Scientific discoveries that changed the world
On November 9, the world celebrates Science Day. Kazinform News Agency invites readers to explore the discoveries that transformed our daily experiences, revolutionized industries, and laid the groundwork for future innovations.
The era of antibiotic therapy
After a vacation, English Dr Alexander Fleming returned to the lab to find mould growing on a Petri dish of Staphylococcus bacteria. It turned out that the mould suppressed the growth of bacteria around it. He quickly discovered that the mold produced a self-protective substance capable of killing bacteria, which he named penicillin. Thus, the world's first antibiotic was discovered, which changed medicine forever.
Penicillin proved to be a powerful tool against infections that had previously been fatal. For its discovery and contribution to saving millions of lives, Fleming, along with colleagues Ernst Chain and Howard Florey, received the Nobel Prize in 1945.
Interestingly, mass production of penicillin only began during World War II, and it became the Allies' "secret weapon," helping to save the wounded on the battlefield.
Internal combustion engine
This invention, which set in motion cars, trains, ships, and airplanes, paved the way for mass mobility and the steady growth of global exchange of people and goods.
Early predecessors of the internal combustion engine were primitive devices that used compressed air or steam to create motion. However, they were not practical or efficient enough to be considered true internal combustion engines.
The idea of creating an engine began to be developed in the 19th century. One of the first important steps was the invention of Niсolaus Otto, a German engineer who created a four-stroke internal combustion engine in 1876.This engine used cycles of compression and combustion of fuel inside the cylinder, which allowed for a significant increase in power in a compact size.
Before Otto's invention, industry relied heavily on bulky, stationary steam engines that required significant infrastructure.
Internet
The Internet has firmly taken its place in the daily life of each of us and has provided a lot of opportunities.
What the Internet has given us:
· Effective communication all around the world;
· Job market;
· Business interactions and transactions;
· Information exchange;
· Online learning;
· Possibility of remote work;
· Online shopping and much more.
The internet began in 1960s as a way for government researchers to share information. In 1983, it adopted Transfer Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol (TCP/IP), a new communications protocol. In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, launching the modern internet.
Printing press
The discovery of the printing press was a pivotal moment in the Renaissance and influenced the entire history of mankind. It was invented in the mid-15th century by the German inventor Johannes Gutenberg. Before its appearance, books and other texts were copied by hand, which took a lot of time and made books very expensive and rare.
Gutenberg devised a way to print pages quickly and in large quantities using a set of movable metal letters that could be changed and used over and over again. His first printed book, the Gutenberg Bible, was itself a revolution.
The printing press made books cheaper and more accessible, knowledge began to spread much faster, which greatly influenced education, science and culture.
Light bulb and AC system
Edison created the first practical light bulb with a long-lasting filament. With the advent of the light bulb, people no longer depended on candles and kerosene lamps. Streets and houses began to be illuminated with electric light, and life became much more convenient and safer, especially at night. However, his direct current (DC) system limited the transmission of energy over long distances.
Tesla, in turn, developed an alternating current (AC) system capable of transmitting electricity over long distances with minimal losses. Tesla's alternating current eventually became the basis for modern electrical networks. There was even a so-called "war of the currents" between Edison and Tesla - a dispute over what type of electricity would be used to light and power homes.
Together, their inventions paved the way for mass electrification and changed the lives of millions of people.
Theory of relativity
Albert Einstein's theory of relativity changed our understanding of the universe, time, and space. It says that time and distance can "stretch" and "compress" depending on how fast you are moving and where you are.
Not only did this discovery revolutionize physics, but it also influenced technologies, including GPS and satellite communications, that have become part of our everyday lives.
GPS works by using satellites that fly around the Earth. The satellites move very fast, and they are far from the Earth, where time moves slightly slower than on Earth. The theory of relativity helps scientists account for these small changes in time so that GPS can tell you exactly where you are.
