The Next Big Thing

• Share

A Brief History of "The Big Thing"

1900s

THE BIG THING

Plastics Bakelite is not sexy. But when New York chemist Leo Baekeland invented it in 1907 by tightly controlling the heat and pressure of volatile chemical reactions, he created the first completely synthetic substance. Hardened and shaped, Bakelite--or phenol formaldehyde--was impervious to heat, acids and electricity, allowing its use in everything from cookware to adhesives to car electrical systems. Chemists were soon making all sorts of polymers, launching a plastic century.

WHAT IT LED TO:

Cellophane, nylon, Teflon, Velcro, acrylic, Plexiglas, spandex, polyester, PVC, that famous line in The Graduate

RUNNER-UP

Airplanes On Dec. 17, 1903, Orville Wright flew for 12 seconds. It was the culmination of seven years of experiments on powering and controlling a glider by him and his brother Wilbur. Their first public flight was in 1908.

ETC.

Air conditioning Tea bags Neon light Teddy bears Crayola crayons Safety razors Vacuum cleaners Coffee filters

'10s

THE BIG THING

The Assembly Line In 1908 Henry Ford's company was turning out a car every 12 hours. Stockholders were impressed, but Ford wanted more and began experimenting with production-line techniques, moving parts along while each worker performed one task. In 1913 his new plant opened and began producing a Model T every 93 min.; by 1925 that was down to 15 sec. The productivity gains allowed Ford to turn a rich man's plaything into a mass product. By paying $5 an hour, he gave workers enough cash to drive one.

WHAT IT LED TO:

Highways, suburbs, the minimum wage, U.S. economic might, NASCAR, assembly-line robots, the global economy

RUNNER-UP

Supermarkets It all began with a Piggly Wiggly in Memphis, Tenn., in 1916. Clarence Saunders conceived and patented the idea of customers' walking though aisles of goods instead of asking a clerk behind the counter for everything. From there it was a straight leap to Costco.

ETC.

Formica Stainless steel Zippers Tanks Neon lighting Geiger counters Mammography Traffic lights

'20s

THE BIG THING

Television The first show was a glass panel with a line drawn on it. In 1927, as Philo Farnsworth watched a receiver, his brother-in-law turned a slide in front of a camera. "There you are," said Farnsworth, "electronic television." It was not that simple: Farnsworth spent the next two decades fighting with RCA over patent rights, sinking into depression and drinking. He forbade his kids from watching TV, saying there was nothing worthwhile on.

WHAT IT LED TO:

Couch potatoes, newscasts, The Ed Sullivan Show, MTV, VCRs, camcorders, reality TV, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy

RUNNER-UP

Penicillin In 1928 Canadian doctor Alexander Fleming, below, noted that Penicillium mold destroyed colonies of bacteria, proving that medicines could kill disease-causing pathogens inside the body. The true significance was realized in the 1940s when a powder form of the drug was made.

ETC.

Liquid-fuel rockets Band-Aids Synthetic insulin Polygraph Scotch tape Kleenex Iron lungs Bubble gum

'30s

THE BIG THING