Humans have been on the planet for thousands of years and have created amazing things to make their lives easier.

We come from bashing rocks and making sharp-edged objects to rubbing rocks and discovering fire. And now, we are preparing to be a multi-planetary species.

Here are some of the discoveries that changed the world.

The Wheel

It’s hard to imagine a world without wheels. But that’s what the world was before 3500 BC. Humans were severely limited in what they could do. We almost couldn’t transport anything over land.

The wheel concept itself wasn’t hard to imagine. The tricky part was connecting the non-moving parts and designing the holes at the center of the wheel and the end of the fixed axle.

The invention of the wheel has facilitated commerce, agriculture and has enabled the transportation of goods and long-distance traveling. Wheels are being used everywhere, from turbines to clocks and vehicles.

DNA

Our understanding of DNA has rapidly evolved since the discovery of the double helix structure in 1953 by Francis Crick and James Watson. The double helix structures are two strands that twist around each other and have a variety of patterns creating human instructions for the body.

The result of the discovery was a hunger for knowledge on what makes us who we are. Groundbreaking studies are being conducted every day that wouldn’t be possible if the discovery of DNA were non-existent.

As a result of DNA discovery, we can do genome mapping and sequencing. Doctors can also tell what can prevent illnesses like cancer and heart disease.

The Internet

Who could have thought of producing a network of interconnected computers to pass up information? Well, many people did, but the individual most credited is Lawrence Roberts.

In 1960, computer scientists working for the US defense department built the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). The system used a data transmission method called packet switching. The system would be improved to have what we now have as the internet.

The internet has grown to be very essential in our communication. It also has a significant impact on science and the ability to share information widely.

One of the discoveries that did not make it on the list is the airplane. Before the Wright Brothers, humans thought that it was impossible to fly. But since the discovery in 1903, humans have achieved tremendous results in a very short time span. From discovering we could fly to landing on the moon in 1969, in 66 years. It taught us that we cannot limit our abilities.