Inventions that have stood the test of time
We often imagine that many of the innovative things that we take for granted are at least relatively new. But this is not always the case! Sometimes the history of inventions goes back far further than we would ever guess.
Reality TV
Back in 1973, there was a TV show called 'An American Family,' which followed the real life of Pat and Bill Loud, and their children.
Vending machines
Hero of Alexandria also came up with a vending machine-like invention that allowed people in Ancient Egypt to buy limited amounts of holy water with a coin-operated system.
Brain surgery
An ancient grave was found in Ensisheim, France. A skull was discovered, which showed signs of holes that had healed, caused by surgery.
Contact lenses
The concept for the contact lens was invented by Leonardo da Vinci, who suggested that the cornea could be improved by contact with water.
Telephone
The first telephone came long before Alexander Graham Bell. It was invented by the Chimu civilization in Peru, and consists of gourds and twine.
Video games
A physics professor named Thomas Goldsmith, Jr. invented the first video game in the 1940s. He achieved this by connecting a cathode ray tube to an oscilloscope.
Central heating
The ancient Romans had a system called a hypocaust, which would circulate warm air under the floor and into the walls.
Animation
The first moving images were discovered in cave paintings in Lascaux, France. The effect was created through observing the walls in the light of oil-burning lamps.
Escalators
Nathan Ames was a lawyer and poet who invented the escalator in 1859. He described it as "revolving stairs."
Automatic doors
The first automatically opening door was invented by the Greek mathematician and engineer Hero of Alexandria.
The Seismoscope
The first machine to detect earthquakes was devised by Chinese inventor Zhang Heng in 132 CE.
Social media
In 16th century Netherlands, there was a system whereby books were passed around from friend to friend, and new "posts" were entered.
Flamethrower
The Syrian engineer Callinicus invented the flamethrower in 678 CE. Highly combustible fluid was released from a siphon, and would turn into flames when hitting its target.
Music streaming
New York resident Thaddeus Cahill invented the Telharmonium in 1898. It transmitted music to restaurants and hotels by telephone.
Nintendo
The Japanese company was founded in 1889, and was initially just a small company that specialized in playing cards.
Submarines
Mathematician William Bourne came up with the prototype for the submarine back in the 1500s, but didn't live long enough to see his invention come to fruition.
Fax machine
The first fax machine was invented by Scottish mechanic Alexander Bain in 1843, and transmitted images in the same way a telegram transmitted text.
