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Surprisingly, many inventions that seem modern actually have roots that stretch back for decades, or even centuries. We often view them as new because their earlier forms were either unsuccessful, overlooked, or lost to time.
10. Reality Television Shows
In the 1970s, filmmaker Craig Gilbert proposed an idea to Pat Loud, a housewife from Santa Barbara, to have a camera crew film her family’s everyday moments for a reality TV show. Initially, Pat was resistant, fearing it would compromise her family’s privacy and disrupt their normal lives. However, Pat eventually saw it as an opportunity to bring some happiness back into her life. The result was the first-ever reality show, An American Family.
The groundbreaking series aired on PBS in 1973 and followed Pat Loud, her husband Bill, and their five children over seven months. An American Family made history by challenging the conventional portrayal of the typical American family. The show captured the emotional impact of Pat and Bill’s divorce, and it shocked viewers when their eldest son, Lance, revealed that he was gay, becoming the first openly gay character in a continuing role on TV.
The series captured the public's attention when it aired, largely due to the audience’s fascination with the unfiltered breakdown of the family dynamics. On average, the show attracted 10 million viewers each week.
9. Contact Lenses
Although we associate contact lenses with modern technology, the concept was first proposed by Leonardo da Vinci in 1508. He theorized that the vision of the human eye could be improved by placing the cornea directly in contact with water. However, it wasn’t until 350 years later that the first functional contact lens was developed.
Some reports suggest that German glassblower F.A. Muller was the first to create functional contact lenses in 1887, while others credit Paris optician Edouard Kalt or Swiss physician Adolf E. Fick, who both reportedly crafted them in 1888. These initial lenses were made entirely of glass, covering the entire eye, including the sclera (the white part). The lenses were bulky and restricted oxygen flow to the cornea, limiting wear time to just a few hours at a stretch.
In 1936, New York optometrist William Feinbloom developed scleral lenses, which were a breakthrough in contact lens technology. These lenses combined glass and plastic, making them lighter compared to earlier versions. However, it wasn't until 1948 that Kevin Tuohy, an optician from California, introduced a prototype of modern contact lenses, which were fully made of plastic and only covered the cornea.
8. Fast Food Chains
While we often associate fast food with modern society, studies of ancient Pompeii reveal that similar dining establishments existed long ago. Contrary to the belief that eating on the go is a modern habit, ancient Romans frequented these quick-service eateries, as observed by scientists during their study of Pompeii’s households.
Unlike the wealthy elites who indulged in extravagant meals, the common people of ancient Rome often lacked space for formal dining. Many lived in small homes with no designated kitchen or dining areas. Archaeological findings in Pompeii indicate that these households relied on fast food establishments instead, with no formal dishware discovered in many homes.
Professor Stephen Dyson, former president of the Archaeological Institute of America, explains that the ancient Pompeii restaurants were a blend of fast food establishments and pubs, serving both food and alcohol. These restaurants, which opened to the streets, featured a large counter in the center from which food and drinks were ordered and served. Just like modern eateries, customers could either dine at a small table or grab their food to go. Given Pompeii's proximity to Rome, it's believed that these practices may have spread to other regions of Italy as well.
7. Digital Social Networks
While social media is often hailed as a revolutionary invention of the 21st century, the concept may have origins in the 16th century. In Northern Europe, people created alba amicorum, or 'friend books' in Latin, long before modern digital platforms allowed us to share our thoughts and opinions online.
Around the 1560s, young men from what is now the Netherlands and Rhineland embarked on journeys across Europe in search of a more comprehensive education. As they visited universities and met scholars, they asked prominent figures—philosophers, scientists, and students they admired—to write a brief message in their 'friend books' as a way of preserving the memory of their encounters. In some instances, artists were commissioned to illustrate these books as well.
While women of the past did not have the same opportunities to travel as men, they had their own versions of 'friend books.' These books were typically more personal, filled with gossip, secrets, and inside jokes about romantic interests. They often included tales of memorable moments, song lyrics, and personal poetry. The books were passed around among friends for them to add their thoughts, names, and sayings. The alba amicorum was definitely a reflection of one's popularity.
6. Neurosurgery
Brain surgery has been practiced since the late Neolithic period, according to archaeologists. Initially thought to date back around 5,000 years, the earliest known method was trepanation, which involved removing bone from the skull. However, a discovery of an ancient grave in Ensisheim, France, suggests that brain surgery was performed as far back as 7,000 years ago.
In 1997, archaeologists in Ensisheim uncovered the remains of a 50-year-old man with two holes in his skull. Upon examining the skull, it was determined that the holes had no cracks, which indicated that they were the result of surgery, not trauma or violence.
The first hole, located in the frontal lobe, measured about 6 centimeters (3 inches) in width. The second hole, positioned at the top of the skull, was 3 centimeters (1 inch) wide. Investigations revealed that the surgeries were performed at different times. Both procedures were likely successful, as both holes had healed by the time of the man's death. The smaller hole was fully covered by a new layer of bone, while the larger hole was only partially covered.
Though this is the oldest confirmed case of brain surgery, archaeologists suspect that earlier instances may have existed. The precision of the trepanation and the fact that the man survived both surgeries suggests the surgeon had considerable expertise. This technique was probably handed down through generations and perfected over time.
5. The Telephone
We previously discussed how Alexander Graham Bell is mistakenly credited with the invention of the telephone, while the true inventor was an Italian-American engineer named Antonio Meucci. In fact, the concept of a telephone can be traced back more than 1,200 years.
This ancient version of the telephone was created by the Chimu civilization, who resided in the Rio Moche Valley of northern Peru. Recognized as the first engineering society in the New World, the Chimu invented this device. Now part of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, the ancient telephone was unearthed in the 1930s by Baron Walram V. Von Schoeler, a Prussian aristocrat, during his excavation in Peru.
The Chimu’s telephone consisted of two gourd receivers, each approximately 9 centimeters (4 inches) in length, connected by a 22-meter (75 feet) twine cord. These gourd receivers were outfitted with hidden membranes that amplified sound during use. The Chimu society is thought to have been hierarchical, with the telephone primarily used by the elites, who were forbidden from direct interaction with the lower classes.
4. The Automobile
Although many refer to Karl Benz as the 'father of the automobile,' the invention of the car cannot be attributed to a single individual. The development of modern cars involved approximately 100,000 patents. Figures such as Leonardo da Vinci and Isaac Newton even drafted theoretical plans for motorized vehicles. However, the first self-propelled vehicle for human transportation emerged only in the 18th century.
In 1769, Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, a French engineer and mechanic, became the first to design and build a self-moving vehicle. This steam-powered tricycle, used by the French military, could carry artillery and achieved a top speed of 3 kilometers per hour (2 mph). However, Cugnot’s invention required a stop every 15 minutes to generate enough steam power to continue.
In 1771, the first automobile accident took place when a man crashed Cugnot's vehicle into a stone wall. From that moment, Cugnot's fortunes declined rapidly. He struggled financially, especially after losing one of his primary investors.
To give some historical perspective, the automobile was invented before the American Revolution, and the first automobile accident occurred nearly 20 years before the French Revolution.
3. Text Message Slang
Text message slang is often regarded as a recent innovation. It was adopted by modern phone users to abbreviate their messages and type more quickly. This writing style, known as 'text lingo' in English, has faced criticism from English professors and language purists who argue that it signifies a decline in intellectual standards. Nevertheless, shorthand communication has existed since the 1890s, dating back to the invention of the telegraph.
Though the telegraph made it possible to send messages across great distances, it was quite costly because users had to pay for each individual letter. To reduce the cost, people began using a shorthand method called the 'telegram style.' The Sunday Magazine reported that a greeting might be followed by an inquiry about the other's health, written as: 'Hw r u ts mng?' and the reply could be: 'I’m pty wl; hw r u?' or 'I’m nt flg vy wl; fraid I’ve gt t mlaria.'
Since most telegraph messages were sent only when urgency was required, the telegram style allowed people to convey as much information as possible using the fewest letters, making communication more efficient.
2. Submarines
While most people associate the invention of the submarine with World War I, the first feasible design for a submersible vessel dates back to 1580, courtesy of William Bourne, an English innkeeper. Bourne provided a theory explaining why ships float and proposed that altering a ship's density in relation to the water it displaces could make it either sink or float.
Despite Bourne's early idea, it wasn't until the 1620s that Cornelius van Drebbel, an inventor in the court of James I of England, actually built the first submarine. While several reports suggest that Drebbel's submarine remained submerged 5 meters (15 ft) deep in the Thames for up to three hours, there are no reliable diagrams or detailed explanations of its functionality.
Drebbel’s submarine was essentially a wooden rowboat tightly wrapped in waterproofed leather. It featured air tubes that connected to floats on the surface to provide oxygen, and it was powered by 12 oarsmen, as engines had not yet been invented.
The first military submarine, the 'Turtle,' was designed by David Bushnell in 1776. This wooden vessel was powered by hand-cranked propellers and used during the American Revolution to plant explosives on the hulls of British warships. While the submarine performed well, the explosives did not function as intended.
In the 1890s, the first true submarines were developed by two competing inventors. John P. Holland and Simon Lake each built submarines for the US and Russia, respectively, which employed steam engines and petrol for surface travel and electric motors for underwater navigation.
1. Anti-Vaccination Movement
The first known anti-vaccination movement emerged with the introduction of vaccines. In the early 1800s, Edward Jenner pioneered the cowpox vaccine, but it was met with considerable backlash. Critics opposed it for various reasons, including sanitary concerns and political, religious, and scientific objections.
Nearly a century later, riots erupted in parts of Britain after the government passed a law making vaccinations mandatory for all children. Leading Victorian-era scientists, such as Alfred Russel Wallace, expressed support for the anti-vaccination cause. Wallace cited a report by the Registrar-General, which claimed that 52 people died each year due to vaccine-related complications.
The National Vaccine Establishment swiftly responded, providing data that showed nearly 4,000 Londoners perished annually from smallpox before vaccines were introduced. In light of the riots and political pressure, the British government modified the law, allowing parents to opt out of compulsory vaccinations if they were fully informed of the consequences of their actions.
The Anti-Compulsory Vaccination League was founded in London in 1867. Around ten years later, the Anti-Vaccination Society of America was established following a visit to America by the influential British anti-vaccination advocate, William Tebb.
