Science-based innovations and inventions have transformed our world. From the semiconductor to the ball-point pen, to recent leaps in AI technology, our world has been completely transformed by technology and science. In the I-Corps program, researchers are learning how to translate their science-based research into products and services that may be the next transformative innovation.
In the spirit of the season of gratitude and Thanksgiving, we asked our team to name the technologies and innovations for which they are thankful:
Fertilizer
With over 8 billion people on the planet, it often seems impossible that we can come close to feeding everyone. Modern nitrogen-based fertilizers were pioneered by German chemists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch around 1911, and have enabled the tremendous global population growth seen in the 20th century. Using high pressure, high temperature, and an iron catalyst, the Haber-Bosch process combines nitrogen from the air with hydrogen gas to create ammonia, a key ingredient in fertilizers. Next time you drive past a field, be thankful for the fertilizer that makes our stuffing and cornbread possible!
Antibiotics
Before their discovery, diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, and strep throat could be deadly, and even minor wounds or infections posed serious risks. Alexander Fleming’s 1921 discovery of penicillin kicked off a new era in healthcare and medicine.
LED Lighting
For a century, traditional incandescent light bulbs illuminated the world. However, these bulbs produced significant amounts of heat and were not power-efficient. Advances in LED technology have enabled more efficient and versatile lighting solutions. Modern LED light bulbs are 75% more efficient than incandescent bulbs and can last 25 times longer. Now, accidentally leaving your kitchen lights on is no longer as expensive!
High-Speed Internet Access
It’s very likely you’re reading this blog because of a high-speed internet connection. Unless, of course, you are still using a dial-up connection, in which case it took you several minutes to load the webpage. For everyone else, high-speed internet is the glue that holds our always-connected world together. Whether via satellite, cell tower, or fiber optic connection, we can access virtually any piece of information in under a second. Or, we can scroll on our phones while avoiding our extended family at Thanksgiving dinner. And that is something to be thankful for.
Sources
https://www.britannica.com/technology/Haber-Bosch-process
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fritz-Haber
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/the-real-story-behind-the-worlds-first-antibiotic
