Yeah, yeah. I know some of you will think I should save this for the weekend — when the truly dedicated DU fans log in from home. But, these are achievements that have affected all our lives whether or not we reflect about them. Here’s the list in order of importance. Click the link for a little more detail:
No. 1 – The Periodic Table of Elements in 1864.
No. 2 – Fe Smelting Around 3500 B.C..
No. 3 – Transistor In 1948.
No. 4 – Invention of Glass Approximately 2200 B.C..
No. 5 – Optical Microscopy In 1668.
No. 6 – Modern Concrete In 1755.
No. 7 – Crucible Steel Making Around 300 B.C..
No. 8 – Cu Extraction and Casting Approximately 5000 B.C..
No. 9 – X-ray Diffraction In 1912.
No. 10 – Bessemer Process In 1856.
Feel free to add your own suggestions.
Alix, The Leyden Jar is a capacitor which will dissipate its charge quickly. A battery will dissipate a current over time. I wouldn’t want to underscore the importance of the Leyden Jar, it certainly stirred the imagination of many early scientists. The battery has a more controllable current with a longer duration. Maybe both could be considered as the source of modern electronics.
Yes, you are correct about Bakelight predating Nylon. I was thinking about that after I went to bed last night.
Heh – I didn’t even realize Bakelite was a plastic. Thought it was more likely a ceramic since it doesn’t melt easily. But Wikipedia tells me the American Chem. Soc. made it a National Historical Chemical Landmark.
I didn’t know they had those, either. Where do they put the marker?
Sheesh…
Many of you have suggested chemical inventions, devices, and other stuff. Look at the list again, it’s about Material Sciences…
One of a the devices you missed was the Wonder-bra.
#23 ok, superconducting alloys & ceramics. Happy?
Magnets – past to present
also – optical technology
The wheel… 2000 BC.
#8 the Roman formula for concrete, as I understand it, was actually lost. Even though there are examples of it everywhere nobody has been able to reverse engineer the formula. At least te last time I looked.
And I also think the friggin’ wheel should b on the list as well as use of fire.
Let’s add this one too: blogging software!!!
Actually from what I know the first plastic was NOT Bakelite. It was the first plastic made from synthetic plymer. I think this wikipedia entry is correct:
nitpick2 oneupsmanship club member
Microfiber.
29,
Ver use a REAL cotton rag, or towel??
28,
I consider synthetic plastics when I think of the genre, natural plastics are just another kind of harvested material to me.