Inventions stem from human brilliance and creativity; they are often driven by a desire to solve a problem or facilitate our lives and/or make them more enjoyable. Yet, even well-intentioned inventions can have the worst consequences; history shows us that some inventions had a negative impact on the world. Let us explore our top five picks, and know why they can be considered the worst-ever inventions.
Dynamite
The invention of dynamite is a complex story; it may have been one of the most important inventions at the time of the Industrial Revolution, as it introduced a simple way to quarry mines and cut down rocks. Dynamite is an explosive made of liquid nitroglycerin, which explodes easily when moved, mixed with an absorbent substance—kieselguhr or diatomite; a kind of earth formed by countless millions of tiny fossil algae known as diatoms—to make it less sensitive and give it a solid form.
Dynamite quickly gained wide-scale use; its applications ranged from construction to advanced warfare. Albeit a great invention, its inventor, Alfred Nobel, felt guilty and obliged to create an icon of peace to neutralize the unintentional use of his invention. The Nobel Prize is awarded in five fields: physics, chemistry, physiology (or medicine), literature, and ironically, peace. It is widely regarded as the most prestigious award and the highest honor a person can aspire to; once associated with explosions and the art of making war, the name Nobel became connected to latest human advancements and peace.
Plastics
It is hard to imagine this world without plastics. They have become incredibly prevalent in our daily lives, supplanting several traditional materials, such as paper, cloth, leather, wood, glass, and metal. Derived from the Greek word plastikos, the word “plastic” means moldable or formable; a miracle invention for more than a century, known for its flexibility and durability. When heated, it can be molded into almost any desired shape; when cooled they harden to its solid shape.
While plastics have certainly revolutionized several industries and are heavily in use, it is important to recognize that that has become plastics’ best and worst trait. Global plastic production and consumption have seen a tremendous growth; approximately seven billion tons of the 9.2 billion tons of plastic produced since the 1950s have become plastic waste. Such excessive production and consumption have led to devastating environmental damage (excerpt from the article “Friend and Foe: Exploring Plastic Wastes in Artistic Context” by Mahmoud Hagras, SCIplanet). Plastic waste is one of the most serious environmental issues of our time. It is used once and thrown away, and cannot biodegrade; it just breaks down into smaller pieces that leak toxic chemicals and ruin ecosystems instead. The solution has backfired!
Cigarettes
Several inventions could have a negative side; yet, there are others where it is hard to find a benefit. Cigarettes are the star of the worst-inventions. Originally used in religious rituals, then as a handmade luxury item, cigarettes were revolutionized over the years; filtered, light, ultra-light, menthol, natural, nicotine-free, and e-cigarettes, are all just as harmful as regular cigarettes.
Formed of dried leaves, tobacco, rolled in thin paper, cigarettes turn into an addictive habit for smokers. The tobacco leaf contains nicotine, an addictive substance, that makes people want to smoke more. Today, all major tobacco companies admit that cigarettes are bad for people’s health. Smokers suffer, for example, from frequent coughing and chest pain; physicians say that cigarettes can harm almost every organ in the body, and that they are a proven cause of death in roughly half who smoke.
Cigarettes do not only pose serious risks for people who smoke them, they harm anyone around them. Cigarette smoke contains harmful substances, such as nicotine that damages brain tissue, tar that kills cells, carcinogens that cause cancer, and the poisonous gas carbon monoxide. Moreover, they are a common cause of house fires; smoking near flammable substances can cause a fire or explosion—read “Where there is Smoke, there is Flame” by Maissa Azab.
Cotton Swabs
Cotton swabs are used in first aid, skin care, and crafts; yet, the most common use is to clean the ear canal by removing earwax. The first mass-produced cotton swab was developed by the Polish–American Leo Gerstenzang, who saw his wife attaching wads of cotton to toothpicks to clear their child’s ear. The idea developed and turned into the product we know today: a wad of cotton commonly wrapped around a short rod of plastic, wood, or rolled paper.
However, the common use of cotton swabs is usually against its manufacturer instructions. Almost every cotton swab box has a warning label: “do not insert into ear canal”. Using these swaps to remove wax from the ear may do more harm than good. One common ear injury related to such use is a ruptured eardrum—a hole or tear in the eardrum—which may affect the hearing and sense of balance.
Most people do not know that our ears are self-cleaning; it is often not necessary to remove earwax. It keeps the ears from getting too dry, and acts as a shield that prevents bacteria and dirt from reaching deeper into the ear. Earwax is produced within the ear canal and naturally migrates from deeper inside to outside. There are exceptions, of course; some people have more than the average amount of earwax and others could have it harder and drier than usual. Yet, inserting a cotton swab into your ear could just make the situation worse than ever. Remember, the safest way to have excess earwax removed is by a healthcare provider.
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These were my top five for this topic, but I am curious to hear your opinions too. What would you add or remove? Share your thoughts and you could be featured in our next article!
References
artsandculture.google.com
bibalex.org/SCIplanet (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5)
britannica.com
energy.gov
healthline.com
kids.britannica.co (1), (2), and (3)
nobelprize.org
unep.org
wikipedia.org
Cover photo by Freepik