Essential Inventions & Discoveries for Competitive Exams

List of Major Inventions and Discoveries
Throughout history, human ingenuity has led to revolutionary inventions that shape our daily lives. Below is a well-researched compilation of significant discoveries, their inventors, and the years they were made—an essential resource for exam preparation.

Important Inventions & Their Inventors
Early Scientific & Mechanical Breakthroughs
Automatic Calculator (1623) – Invented by Wilhelm Schickard, paving the way for modern computing.
Barometer (1643) – Evangelista Torricelli created this device to measure atmospheric pressure.
Mechanical Clock (1725) – Developed by Hsing and Ling-Tsan, revolutionizing timekeeping.
Microscope (1590) – Zacharis Janssen introduced this tool, enabling scientific discoveries in biology.

Transportation & Engineering Marvels
Airplane (1903) – The Wright Brothers (Wilbur & Orville Wright) achieved the first powered flight.
Helicopter (1939) – Igor Sikorsky designed the first practical helicopter.
Locomotive (1804) – George Stephenson built the first steam-powered railway engine.
Diesel Engine (1892) – Rudolf Diesel invented this efficient internal combustion engine.

Medical & Life-Changing Discoveries
Penicillin (1928) – Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic, saving millions of lives.
Insulin (1923) – Sir Frederick Banting developed this life-saving treatment for diabetes.
Polio Vaccine (1955) – Jonas Salk created the vaccine that nearly eradicated polio.
Stethoscope (1816) – Rene Laennec invented this essential medical tool.

Everyday Innovations
Light Bulb (1854) – Thomas Edison perfected the electric light bulb.
Telephone (1874) – Alexander Graham Bell revolutionized communication.
Refrigerator (1748) – William Cullen laid the groundwork for modern refrigeration.
Sewing Machine (1846) – Elias Howe automated clothing production.

Modern Technological Advancements
World Wide Web (1989) – Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau created the foundation of the internet.
Transistor (1948) – John Bardeen, William Shockley, & Walter Brattain developed this key electronic component.
Laser (1960) – Theodore Maiman invented the first working laser.
Xerox Machine (1928) – Chester Carlson introduced photocopying technology.


Sample Questions & Answers (For Exam Preparation)
Q1: Who invented the Telephone?
A: Alexander Graham Bell (1874).
Q2: Which scientist discovered Penicillin?
A: Alexander Fleming (1928).
Q3: What did the Wright Brothers invent?
A: The Airplane (1903).
Q4: Who developed the first Polio Vaccine?
A: Jonas Salk (1955).
Q5: When was the World Wide Web invented?
A: 1989, by Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau.