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0002378

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Original poster
May 28, 2017
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What do you think is man's best discovery/invention so far ?
 
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I'll go first - The GE Genesis Diesel-Electric locomotive.

... and here's why:

2nhqhps.jpg
 
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Technically... probably the wheel.

Without that, pretty much nothing we have would exist.

Sadly. Not impressive. But probably true.
Another vote for the wheel. Everything else hinges on that

You guys are right. Even a Boeing-747 wouldn't be able to take to the air without wheels :)
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Antibiotics? Coffee, possibly. Does that count as an invention?

Sure, it does ... don't see squirrels drinking it ;)
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Electricity. It is used for practically everything around us, short of breathing (But in some cases, also for breathing).

Ok, I hope you don't get mad at me, but electricity was more of a discovery than an invention, because it already existed before man ;)

But yes, that was one heck of an important discovery ! Think about the Aurora Borealis !
 
I'll go with the ability to harness a reliable source of power; these days, electricity, but steam also revolutionised how we lived in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The development of sanitary systems, such as running water and proper sewerage systems (yes, that includes functioning toilets).

The development of agriculture, cultivating and growing and harvesting crops, rather than foraging for them; this allowed for a growth in population, the development of cities, specialised work forces, and commercial wealth and trade.

Writing; it allowed for the keeping of records, including commercial, and historical records.

Fire: A means of warmth, and cooking food.

More recently: Antibiotics and medical advances.

The wheel is obvious, but advanced societies existed (especially in the Americas) that had never invented the wheel.
 
I'll go with the ability to harness a reliable source of power; these days, electricity, but steam also revolutionised how we lived in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The development of sanitary systems, such as running water and proper sewerage systems (yes, that includes functioning toilets).

The development of agriculture, cultivating and growing and harvesting crops, rather than foraging for them; this allowed for a growth in population, the development of cities, specialised work forces, and commercial wealth and trade.

Writing; it allowed for the keeping of records, including commercial, and historical records.

Fire: A means of warmth, and cooking food.

More recently: Antibiotics and medical advances.

The wheel is obvious, but advanced societies existed (especially in the Americas) that had never invented the wheel.
Steam. Yes where would we be without it? Of course we had windmills before that. I guess the agricultural advancements also saw us change from a society barely able to feed ourselves, to one that overeats!

But without the daily struggle to find food, we were able to use our time to create things that we never would have had the time to do.
 
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