Most important Discovery in the last 150 years?

Question

What has been the most important discovery in any scientific field of the past 150 years? and why?

Answer 1

No brainer. Einstein's special theory of relativity(E=mc^2 being part of that theory), for three reasons. First, because it explained a discrepancy between Newton's laws of motion and Maxwell 4 equations(which didn't obey Newton's laws) thus unifying them. Then, it also unified the concepts of space and time and matter and energy, showing that space and time are related and that mass and energy are but different manifestations of the same thing. Thirdly, up until einstein's discovery, scientists thought in a different manner than they do now. Before that time, scientists would observe a particular phenomena, measure it, and then formulate theories and equations that explain the phenomena. Einstein derived his equations purely through theorizing alone, and later the phenomena was observed to explain them. This ability to discover universal truths in science by first theorizing and then observation was what allowed Niels Bohr to develop his Bohr's model of the structure of the atom, which led to the development of modern day chemistry as we know it.

Second place, of course goes to Darwin's theory.

Answer 2

The Transistor is the most important Discovery in the last 150 years.

The Transistor is the base of all electronics that have been created in the last 50 years, everything from Radios, TV's, VCRs, alarm clocks, Computers, iPods, Radars, Sattelites, nuclear missle guidance systems.

Anything that is electronic has circuitry inside of it that is based on the original NPN or PNP transistor. All the Integrated circuits that go into all the various gadgets that have made modern life easy are based on the transistor. This Yahoo Answers website would not have been possible without the transistor.

The average person in North America interacts with over 100 Integrated Circuits (transistors) before they even leave their home for work in the morning.

The transistor has simply made life in the modern world so much easier.

The Transistor and Semiconductor devices in general are definitely the most important Discovery over the last 150 years.

Answer 3

I think the best invention EVER has to be tissue... oh, wait, what about the number 4? We couldn't get to five without it and I love getting to five. Wait, bacon and eggs are great as well...dang it, I almost forgot that game with the guys face and you take that little magnet pen and drag the metal shavings over his face to give him a beard or hat....wait, you know what tops all of that? That plastic seal that is between the lid and the bottle of Gatorade... My drink would spoil without it.

Answer 4

I would have to say plastic. I remember a time before there was any. My childhood toys were either wood, rubber or tin or some other metal. Even your computer has plastic parts. a plastic derivative is even in some foods.

Answer 5

Pasteurization.

Answer 6

My humble opinion? Penicillin.
The discovery of bacteria came first. During he civil war, many died of wound infection. Discovering bacteria made us aware ofhow infection was caused, penicillin made it possible to overcome it.

Answer 7

most scientists would answer e=mc^2

plastics and transistors, along with internal combustion engines, computers, television are inventions, not discoveries.

einsteins theory is important now, but it will be of much more significance in the future of mankind.

Answer 8

Birth control....not used enough at this time but it will help make this a better world.

Answer 9

Movable type.

Answer 10

either quantum mechanics or DNA/genome