X-rays beat computer as best invention ever
Science Museum poll looks backwards
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As part of its centenary celebrations the Science Museum's curators chose ten objects from its collection and asked the public to vote on their favourite.
From a list which included a Pilot ACE Computer, based on Alan Turing's work, the Apollo 10 Capsule, a Model T Ford, penicillin and the DNA double helix the public chose the X-ray machine as its favourite.
Said medical device, invented in 1895, inexplicably beat off competition from Stephenson's Rocket, the electric telegraph, the steam engine and the Nazis' V2 rocket engine.
50,000 votes were cast online and at the museum in South Kensington.
Penicillin came in second with 6,825 votes, the double helix DNA came third and the Apollo 10 space capsule took fourth place.
The Science Museum has more here. ®
COMMENTS
Coincidence
What a nice coincidence, that an "X-Ray machine" was the tool that allowed Watson and Crick to discover the DNA double helix. Once you see the X-ray diffraction pattern <http://www.scifun.ed.ac.uk/card/images/flakes/b-form.jpg> it's quite self-explanatory, really.
As for the greatest inventions, how about
the smelting of metals,
the electric generator,
the printing press,
the tricycle (take that, bicycle!),
the toaster, or
the use of yeast and fermentation to create tasty, yet stimulating beverages?
@ Why wasnt the iPhone on the list?
Because these are inventions/discoveries that have purported to push mankind forward, rather than a niche fad that is the doyenne of a few biased techno-geeks.
If you had your head out of your arse you might have seen that - but hey, guess where it was...
Pendantic I know
But surely , the top 3 are all discoveries.... *not* inventions.. The x-ray MACHINE would be an invention, but penicillin was discovered and so was the double helix. I know , I know , I'll get my coat.
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