Top 5 inventions from the 18th century that changed the face of humanity

We are entering the 4th Industrial Revolution, also known as the digital revolution, with modern technologies that promise to change the socio-economic form of humanity.

However, all of these advances would not have been possible had it not been for humanity's great transformation that lasted from the mid-18th century to the early 19th century.

During this period, the world produced a series of famous scientists such as Isaac Newton, James Watt, or Thomas Edison with great discoveries in mathematics, physics, chemistry. knowledge base for advances in manufacturing technology.

Here are 5 of the top inventions, which have brought breakthroughs, as well as an increase in labor productivity, contributing to bringing humanity towards industrialization and modernization.

1. Steam engine

Invented by: Scotland James Watt

Scotland James Watt and the invention of the steam engine.

A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work by converting steam into mechanical energy. It is also known as the external combustion engine, to distinguish it from the later internal combustion engine.

Before the steam engine was invented, the transportation industry was still based on horse-drawn carriages; and heavy industries such as mining, manufacturing. still use human labor. This method is generally inefficient, and has many downsides.

With the creation of the first steam engine, Scotland James Watt completely changed the face of humanity in general, and England in particular. There, people are no longer the "source of energy", but become the operators of machines capable of working more efficiently.

In 1860, Lancashire - a city in England even contributed half of the world's cotton production. Britain is recognized as the strongest and richest industrialized country, and is often referred to as the "factory of the whole world".

Later improved versions of the steam engine helped it in turn replace a large number of workers at factories, creating locomotives, cargo boats. and steam turbines.

2. Canned food

Invented by: Nicolas Appert

Workers code and weld food cans in France in 1870.

Looking at the modern kitchen, we can see a particularly useful invention that was invented during the First Industrial Revolution. That is food preservation technology.

In 1795, a French chef named NicolaAppert was intrigued by a prize awarded to someone who could figure out how to preserve food for transportation for days.

At that time, food could be preserved through methods such as drying and fermentation, but they did not retain the flavor, and were not really 100% effective.

Appert spent 14 years solving this puzzle. After all, he successfully researched the technique of preserving cooked food by putting it in a jar, then sealing it.

Then, he boiled this jar in water to create a vacuum layer, helping the food avoid direct contact with oxygen in the air, thereby preserving it longer.

3. Telegraph

Invented by: Samuel Morse

A telegraph using Morse code for communication.

Before the age of smartphones and laptops, people still used technology to communicate thanks to an invention known as the telegraph.

The telegraph was invented in the 1830s by Samuel Morse. At that time, Morse discovered that he could communicate with friends by transmitting electrical signals by wires.

Seeing the interest of this method, he invented a code table using dots and dashes, also known as Morse code to facilitate sending messages.

The way to do it is very simple, that is, just turn off and then turn on the power switch at the right "tempo", to convey a short, pre-conventional message. In it, the duration of the dash is three times longer than that of the dot.

In addition to using electricity, Morse code can also be applied to radio waves, visible light or sound waves.

The strong development in the 1840s of this method even helped create the first electronic news service in the United States, the Associated Press. Morse's invention also helped connect communications between the US and Europe - a global feat at the time.

4. Record player

Invented by: Thomas Edison

The phonograph is one of the great inventions of Thomas Edison.

Until Edison introduced his invention, we had no way to save the lyrics, or even a piece of music. The only way to enjoy music is to listen to it live.

Thomas Edison changed this with a very simple idea, but extremely effective. The trick is to use a needle to create tracks on the record based on the variability of the audio signal.

In a phonograph, sound is processed in the opposite way, that is, converting mechanical impulses into small audio signals, which are then amplified through speakers.

5. Photography

Invented by: Louis Daguerre

One of the photographs taken in 1838 by inventor Louis Daguerre shows a street scene in France.

Although the first camera was born a long time ago, it was not until the 30s of the 18th century that the concept of photography really came into being.

At that time, Louis Daguerre - a French physicist, and his collaborator - Josep Nicéphore, were considered the first to invent the daguerreotype, the first modern form of photography.

This is a direct positive process, which produces highly detailed images on a copper plate plated with a thin layer of silver, and polished like a mirror. The special thing about this method is that it does not need to use negatives.

After exposure to light, the copper plate is heated over hot mercury until the images appear. To immobilize them, Daguerre dipped the copper plate in a solution of natrthiosulfate, and then ground it with gold chloride.

Daguerre's invention is seen as a major contribution to contemporary culture, creating opportunities for the middle class to obtain affordable portraits.