Category: Funometer

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60 British inventions for the world

UK inventions

The United Kingdom has given the world an impressive array of groundbreaking inventions that have transformed various aspects of modern life

From Isaac Newton’s reflecting telescope in 1668 to Frank Whittle’s jet engine in 1937 and Tim Berners-Lee’s creation of the World Wide Web in 1989.

British inventors have continually pushed the boundaries of science and technology. The development of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 revolutionised medicine, while Michael Faraday’s work on the electric motor and electromagnetic induction laid the foundation for modern electrical engineering.

Innovations like the steam engine, the world’s first underground railway, stainless steel, and the hovercraft have significantly advanced transportation and industry.

Contributions such as the structure of DNA by Francis Crick and James Watson, the MRI scanner by Sir Peter Mansfield, and the vaccination by Edward Jenner have had profound impacts on health and science.

These inventions reflect the ingenuity and creativity that have positioned the UK as a leader in innovation and progress.

Top 60 list of British inventions – in no particular order

The Reflecting Telescope (Isaac Newton, 1668)

The Seed Drill (Jethro Tull, 1701)

The Steam Engine (Thomas Savery, 1698; improved by James Watt, 1765)

The World’s First Underground Railway (The Tube) (1863)

Penicillin (Alexander Fleming, 1928)

The Jet Engine (Frank Whittle, 1937)

The Electric Light Bulb (Joseph Swan, 1879)

The World Wide Web (Tim Berners-Lee, 1989)

Stainless Steel (Harry Brearley, 1913)

The Electric Motor (Michael Faraday, 1821)

The First Programmable Computer (Charles Babbage, 1837)

The Thermos Flask (Sir James Dewar, 1892)

Television (John Logie Baird, 1925)

Vaccination (Edward Jenner, 1796)

The Steam Locomotive – (George Stephenson, 1814)

The Lawnmower (Edwin Budding, 1830)

The Hovercraft (Christopher Cockerell, 1955)

The Safety Bicycle (John Kemp Starley, 1885)

The Cat’s Eye Road Reflector (Percy Shaw, 1934)

The Structure of DNA (Francis Crick and James Watson, 1953)

Concorde (British and French collaboration, 1969)

The Fax Machine (Alexander Bain, 1843)

The Electric Transformer (Michael Faraday, 1831)

Electromagnetic Induction (Michael Faraday, 1831)

Radar (Sir Robert Watson-Watt, 1935)

The Spinning Frame (Richard Arkwright, 1769)

The MRI Scanner (Sir Peter Mansfield, 1971)

The ATM (John Shepherd-Barron, 1967)

The Marine Chronometer (John Harrison, 1761)

The Tin Can (Peter Durand, 1810)

The Hydrogen-Oxygen Fuel Cell (Sir William Grove, 1839)

The Floating Breakwater (Sir Samuel Bentham, 1804)

The Sinclair ZX80 (First Affordable Home Computer) (Sir Clive Sinclair, 1980)

The Universal Joint (Robert Hooke, 1667)

The Submarine Periscope (Sir Howard Grubb, 1914)

The Identity Card System (Sir Edward Henry, 1916)

The Collapsible Baby Carriage (Owen Maclaren, 1965)

Thermal Insulation (Lord Kelvin, 1894)

The Jet Engine (Sir Frank Whittle) – successfully tested in 1941

The Jet Engine Afterburner (Sir Frank Whittle, 1946)

Carbon Fibre (Sir Harold Kroto, 1961)

The Modern Ship Propeller (Francis Pettit Smith, 1836)

Automatic Windshield Wipers (Gladstone Adams, 1921)

The Computer From early mechanical computers to modern electronic computers by Charles Babbage, ADA Lovelace (1842) to modern electronic computers – Sir Clive Sinclair

The Fire Extinguisher (George William Manby, 1818)

The Postage Stamp (Rowland Hill, 1840)

The Flushable Toilet – Sir John Harrington (1596) – (Thomas Crapper, 1861)

Torpedo (Robert Whitehead, 1866)

The Triple Expansion Steam Engine (Arthur Woolf, 1804)

The Bicycle – Kirkpatrick Macmillan (1842)

IVF – Robert Edwards, Patrick Steptoe & Jean Purdy

The Telephone – Alexander Graham Bell (1876)

The Cat’s Eye – Percy Shaw (1934)

Pneumatic Tyre – Robert William Thompson (1847)

The Refrigerator – William Cullen (1755)

The Steam Engine – Thomas Newcomen (1712)

Cement – Joseph Aspdin (1842)

The Thermos Flask – Sir James Dewar (1892)

The Cat Flap – Sir Isaac Newton

The above are just a few examples of British ingenuity and creative inventive ability.

The UK is renowned for its inventiveness and continues to have a wealth of contributions to offer the world

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Don’t waste your money on expensive jeans – so says this study!

Jeans

A recent study by the University of Leeds, in collaboration with Primark, found that a pair of women’s jeans costing just £15 were more durable than a pair costing £150.

The research tested 65 clothing items, including jeans, hoodies, and T-shirts, to set standards on how long clothing should last. They used equipment that can simulate years of wear and tear in a matter of hours.

Interestingly, the study revealed no correlation between price and durability. This means that higher-priced items aren’t necessarily more durable than cheaper ones. Primark plans to use these findings to improve the durability of their products and provide better value for customers.

So, for durability… buy the cheaper option. I have no idea about the design and style though.

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The camu camu berry is one of the world’s most abundant sources of vitamin C – in fact, one single teaspoon of camu camu powder has 1180% of your recommended daily intake!

Camu camu berry rich in vitamin C

The camu camu berry is one of the world’s most abundant sources of vitamin C – in fact, one single teaspoon of camu camu powder has 1180% of your recommended daily intake!

Red peppers come second a vitamin race against the camu camu berry.

Where can the berries naturally be found?

Camu camu berries, scientifically referred to as Myrciaria dubia, originate from the Amazon rainforest. They flourish naturally along riverbanks and floodplains, prospering in moist, marshy zones with acidic soil and plentiful sunshine. These berries are predominantly found in areas of Peru and Brazil.

Harvesting and farming of the camu camu berry

Camu camu berries are harvested both from the wild and through cultivation. Traditionally, in the Amazon rainforest, local communities collect the berries from naturally occurring shrubs along riverbanks.

With the rising demand for their health benefits, commercial farming of camu camu has expanded. These farms are often found in Peru and Brazil, where the conditions are perfect for growing camu camu. Harvesting typically occurs in the rainy season when the berries reach full ripeness.

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Fact or Fiction: Diamonds discovered on Mercury

Diamond planet

Mercury, the smallest planet in the solar system and nearest to the sun, conceals an intriguing secret: a diamond mantle approximately 10 miles thick under its surface. This revelation comes from data provided by NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft.

Diamond mantle

Recent studies indicate that Mercury’s mantle is composed not of graphene, as was previously believed, but of diamond. The extreme pressure at the boundary between the mantle and core is thought to have facilitated the formation of diamond.

Graphite patches

Mercury’s surface is peppered with dark-coloured graphite patches, a form of carbon that has intrigued scientists for many years.

Carbon-rich magma

Researchers believe that in Mercury’s early history, it had a carbon-rich magma ocean. As the ocean of magma rose to the surface, it formed the graphite patches that are visible today.

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Fact or fiction: Russia traded warships for Soda

Retro Soda

The fascinating tale of Pepsi’s unexpected naval acquisition dates back to the late 1950’s.

In 1959, during the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in an ideological battle – communism vs capitalism.

In that time, the U.S.S.R. held an exhibition in New York to demonstrate its cultural and technological progress. In response, the United States established the American National Exhibition in Moscow, which featured various American products, including the famous carbonated beverage, Pepsi-Cola

The kitchen exhibition

In July 1959, then-Vice President Nixon and Soviet Premier Khrushchev engaged in a lively debate at the American National Exhibition. Set against the backdrop of a model American kitchen, they argued over the merits of capitalism versus communism. The exhibition also showcased a Pepsi-Cola booth, symbolizing the beverage’s American and Russian variants.

Pepsi for Khrushchev

Donald M. Kendall, an executive at Pepsi, embarked on a mission to have Khrushchev hold a Pepsi. On the exhibition’s eve, Kendall made a bold promise to Nixon. He aimed to showcase the trip’s significance, culminating in the staged moment where Khrushchev tentatively sipped Pepsi. This pivotal event was captured in a photograph, acquainting numerous Russians with the fizzy beverage for the first time.

The deal

The Soviet Union had a long-established tradition of exchanging vodka for Pepsi concentrate. However, the arrangement took an extraordinary turn when Pepsi served as an intermediary in a remarkable swap: the Soviets offered a fleet of 17 submarines, a cruiser, a frigate, and a destroyer – estimated to be worth around $3 billion – as compensation for their pending Pepsi delivery. This deal briefly made Pepsi the possessor of the world’s sixth-largest naval force.

Pepsi’s fleet

The company eventually sold the warships for scrap, but for a brief period, they boasted an impressive naval fleet.

This event marks a unique chapter in the history of both the beverage industry and naval affairs, where the worlds of carbonated drinks and military warships intersected.

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FACT or FICTION: there is a creature in our world that never dies

Jellyfish

It is indeed amazing and absolutely true – when the medusa (adult jellyfish) or Turritopsis Dohrnii comes to the end of its life, it descends to the ocean’s depths and commences decomposition – it starts to decay but remarkably, its cells then reassemble, not into another medusa, but into polyps.

From these polyps, new jellyfish are born. In essence, the jellyfish reverts to a previous stage of its life cycle, thus beginning life anew.

This extraordinary capability has led to it becoming known as the “immortal jellyfish.”

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“Meet Bill and Bet!”

UK election betting scandal

UK Election betting scandal mars politicians and the police!

Just when you think the state of UK politics couldn’t get any worse… it does!

The ‘clicky’ inner circles of both the Conservative and of the Labour Party with their mucky little antics – placing bets on the date of the UK election – KNOWING THE OUTCOME!!

Why would anyone behave in this way?

No wonder the public are utterly disenfranchised with politics. The morally bankrupt behaviour and greed shown by some in both the Conservative and Labour Party is breathtaking and bereft of any basic moral compass.

These people are broken and should not be in positions of trust representing our country.

And the police too!

UK election betting scandal
“Meet Bill and Bet!”

Billy and Betty off to place their bets!

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“SS Sunak – rats deserting the Sinking Ship!”

Sinking Ship!

SS Sunak – rats deserting a Sinking Ship!

UK Election: I don’t know if it’s just me but… where are all the Conservative Party cabinet BIG hitters?

Sunak has very little support, if any from his cabinet!

Where is Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer for example?

He’s not that visible on the election campaign trail. His absence could easily be construed as ‘distinctly unhelpful.’

Where is he?

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“Here… I think you may need this!”

Take cover!

UK election engulfed in yet another politically charged fallout from scandalous greed driven morally bankrupt politicians, and police. All connected to the inner workings of a failed government bereft of any sense of moral duty. The opposition Party are implicated too!

Why?

Is this really the best we can do?

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“I’ve been saving this for a rainy day, Mr. Sunak – but I think you might need it now.”

Umbrella for Sunak

Bank of England offers no election help to Rishi Sunak as the UK interest rate is held at 5.25%. Not that they should.

But the UK inflation is on target now at 2% so that’s some consolation. The PM claimed credit as the inflation target was met – happily informing us that his plan was working. But isn’t it the job of the Bank of England to maintain inflation at 2%?

Not that they have done a very good job of that either.

Soggy wet politics!

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“Vote Now! Pay Later. Our Deal. Labour”

UK Election – The Labour Party slogan is ‘CHANGE’ – but ‘CHANGE‘ to what?

I do not support any party. I have no idea what the Labour party stands for anymore. And as for the Conservatives – not a clue either – too many deceits and for far too long!

We have choice – but no choice!