How Have Lesser-Known Scientific Ideas Transformed Society?

[cscott]

What are some scientific ideas you think had the greatest impact on society? It'd be nice to have a few that aren't "obvious."

(don't mention the transistor )

 

[FredGarvin]

Here's one that I think is vastly overlooked:
The discovery/development of the phase transformations of steel. Just try to think of where this world would be today without the use of steel as we know it.

 

[GENIERE]

What are some scientific ideas you think had the greatest impact on society? It'd be nice to have a few that aren't "obvious."...

This might be obvious, but I think the “internet” has had the greatest impact on society.


.

 

[quark]

Wheel and paper

 

[ZapperZ]

What are some scientific ideas you think had the greatest impact on society? It'd be nice to have a few that aren't "obvious."...

This might be obvious, but I think the “internet” has had the greatest impact on society.

Unless I misread something, the "internet" was more of a "military idea" than a scientific idea.

The world wide web, on the other hand, came out of a scientific need to share data.

Zz.

 

[Claude Bile]

The engine, that is, the concept of turning chemical energy into mechanical energy.

Claude.

 

[Mk]

Oil + heat + food = yum!