What was the best invention of the 20th century?

[msc545]

From 1900 to 2000 please.

Updates

+1 y

Since nobody else has - I am going to say the AIRPLANE which changed the world.

[abc3643]

I will qualify my answer...

The best invention of the 2nd half of the 20th Century is the transistor.

In 1993, I was working for a "think tank" for space and defense issues. My department's secretary, Lisa, was taking a class. For that class, she asked me "What was the most important invention of the 2nd half of the 20th Century?" I immediately answered without hesitation "The transistor". Not a minute later, my co-worker, Walter, comes in and Lisa asks him the same exact question. Walter's answer: "The transistor".

The transistor is what makes modern life possible.

I haven't thought much about the first half of the 20th Century. I don't know if this would be considered an "invention", per se, since it was not patentable, but perhaps Einstein's theories of special and general relativity. These led to E = m * c^2, the equivalence of matter and energy. This led to the creation of nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors and changed the way we view the universe including many other discoveries. For instance, the GPS system had to be designed with relativity in mind; it wouldn't work if we didn't factor in relativistic effects.

[RebelinSteel]

Electronic vacuum tube valves (Fleming 1906) and Integrated circuits (Kilby 1959).
Vacuum tubes allowed to progression of radio, the invention of Television.

the above two inventions allowed modern electronics hardware to be invented and dominate the world, none of the follow on inventions could have occurred without those being invented.

[MisterWack]

Mobile Cellphones.

Again let me be clear: Mobile Cellular Devices which are pocket sized devices that can connect to a cell service network hotspot then connect you to someone across the world. That is awesome! Never have we been so connected in our lives!

Disclaimer: I mean the literal sense, this means not the invention of apps, games, music utilities, or use of social media… It is the device itself and it’s basic function.

[NathanDavis]

I'll say... the interwebs, because today I do feel very appreciative about some of you here on the internet.. they know who they are (=

[NathanDavis]

also found some great music and other stuff here and there... that's neat AF

[msc545]

good choice thanks

[NathanDavis]

most welcome

[lightbulb27]

Duct tape. Its held a lot together including my
Muffer.

[llorando]

Integrated circuit, most of our modern technologies would have never been possible without it.

[goaded]

The computer, hands down.

[goaded]

Aeroplane is also an excellent choice. The downside is really fast pandemics.

[Kathy1111]

tv and computers

[normalice]

air conditioning

[NathanDavis]

this was my, very close... second choice

[normalice]

Aye. It's hard to remember it in the spring like this but the time will come..

[NathanDavis]

oh... here in Texas, mother nature skipped the Spring... and went straight to hellish Summer, lol

[normalice]

Ah, yes. That'd do it.

[goaded]

@NathanDavis Based on 19th century tech. en.wikipedia.org/.../Timeline_of_low-temperature_technology

[NathanDavis]

@goaded yes... just like many other technology, there's steps to all of this

[normalice]

@goaded pretty much all of the technology we use today is just a rehashed version of something that some college students came up with in the 70s. An interesting lesson there as college age in the 70s would have placed them as roughly born when FDR increased the tax rate on the rich to 90%. Where would we be now if we had maintained public school funding at those levels..

[goaded]

@NathanDavis Absolutely, the first computers used telephone technology, and Babbage was 19th century, too.

[jamesgoldman]

Penicillin

[goaded]

Ooh, that's a good one. But isn't it more of a discovery?

[msc545]

@goaded sort of but still it is VERY good.

[goaded]

No doubt!

[slatyb]

The Polymerase Chain Reaction.

[ellefia]

internet

[msc545]

Brilliant!

[ellefia]

Yes!!

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Air Conditioner

[DrPepper12]

Nuclear power.

[exitseven]

The VCR

[kellytheman]

Indoor plumbing.

[MrOracle]

That's thousands of years old.

[Dongie]

MRI machime.