30 Inventions That Put Their Mark on the World

THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE – FRANCE, 1859

In 1859, Belgian-born Parisian engineer Jean Joseph Étienne Lenoir invented the world’s first workable internal combustion engine, which used coal gas as a fuel. Nowadays, internal combustion engines power almost all land and water vehicles.

 

THE TELEPHONE – USA/CANADA, 1876

Like many game-changing inventions, the telephone was developed over many years by a number of individuals, but Scottish-born innovator Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the first practical model in 1876.

 

THE LIGHT BULB – USA, 1879

Where would we be without the light bulb? Several inventors, including English scientist Warren de la Rue, created rudimentary versions earlier in the century, but the first practical incandescent light bulb for the mass market was patented by Thomas Edison in 1879.

 

THE CAR – GERMANY, 1886

It’s hard to imagine what our lives would be like if the automobile hadn’t been invented. German engineer Karl Benz is widely credited with inventing the first true car, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, in 1886.

 

THE RADIO – ITALY, 1895

Although a number of pioneers were involved in the development of long-distance radio transmission, it was Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi who created the first viable radio apparatus and wireless telegraphy system back in 1895.

 

THE AIRPLANE – USA, 1903

Aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright are credited with inventing the world’s first airplane, which they flew for four miles over South Carolina in 1903, forever altering the way the human race travels, transports goods and fights wars.