The wheel, aeroplane, light bulb, internet, PCs, telephone, penicillin, iPhone, flush loo and combustion engine are the top 10 inventions of all time according to the results of a survey of 4,000 British people which was conducted by Tesco.
As one whose spelling can be a bit wobbly I understand the inclusion of the spell checker at 86 on the list. But what does it say about Brits that they included hair-straighteners (34), make up (66), push-up bra (77) mascara (80) and hair dye (84)?
Kitchen appliances feature – the Fridge (14), Freezer (17), Microwave (26) and Kettle (40). The vaccuum cleaner is there (23) and so is the tumble dryer (51). But I didn’t notice the automatic washing machine and apropos of cleanliness, what about the shower?
A scientist may be able to explain the difference between inventions and discoveries and if that’s relevant to the omission of both fire and electricity.
The full list is:
1. Wheel 2. Aeroplane 3. Light bulb 4. Internet 5. PCs 6. Telephone 7. Penicillin 8. iPhone 9. Flushing toilet 10. Combustion engine
11. Contraceptive pill 12. Washing machine 13. Central heating 14. Fridge 15. Pain killers 16. Steam engine 17. Freezer 18. Camera 19. Cars 20. Spectacles
21. Mobile phones 22. Toilet paper 23. Hoover 24. Trains 25. Google 26. Microwave 27. Email 28. The pen 29. Hot water 30. Shoe
31. Compass 32. Ibuprofen 33. Toothbrush 34. Hair straighteners 35. Laptops 36. Knife and fork 37. Scissors 38. Paper 39. Space travel 40. Kettle
41. Calculator 42. Bed 43. Remote control 44. Roof 45. Air conditioning 46. SAT NAV 47. Wi-Fi 48. Cats-eyes 49. Matches 50. Power steering
51. Tumble dryer 52. Bicycle 53. Sky+ 54. Tea bags 55. Umbrella 56. iPod 57. Taps 58. Crash helmet 59. Wristwatch 60. eBay
61. DVD player 62. Nappies 63. Ladder 64. Sun tan lotion 65. Lawnmower 66. Make-up 67. Chairs 68. Sunglasses 69. The game of football 70. Sliced bread
71. Sofa 72. Razor blades 73. Screwdriver 74. Motorways 75. Head/ear phones 76. Towels 77. Push-up bra 78. Binoculars 79. WD40 80. Mascara
81. Hair dryer 82. Facebook 83. Escalator 84. Hair dye 85. Wellington boots 86. Spell check 87. Calendars 88. Cheese grater 89. Buses 90. Post-it notes
91. Gloves 92. Satellite discs 93. Pedestrian crossing 94. Baby’s dummy 95. Curtains 96. Bottle opener 97. Food blender 98. Dustpan and brush 99. Desks 100. Clothes peg
Hat Tip: Grant Jacobs at Sciblogs.
Homepaddock 
Cannot agree with the order or like you some of the items included. For example I would have matches up in the top 5 and how can you have the internet ahead of computers.
Perhaps these people need to look at `Maslow’s heirachy of needs’ and promote thr roof and walls to the top few.
However, as an aging redblooded male who still has his eyesight I am all for pushup bras, especially with the low cut dresses the girls over here wear. They keep me young lol.
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Did I miss it in my speed read “Vaccines”. Without that advance it is very possible some of those from the last 50 years may still be undiscovered.
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GD – medical science in total I think not only vaccines.
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Yes pdm but the list included penicillin, contraceptive pill, pain killers and then ibuprofen. Fair bit of lightweight amongst it. Cheers.
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The greatest invention ???
WRITING..
With out the written word where would we be ???
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