|
Moving
political agendas forward by using war (even to protect the citizens of
a country) always results in tragic deaths. On the flip side, though, it
can also create economic growth and some surprising inventions.
Necessity is the mother of all inventions, and that is doubly true
during wartime. These items (some of which you use daily) were created
during times of war. Did you have any idea?
|
|
Canned goods
The Emperor Napoleon and a chef named Nicolas Appert created a modern
household staple: canned goods. In 1795, Napoleon was worried about
getting food to troops that were off fighting his war. So, he offered a
prize of 12,000 francs to any man who could find a way to safely
preserve food. After 15 years of attempts, Nicolas Appert perfected the
canning process. |
|
|
|
Portable x-ray machine
At the beginning of World War I, the portable x-ray machine was invented
and perfected by scientists. In particular, the famed scientist Marie
Curie worked with countless teams to outfit Red Cross trucks with mobile
field units. This technology eliminated many hours of travel time for
patients with severe injuries, potentially saving their lives. |
|
|
|
Blood banks
Before World War I, if a dying patient desperately needed a blood
transfusion, doctors would need to find a willing and healthy patient to
donate the blood. Thankfully, physicians soon discovered that, by adding
sodium citrate to the blood, donated blood could last outside of a
patient's body without coagulating. Dr. Oswald Hope Robertson then
created the first blood bank on the battlefield of France in 1917. |
|
|
|
Instant coffee
The "essence of coffee" was created for Civil War soldiers in the 1860s.
Small instant coffee cakes were given to Union troops as part of their
rations. After that, the popularity of instant coffee exploded. |
|
|
|
Individual tea bags
For soldiers on the front, it can be difficult to gain access to common
food staples. Supposedly, in 1908, a U.S. tea importer named Thomas
Sullivan accidentally invented the modern teabag by sending samples of
his loose leaf to customers in small silk pouches. For the troops in
World War I, this was a happy discovery, as they could then brew
individual cups of tea.
|
|
|
|
Wrist watch
Although wrist watches were created before World War I, their regular
use by soldiers made them extremely popular. Watches allowed officers to
efficiently time their actions with others (without using visual cues
and giving themselves away). Soon after the war, everyone in London was
wearing a wrist watch.
|
|
|
|
Duct tape
A woman named Vesta Stoudt was working at a plant during World War II
when she noticed something alarming. The packaging of the cartridges she
was inspecting was faulty. The paper tape sealing off the ammunition was
hard to remove because it would rip, making it difficult for soldiers to
quickly access the package's contents in the field. As a result, she
invented duct tape. Not only would it seal the boxes, but it could be
removed without tearing.
|
|
|
|
Antibiotics (such a penicillin)
Penicillin's creation may be one of the most important discoveries of
all time. It was originally discovered in 1928 by Scottish scientist Sir
Alexander Fleming, but it was in 1941 that doctors realized that
Penicillin could be used to treat wounds for soldiers. After that, the
limits and benefits of the drug were explored and it's still used all
over the world. |
|
|