Greatest discovery in human history?
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Surprised this one hasn't been mentioned yet but clothing is a pretty rad discovery.
We wouldn't be able to live in most places we live today without clothing.
Or, for that matter, housing is pretty cool as well.
So yeah... I'm going to go with housing and clothing. One of the reasons we're all still alive.
We wouldn't be able to live in most places we live today without clothing.
Or, for that matter, housing is pretty cool as well.
So yeah... I'm going to go with housing and clothing. One of the reasons we're all still alive.
I'm fairly certain sex was discovered long, long before humans came along.nikki191 said:greatest discovery? sex.. no matter what the invention humans always come back to how said invention will work for sex.. invent books, photography and film.. porn invented soon after
At least I hope so... Although... it would provide an alternate explanation for why the dinosaurs went extinct...
The car.
Yeah sure Planes may get you further, faster and Public Transport might emit less nasty fumes per people using them. But planes only work at long distances and in my experience public transport only ever works in urban environments.
The car is probably one of the best, most versatile, methods of transport ever devised.
Not to mention that I'm a bit of a petrolhead and I think 24 Hours of Le Mans qualify as the singular most important sports-event on the Earth.
Yeah sure Planes may get you further, faster and Public Transport might emit less nasty fumes per people using them. But planes only work at long distances and in my experience public transport only ever works in urban environments.
The car is probably one of the best, most versatile, methods of transport ever devised.
Not to mention that I'm a bit of a petrolhead and I think 24 Hours of Le Mans qualify as the singular most important sports-event on the Earth.
"When I was cold, Thou taught of hearth and roof-beam. When I was hungry, Thou taught of pot and cauldron. When I was beset by foes, Thou taught of spear and shield. Thy hammer pounds the nail, holds the roof-beam. Thy hammer strikes the iron, shapes the cauldron. Thy hammer in my hand, unto my foes."Ryan Minns said:
OT: I'd probably go with fire. Or science. You can do pretty much anything with correct application of science...
There are so many great discoveries that have helped shaped humanity the way it is today; ranging from ancient stuff like the wheel, fire, agriculture, to more recent things like the printing press, electricity and computers. Hard to point at which one is the greatest.
Your missions, should you choose to accept it, is to head over to the nearest rental/store/streaming site and find "Demolition Man".
I have no idea who you are but my respect for you just dropped for not getting that reference.lRookiel said:
Your missions, should you choose to accept it, is to head over to the nearest rental/store/streaming site and find "Demolition Man".
I think Optics and glass in general (a transparent yet solid material).
Without Optics, any discovery that was aided by a magnification either by a microscope or telescope wouldn't exist.
Even without standard, non-magnifiying glass the world would be a vastly different place.
There would be no light bulbs, every source of illumination would have to be natural light or a naked flame.
Transport would be drastically reduced. Cars would be limited to speeds that are tolerable with an open cockpit and with no goggles or visors, also travelling at night would be very difficult without proper illumination.
While powered flight may exist, speeds, distances and altitudes would be restricted to how much the pilot's bare face and eyes could tolerate.
Ocean travel would be severely limited without telescopes and a covered navigating position. While you could build a covered ship that is protected from the elements, without glass some crew are going to have to be outside at all times so you can see where you're going. Submarines wouldn't exist at all (you'd be completely blind underwater).
While electronics and computers wouldn't be reliant on glass as such, without optics we'd only be able to miniaturise things that were visible to the naked eye, so no Microchips or tiny components.
Anyone with sight problems would just have to put up with them and without corrective lenses, society would be drastically different, because anyone with 20/20 vision would be literally superior and highly valued.
I probably haven't even scratched the surface of how important glass and Optics are to Human history and development. It's easy to take it for granted because it's so commonplace, but without something as simple as a material that is solid yet transparent, the world would be unrecognisable.
Without Optics, any discovery that was aided by a magnification either by a microscope or telescope wouldn't exist.
Even without standard, non-magnifiying glass the world would be a vastly different place.
There would be no light bulbs, every source of illumination would have to be natural light or a naked flame.
Transport would be drastically reduced. Cars would be limited to speeds that are tolerable with an open cockpit and with no goggles or visors, also travelling at night would be very difficult without proper illumination.
While powered flight may exist, speeds, distances and altitudes would be restricted to how much the pilot's bare face and eyes could tolerate.
Ocean travel would be severely limited without telescopes and a covered navigating position. While you could build a covered ship that is protected from the elements, without glass some crew are going to have to be outside at all times so you can see where you're going. Submarines wouldn't exist at all (you'd be completely blind underwater).
While electronics and computers wouldn't be reliant on glass as such, without optics we'd only be able to miniaturise things that were visible to the naked eye, so no Microchips or tiny components.
Anyone with sight problems would just have to put up with them and without corrective lenses, society would be drastically different, because anyone with 20/20 vision would be literally superior and highly valued.
I probably haven't even scratched the surface of how important glass and Optics are to Human history and development. It's easy to take it for granted because it's so commonplace, but without something as simple as a material that is solid yet transparent, the world would be unrecognisable.
Uh... how about Bread? Its one of the things that constantly astounds me. How did people discover that that particular combination of ingredients in those quantities would make something so...
Wonderful.
No, I don't want to know. The answer will be far too mundane. Better to beleive a wizard did it.
Furthermore, you wouldn't even believe what happens when you slice it!The_Waspman said:
But you are right. For that matter: anything that's baked or fried in some way... How did people discover how to make pancakes, pie, that sort of stuff. Was it just trial and error until someone said "We might be on to something here" ? These are trivialities I like to think about!
The written word. Without it, everything else would be impossible. No calculations. No teaching laws of physics. No passing on of inventions.
I'd say something like fire or the wheel, but if Umami hadn't been discovered, MSG wouldn't have been discovered . If MSG hadn't been discovered, funyuns wouldn't be so damn tasty.
Whispering Cynic said:
Aah i love those games. There's something awesome about an entire religion of engineers. Kind of makes me regret bashing their heads with blackjacks and stealing all their stuff.
OT: I think I'll stick with fire on this one. It's directly responsible for fried/grilled bacon. I'll put metal at #2, because you need pans or grills to cook bacon properly. Agriculture at #3 because it makes cooking oil.