Prominent Inventors And Inventions That Greatly Changed The World

Scientific and technological advantages and new forms of energy brought massive social, economic, and cultural demographic changes. Huge contributors to those changes, of course, would be the brilliant minds behind the inventions and discoveries that started it all. These great minds include James Watt, Eli Whitney, Henry Bessemer, Louis Pasteur, and Thomas Edison. Their inventions and discoveries greatly impacted the lives and even lifespan of people back then and even do so today.

James Watt, for example, improved the Newcomen steam engine. This steam engine would pump water out of mines and was very useful, but despite the usefulness of this invention, it was horribly inefficient. It wasted energy by repeatedly heating and cooling off the cylinder. Later he found that 75 percent of the heat energy was being wasted during the heating cycle. Watt realized this and then sought out to perfect the Newcomen’s design. Eventually, Watt came up with the idea of using a separate condenser to seperate the action of heating and cooling the steam inside the machine; he managed to get the machine patented in 1769. With this simple action, the whole machine became more fuel efficient. By 1824, Watt and his partner Matthew Bolton had produced 1,164 steam engines.

The economical changes that followed after Watt’s scientific breakthrough were huge. The new Watt steam engine helped free British manufacturing from depending on water mills. This allowed for greater industrial growth and offered new transportation to people with the creation of the steam locomotive. The steam locomotive was a big factor in urbanizing and industrializing society as a whole. It increased the speed and amount of goods that were delivered because they no longer had to be delivered by horse. People could also determine the approximate time, date, and place that their product would reach its destination. Goods could also travel much longer distances to get to their destination so people could live in further away areas.

The steam engine was also used in things other than just the steam locomotive. One example was the steamboat. This had very similar effects on society as the steam locomotive, in which it played a big role in the transportation of goods, allowed people to travel farther, and provided more job opportunities. The steam engine was also used in factories, mills, and mining facilities to power machines. Which all allowed faster production of goods.

Another invention that not many people know he invented is the copy machine. While not the same as today’s photocopiers, this early mimeograph copier allowed people to make very precise copies that they couldn’t make by hand before. This copier didn’t have as much of an effect on society as Whitney’s previous inventions, but it still was an amazing and underrated discovery.

Watt also invented the concept of “horsepower.” The term is used to measure the power of an engine. The term isn’t used much anymore, but that’s due to the newer term used to measure power, “watts.” The term, obviously, was made as a type of homage to the great inventor.

Another more commonly known inventor would be Eli Whitney. His most commonly known invention is the cotton gin in 1793. This invention combed the seeds out of cotton and reduced the cost of labor. Beforehand, slaves had to do the grueling work of picking the seeds out of the cotton which took a very long time. The average cotton picker could only pick the seeds out of one pound of cotton per day. Despite the machine seeming like it would make life easier on the slaves, it ended up having the reverse effect. One of the repercussions of the invention was that slavery became extended. Cotton became so profitable that the south’s need for labor and land increased, afterall the United States was growing 75% of the world’s supply of cotton by the mid 1800s.

Jobs in factories and mills increased too due to the increased production of clothing and other things produced by cotton. The south, in turn, became more wealthy and the fight to end slavery continued. Cotton clothing became more common and easier to buy, and slavery continued to rage on in the south until 1963 when the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery. Racism, however, continued and continues to ravage this country to this day.

On a more positive note, Whitney also invented the concept of interchangeable parts. This was created so when one part breaks in a machine, you didn’t have to make or buy a whole new one. You can just replace that part. This system is also known as the American System of Manufacturing. The concept was very simple, but still revolutionary. The American System made assembling products easier, and gave jobs to people who were seen as “without skill.” The American System was also seen as what began the Industrial Revolution due to its major role in manufacturing items.

Due to its simple and repetitive nature, products were manufactured more easily and quickly, thus greatly influencing the economy. The system was also originally made for making guns, this new system helped make weapons easier and faster. This, of course, affected the warfront by increasing the amount of weapons in our arsonal. This also affected our economy involving trade with other countries when they needed weapons and whatnot.

Another great influence on the Industrial Revolution would be Sir Henry Bessemer. Bessemer is known for his bulk making of steel in 1855. He used his ingenious Bessemer process to produce steel more affordably and quickly, not to mention making the steel stronger. Bessemer’s process used oxidation to remove impurities from iron by blasting hot air through it. This would help keep the iron molten and removed the impurities from the iron beforehand which made the iron stronger and easier to produce. The price of steel lowered overall, and steel became known as an essential building material.

For example, before steel, iron was used for railroad tracks and they were not very stable so they often tore from the rest of the tracks. The Bessemer process came along and railroad companies started switching to the cheaper steel instead of iron because it was more durable and trains stayed on the tracks better. This allowed the many railroad companies to expand which created more jobs, and more jobs boosted the economy.

The effects of Bessemer’s process were, of course, catastrophic. The steel being stronger, in turn, made buildings begin to be built taller. More homes were made, and steel was being sold like hot cakes. Other sources say that Bessemer’s process was actually what made the Industrial Revolution kickstart due to most of the machines in the industrial revolution needing said steel. Sir Henry Bessemer was actually knighted in 1879 for his huge impact of Britain's economy.

When one thinks this far back into the past, one may wonder what was their version of “modern” medicine. It’s also common to wonder who was the first mind behind it. The mind would be Louis Pasteur, the man considered to be the Father of Immunology. While many people today know that we at least have an immune system, people didn’t even think of the prospect of one. Even realizing we have an immune system is more than what was known back then in late 19th century.

Louis Pasteur was the first to introduce the idea of vaccinations. He invented a vaccination for rabies and anthrax. Both of these vaccines had a large impact on society. The idea was to give a small dosage of a disease in hopes that the human body would fight it off and, in turn, become stronger. This idea, of course, proved true and is used in modern medicine today and is called a vaccine. Pasteur’s practices have saved millions of lives and will continue to save millions more with him gone.

Another brilliant discovery made by Pasteur would be his discovery of pasteurization. While it’s seen on almost everyone’s milk beverage, people rarely know exactly what it means. The act of pasteurization is simply heating a beverage or meat to where all dangerous germs, bacteria, and pathogens are killed. The process of pasteurization not only got rid of the bacteria in milk, but it also increased its nutritional value by adding more vitamins. This term is more commonly used in milk and cheeses due to some dairy products not being pasteurized. However, drinking or consuming any unpasteurized product is very unhealthy and is not recommended due to the plethora of diseases that could be present.

Pregnant women are even advised not to consume any unpasteurized products due to the fear of hurting their unborn children. While the concept of pasteurization is simple, it effects are huge. The bacteria in milk being killed off effectively saved thousands of lives and has helped prevented more from being lost. Pasteurization was a positive move forward during the industrial revolution, which was not always health positive for the environment or individuals.

A final great-mind worth mentioning would be Thomas Edison. His extensive inventions and revolutionary ideas changed the world. He has over one-hundred patents, and it’s a wonder that he is only known for one or two of his great inventions.

One mind-boggling thing that Edison is never acknowledged for is cement. While the topic may seem boring to most, it is actually revolutionary in it of itself. Without cement, homes wouldn’t be stable and many would fall down regularly.

Another invention of Edison’s would me moving pictures, otherwise known as movies. His idea was for 'an instrument that does for the eye what the phonograph does for the ear.' His first design involved photographing a series of pictures on a cylinder that would then be viewed through a microscope as they turned. He also came up with the idea of using a phonograph with it to create a full movie experience with something to view and hear.

To continue this chain of extraordinary inventions made by Edison, let us put the spotlight on the light bulb. Edison actually wasn’t the first to make electric light. The first person to invent electric light would be Humphry Davy in 1802. He regularly experimented with electricity and decided to connected a wire to a battery he made and a piece of carbon, the carbon glowed, producing light. This invention was known as the Electric Arc lamp. While this invention was revolutionary in it of itself, it was much too bright and burnt out too quickly; this was only just the beginning though.

Other instances of the light bulb were seen again and again throughout the years leading up to Edison, but none could parallel the efficiency and conventionality of his bulb except for one before him. In 1850 Joseph Swan created a light bulb and had a working prototype by 1860. Swan, however, ran into a small bump in the road. Vacuums during this time period were not yet powerful enough to create a sufficiently air-less space inside the bulb. This postponed Swan’s work until 1870 when better vacuum pumps became available. By 1878, Swan had developed a working, functioning, longer-lasting bulb.

That was the year that Edison became more serious and even filed his first application patent for “Improvement In Electric Lights.' Edison continued to experiment with different filaments for his light bulbs and eventually came upon carbonized-bamboo filament which lasted over 1200 hours which is equivalent to over fifty days! That amazing discovery started the company known as Edison Electric Light Company, the first company to market these amazing new bulbs of light to the public. This new form of light gave way to everyone having a light source in their home, places like street lamps, later on in headlights in cars, flashlights, even in your oven or microwave. The light bulb is a very underrated and underappreciated item in every American home. Without them, we would all be functioning in the dark, and no one wants that.

Lives today are constantly affected by past innovations and breakthroughs, whether it be by the milk we drink or the warm place we all call home. People like James Watt, Eli Whitney, Henry Bessemer, Louis Pasteur, and Thomas Edison helped create the lives we live, the history we learn, and the world we stand on. Without these amazing figures, some of us wouldn’t even be on this Earth today. While some of their inventions and creations may not be mentioned, the inventions of James Watt, Eli Whitney, Henry Bessemer, Louis Pasteur, and Thomas Edison brought about massive social, economic, and cultural demographic change and making the world a better and safer place all the while.