Most Important Invention of the 20th Century: A Look at the Top Contenders

The 20th century was a time of rapid technological advancement, and it's hard to pick just one invention as the most important. The internet, for example, revolutionized the way we communicate and access information.

The microchip, introduced in 1959, was a crucial component in the development of modern electronics. It allowed for the miniaturization of computers and other devices, making them smaller, faster, and more affordable.

The polio vaccine, developed by Jonas Salk in 1952, saved countless lives and helped eradicate the disease. This invention had a profound impact on public health and paved the way for future medical breakthroughs.

The first successful heart transplant was performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard in 1967, marking a major milestone in the field of cardiac surgery.

The 20th century saw two game-changing inventions that transformed the world: nuclear power and the automobile. Nuclear power was a superb and cost-efficient energy source that could power entire cities, but it also came with the risk of catastrophic accidents like Chernobyl in 1986.

The automobile, on the other hand, made transportation accessible to the average person and brought about a revolution in the market place, making it possible to truck in goods that were previously impossible to acquire. Henry Ford's assembly-line production style made the automobile affordable and accessible to everyone.

The automobile also gave everyone a degree of mobility and personal freedom that our forefathers could only dream of, and turned entire generations of teenagers into raging revheads.

Nuclear power was a game changer in the twentieth century, offering a power source that didn't pollute and was efficient and practically unlimited.

The fear of mutually assured destruction probably prevented the world from experiencing a third world war.

The automobile revolutionized transportation and the market place in the early 20th century.

The automobile didn't become a practical and reliable source of transportation until the twentieth century, but once it did, it changed everything. The horse and buggy became quaint anachronisms as much of the country was paved over to make room for endless ribbons of asphalt.

Henry Ford's assembly-line production style made the automobile affordable and accessible to the average person. Before Ford's Model T was introduced in 1908, only the fabulously wealthy could afford a car.

The automobile gave everyone a degree of mobility and personal freedom our forefathers could only dream of.

The airplane has made travel quick and safe, shrinking our planet to the point that a person can fly anywhere in the world in a matter of hours.

Aircraft provide many other services beyond transportation, including crop dusting and fighting forest fires.

They've also revolutionized warfare, turning battle into a long-range affair fought at arm's length by sophisticated machines.

The airplane's impact on warfare has completely changed the way wars are fought.

The submarine has come a long way since its early beginnings. The first true submarine was invented in the 1880s.

Submarines were initially used as a deadly, but irritating, weapon in World War One. They grew into a monstrosity in World War Two, sinking more ships than any other type of weapon.

The advent of nuclear power gave submarines nearly unlimited range and endurance. This made them the capital warship in every first-class Navy in the world.

Today, submarines are so effective that people who have served on them will tell you there's only two types of ships: submarines and targets.

Rockets have come a long way since their ancient beginnings, with the Chinese first inventing and using them over three thousand years ago.

The Greeks and Romans also used rockets, but they weren't very powerful or controllable.

It wasn't until the twentieth century that rockets became bigger and more powerful.

Rockets became controllable, which suddenly made them useful as weapons of war and for accessing outer space.

Without rockets, we wouldn't have gone to the moon or visited every planet in our solar system.

Rockets also place satellites into orbit around our planet, allowing us to use GPS, predict the weather, make international calls, and use our cell phones most of the time.

The discovery of penicillin revolutionized the way we treat bacterial infections. It was derived from the fungus of the same name and was first discovered by French physician Ernest Duchesne in the late 1890s.

Penicillin was perfected for medical use and mass production in the 1930s, and it's still used today to treat a wide range of infections and conditions. This is a testament to the power of scientific discovery and innovation.

Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin in 1928 was a major breakthrough, rendering many bacterial infections fatal. Before penicillin, almost any little bug that someone picked up was potentially fatal.

The development of penicillin and other antibiotics greatly reduced mortality rates and increased life-spans. Many scourges of the past, such as small pox and typhoid, became obsolete or easily treatable.

Despite the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, penicillin and its derivatives remain a crucial tool in modern medicine. They continue to be used in virtually every pharmacy, hospital, and household.

The Apple 1, introduced in 1976, revolutionized personal computing and changed the way we live and work. It was the brainchild of Steve Wozniak and Stephen Jobs, who made computers accessible and affordable for the masses.

We've become so dependent on computers that many people feel naked without one, using them to manage finances, create content, and even sell real estate. They're also replacing traditional entertainment devices like stereos and TVs.

Computers have come a long way since their clunky beginnings in World War Two, when they had the calculating power of a brick. Today, they're an essential part of our daily lives, making it hard to imagine how our ancestors managed without them.

The Computer has revolutionized the way we live, work, and play. It's hard to imagine a world without them, isn't it?

In 1976, Steve Wozniak and Stephen Jobs introduced the Apple, which changed everything. They were clunky and expensive, but marked the beginning of a new era in personal computing.

We're now so dependent on computers that many people feel naked without one. They provide the means of maintaining a livelihood for some, helping them keep track of finances, write books, design logos, and sell real estate.

Computers have also become our primary source of entertainment, replacing the stereo and television in their ability to play music, movies, and games.

Television has become a staple in many homes, with an estimated 79% of the world's households owning at least one set. This is a significant number, and it's no wonder television continues to be a primary medium for influencing public opinion.

The invention of television paved the way for other home entertainment innovations, such as VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray, cable, and streaming services like Netflix. These technologies have revolutionized the way we consume media and entertainment.

Television has also had a profound impact on the visual and dramatic arts, providing a platform for artists to showcase their work to a massive audience.

Radio was a game-changer in the twentieth century, allowing people to be heard from hundreds or even thousands of miles away without the use of a wire.

It was the center of family life through the end of the Second World War and into the fifties, when it was gradually replaced by television.

By the end of the fifties, radio's popularity had declined, but it still had a purpose - keeping drivers awake on long car rides.

Today, radio is mostly used as a tool of talk radio, designed to rile the masses, or as a way to keep drivers alert.