eastern languages contain significantly more characters than Western languages, the impact of movable type was not as great in China.

The Computer
Many invention ideas have contributed to the modern computer. As early as the 17th Century, scientists were building machines that could do basic mathematical equations. Today's computers can do everything from sending us to the moon to beating us at chess. Computers and computerized appliances have moved from being science fiction to being a necessity of modern life. They continue to be improved on and made more useful.

The Bicycle
Bicycles remain the most energy efficient mode of transportation available. There are currently over a billion bicycles at use in the world as children's toys, exercise equipment and means of travel. The technology that went into early bicycles was used as the basis for later innovations in the automobile and the airplane. Women's use of the bicycle in the late 19th Century led to the popularity of bloomers, the overall greater mobility of women and the women's movement.

The Airplane
In the 19th Century, most people would have considered it impossible that something heavier than air could fly. Yet every day, large groups of people fly in heavy airplanes for lengths of time up to fifteen hours. Like most new inventions, the airplane is the culmination of the work of many different inventors and inventions. Sir George Cayley between 1799 and 1809 is credited with being the first to have the idea to hold the wings still and to use propellers for thrusters. The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, were the first inventors to build a working airplane in 1903.

The Telephone
It still isn't completely clear whether Elisha Gray or Alexander Graham Bell invented the first telephone. The two inventors applied for patents on the same day. They fought legally over the patent, but Bell ultimately won out. His invention was inspired by his love of music and financed by his father-in-law who was interested in breaking the monopoly held by the telegraph company. Bell's famous first words over his first successful telephone were to his assistant. He said, "Watson...come here...I want to see you."

The Automobile
The automobile is a culmination of thousands of ideas and patents beginning with rudimentary plans by Leonardo da Vinci and Isaac Newton. Before the modern gasoline engine was made common, steam engines and electric engines were experimented with. It wasn't until 1885 that the first practical automobile was invented by Karl Benz. The French were the first to manufacture a complete motor vehicle with engine and chassis, but it wasn't until Henry Ford streamlined the car manufacturing process in 1913 that car ownership became affordable for many people.

The Steam Engine
The steam engine was the most important invention idea of the industrial revolution. By mechanically producing energy out of steam, it effectively replaced traditional water and muscle power.

   

Comments

1/9/2007 8:08:41 PM
STELLA said:

O0 MY G0D I LEARNED SO MUCH.LIKE WHO INVENTED WAT..!I LOVE THIS SIT3!!


10/11/2007 3:23:12 PM
Alloie said:

Well, I'm just going to think what I want about who invented what, becasue it keeps saying, ACTUALLY it waswn't him, and if it was them, then why would we get taught that! this is probably a fake web site someone did when he was bored, or something, just tell the truth.... we all know who invented what, i have to do this for school, and this is NOT a good exzamlple to kids who wanna know an inventor... THERE LYING!


12/9/2007 4:47:45 PM
Diva Queen said:

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i love like, learning and like, stuff..like, its like whatever..like omg.....


11/12/2008 11:36:27 AM
ANVIR said:

it needs much more inventions! but its alright....


12/10/2008 3:01:04 PM
Yuna said:

O.M.G. THIS IS LIKE SO AWESOME! i LOVE INVENTING THINGS LIKE WHAT THE FAMOUS SCIENCE WIZARDS OF ALL HISTORY DID IN THE PAST TOO. I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH SCIENCE!


1/6/2009 12:36:54 PM
... said:

they dont have the name of the inventors for some of them


1/13/2009 11:10:51 AM
mia said:

very resourcefel and knows alot of information :)


1/14/2009 7:19:15 AM
amy said:

very good but need more info


1/26/2009 3:03:09 PM
anthony said:

wow these site is great it help me alot! wonder website!! =]


1/28/2009 7:52:09 AM
Jaimie said:

hahah, wow how about something that isn't common knowlege? give me an invention thats way intresting that i don't use constantly. :) Thanks.


1/29/2009 3:10:02 PM
hannah said:

when was the telephone invented


2/8/2009 6:32:47 PM
cassie said:

personaly i think there should be more recent inventions


2/24/2009 11:10:48 AM
Emma said:

This gave me a lot of infomation! thanks!


3/26/2009 12:08:34 AM
Jessica said:

i think it needs a little more great job


4/18/2009 4:36:18 PM
jrwhiterabbit said:

AMAZING about the bicycle...The women's movement and the bicycle. Outstanding info I did not know


5/15/2009 8:12:27 AM
Dawn said:

Great site for my 10 year old son. It's very easy to understand.


6/8/2009 3:49:35 PM
Sarah said:

Im an 11 year old girl who has a big test tommorow and this helped me alot.
Thank you whoever thought of this website.


7/9/2009 7:00:01 AM
Austin said:

Thanks for providing me with this info!


7/12/2009 4:36:13 AM
Von Braun said:

German rocket
Lead the development saturno V and land the first men on the moon(not usa)


8/6/2009 1:35:38 AM
Lily said:

This is a great website to use and is very useful!!!


8/21/2009 12:29:35 PM
Roddy said:

Thanks i need this website fo rhte social studies project .. thanks and god bless!!!


9/9/2009 6:05:07 PM
keira said:

this sight is so cool it teaches you soo much on what inventions were made and who made them


9/22/2009 3:11:35 PM
bubbi said:

ummmm..........cool i guess !!!


10/2/2009 2:30:49 PM
coolperson11 said:

wow i learned allot on thiz site


10/4/2009 6:00:40 AM
c said:

hmm only 8 invetions are listed under this "The 10 Most Famous Inventions" title.


10/19/2009 4:30:52 PM
BETHAN! said:

this is so helpful for my history day assignment... imean at first i wnated to do it on the tv


10/19/2009 8:18:59 PM
Chasity Ly said:

this site helped me with my homework


10/21/2009 12:34:35 AM
Marko said:

Thanks for the info... (By the way, can you fill in who invented what in the missing ones)


6/18/2011 2:57:38 AM
shivani said:

wow it is all perfect but in some inventions dont have the name of the inventors and the year of invention but too it is perfect & excellent.


6/23/2011 9:52:18 AM
Joe said:

There's only 8 listed. What are the other 2?


6/30/2011 9:08:47 AM
ANKIT CHAUHAN FROM LOHEGAON PUNE said:

I WILL MAKE THE PATENT OF A THING THAT CAN MAKE A MATTER INVISIBLE AND THIS PATENT WILL ELIMINATE THE TERROR FROM OUR EARTH FOREVER.REMEMBER MY WORDS


11/2/2011 5:41:05 PM
May said:

This website is so great! I love how it tells you so much information.


5/26/2012 7:51:13 PM
jenna lakshara said:

I was doing a project for school, i was not sure what to do, and then i found this website. This website made it easier for me.

I think this is the best website.
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