Lost Inventions That Could Have Changed The World | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Lost Inventions That Could Have Changed The World

What would the world be like now if they saw the light of day?

1462
Lost Inventions That Could Have Changed The World

There have been many inventions throughout the years that have changed the course of human life. From the light bulb lighting up our streets, to the car, to assembly lines generating more products, and even to the stars with rocket ships, we have managed as a species to accelerate our progression in the sciences as well as social capabilities. However, have you ever wondered what life would be like if we had some of these inventions that never saw the light of day?

1. Chronovision

We start off our list with a little something a member of the Catholic Church created. Father Ernetti was regarded as one of the best exorcists the Church had to offer, and in 1960, he claimed to have created what we would call a time machine. No, not a Delorean or a big blue police call box, but rather, as he claimed it, a pair of glasses that could allow you to see into the past. Some claim that Wernher von Braun and Nobel Leareate Enrico Fermi were in a group with him to construct such a machine. Ernetti claimed to have seen the death of Christ and other historic scenes. With his death in 1994, the only Chronovision was destroyed at the Vatican.

2. Ogle Carburetor

Ever get tired of your car constantly running out of gas? Well, in the 1970s, Tom Ogle created a new carburetor that pressurized gasoline into a vapor and injected it into the firing champers. After extensive research and design, the cost of changing car production standards were minimal. After installing the new carburetor in his Ford Galaxie, the car was measured to get 113 miles per gallon! He tried convincing the car companies to implement the new designs in their vehicles, but there were too many licensing dilemmas. Ogle died in 1981, never revealing the secret to the miracle carburetor that could save us $3.25 a gallon.

3. Global Wireless Energy

Nicola Tesla is regarded as one of many great inventors. One such invention that never saw the light of day was the concept of long-range wireless energy. Sure, there is wireless energy in some cases with Apple’s charge pad, but Tesla had grander plans. He wanted to provide energy on a global scale! He started construction on the Wardenclyffe Tower in Shoreham, Long Island to function as a wireless telecommunications facility as well as fulfill the task of broadcasting electrical power to the world. This plan seemed great at first, but proved to be to expensive as JP Morgan, who financed the operation, backed out of it. Tesla was left high and dry, and the facility was eventually abandoned due to lack of funding.

4. Baghdad Battery

Imagine a world where we discovered electricity hundreds of years earlier than now. Around Baghdad, an artifact known as the Baghdad Battery was discovered in which a terracotta pot housed a cylinder rolled copper sheet with a single iron rod inside that sheet. Filling the container with either wine, lemon juice, grape juice or vinegar could supply a small amount of electricity, up to four volts. Though that may seem a minute amount, it still brings up the interest of what if the idea of using such a method to provide power could have been implemented into society earlier. Who knows what kind of world we would be living in now!

5. Flexible Glass

Have you ever been carrying a glass cup or bowl when suddenly you trip and drop it? Well, at one point in time, there was such a thing as flexible glass. According to reports, during the reign of Emperor Tiberius, a glassmaker came to him and presented a cup. When the emperor was done with it, he threw it onto the ground, not resulting in a heart-shattering crash, but instead only a dent in the cup. The glassmaker quickly removed the dent by hitting it with a hammer. Tiberius asked the man if anyone was aware of this new invention, to which the man said no. Tiberius promptly had the man executed in fear that the new items would devalue gold and silver. To make matters worse, Tiberius also had the man’s workshop burned to the ground so that the secret of flexible glass could never be replicated.
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

651800
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

547436
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments