Inventions
- Attribution
- Posted1 day ago
Witness History. The man who invented the scratch card. Audio, 10 minutes
In 1974 the chance to win instant cash went on sale for the first time
- AttributionBBC World Service
- Available for over a year
- Posted14 October
Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford. The Inventor Who Almost Ended the World. Audio, 36 minutes
Thomas Midgley’s inventions harmed millions, but could they have been foreseen?
- AttributionBBC Sounds
- Available for over a year
- Posted7 October
Witness History. The secretary who made millions from her typos. Audio, 10 minutes
In the 1950s, secretary Bette Graham invented correction fluid to cover up her errors
- AttributionBBC World Service
- Available for over a year
- Attribution
- Posted24 September
People Fixing The World. A washing machine solution. Audio, 23 minutes
The Sikh engineer who invented a hand crank, off-grid washing machine for his neighbour
- AttributionBBC World Service
- Available for over a year
Witness History. The invention of Kevlar. Audio, 11 minutes
In 1965, a new fibre was discovered by scientist Stephanie Kwolek
- AttributionBBC World Service
- Available for over a year
- Attribution
- Posted22 July
- Attribution
- Posted1 July
- Attribution
- Posted24 June
Sporting Witness. Creating Hawk-Eye and goal-line tech. Audio, 11 minutes
In 2000, Paul Hawkins turned his cricket passion into innovation by creating the tech
- AttributionBBC World Service
- Available for over a year
Witness History. The invention of the automatic electric rice cooker. Audio, 10 minutes
In 1955, entrepreneur and engineer Yoshitada Minami, revolutionised rice cooking
- AttributionBBC World Service
- Available for over a year
- Attribution
- Posted23 April
- Attribution
- Posted23 April
Witness History. The invention of the white LED lightbulb. Audio, 10 minutes
In 1993, a lightbulb moment led to the invention of the first white light emitting diode
- AttributionBBC World Service
- Available for over a year
Witness History. Resusci Anne: the world’s first life-saving resuscitation dummy. Audio, 10 minutes
In May 1960 a Norwegian toy-maker unveiled a life-sized, life-like training manikin
- AttributionBBC World Service
- Available for over a year
Witness History. The invention of superglue. Audio, 10 minutes
In 1951, Harry Coover noticed a chemical he was working with was sticking to everything
- AttributionBBC World Service
- Available for over a year
Sporting Witness. Why I designed the prosthetic running leg. Audio, 10 minutes
In 1984, Van Phillips invented the first carbon graphite running leg.
- AttributionBBC World Service
- Available for over a year
Witness History. The invention of GPS. Audio, 9 minutes
The Global Positioning System, also known as GPS, was created in the late 1970s
- AttributionBBC World Service
- Available for over a year
Witness History. The invention of the shopping trolley. Audio, 9 minutes
In 1937, American supermarket owner Sylvan Goldman wanted his customers to spend more.
- AttributionBBC World Service
- Available for over a year
- Attribution
- Posted9 January
Witness History. The invention of the hotel key card. Audio, 9 minutes
In the 1970s, Norwegian Tor Sornes invented the hotel key card
- AttributionBBC World Service
- Available for over a year
