INVENTIONS AND DISCOVERIES

Here’s an excerpt from our upcoming book THE VERY BEST AND VERY WORST: INVENTIONS AND DISCOVERIES

This is our invention. Add your opinions to it. Then we’ll all bask in its glow.

• THE VERY BEST ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERIES AND INVENTIONS

Glass
Slinky
Post-It Notes
Aspirin
Rubber
Penicillin
Frisbee
Brandy
X-Rays

• THE VERY WORST ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERIES AND INVENTIONS

Columbus discovers what he thinks is India. That’s why Native Americans are called “indians.”

Thalidomide creates birth defects when given to pregnant women, then researchers stumble on the fact that it helps mitigate the effects of leprosy. That’s a long way around, if you ask us.

2 Comments »

  • ’50s rocker Paul Burlison (a member of the Rock N’ Roll Trio) discovered that if you took a “tube” guitar amplifier [i.e., one powered by vacuum tubes] and turned the volume up really loud, the excessive volume would create natural overdrive–what millions of guitarists have since lovingly called “distortion” (Also known as fuzz, gain, drive, dirt, and crunch.]

    Soonafter, rockers like Link Wray and Dave Davies of the Kinks refined the technique, Davies even poking tiny holes in his paper speakers with a pencil to create an overdrive effect. Later in the 1960s, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix would refine this “tube distortion” into a true art form. Rock ‘n’ roll would never be the same.

    Comment by Pete — 11/10/06 @ 1:27 pm

  • Worst invention: religion

    Best invention: the internet, until they pull the plug, and when they do, well, then: the Swiss Army Knife

    Comment by Tom's Big Sister — 04/16/07 @ 9:26 pm

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