What would you say is the top scientific breakthrough in the last 50 years?

[Lamp]

Inspired by tonight's BBC programme

BBC Science - Latest in new science and science technology

I'll give you the same 10 choices...

So, which is the most important?

 

[Punishment]

It's gotta be the internet

 

[ECA]

Dildonics.

 

[Thorwyn]

Depends on the perspective I´d say.
Most impact on today´s world: the Internet.
Impact on future generations: Decoding the human DNA.

 

[megadave]

link is wrong? :O

 

[Thorwyn]

hm... come to think about it...
I always thought that stemm cell research is more or less a direct "follow up" of decoding the humand DNA?!

 

[Raven]

Tinternets

 

[Zenith.UK]

Microchips.
Without microchips, we wouldn't have space exploration, computers, internet, mobile phones or anything that needs computing power (such as decoding the human genome, MRI scanners, modelling the universe etc).

 

[Olgaline]

Hammer pants

 

[ileks]

Microchips.
Without microchips, we wouldn't have space exploration, computers, internet, mobile phones or anything that needs computing power (such as decoding the human genome, MRI scanners, modelling the universe etc).

Agreed tbh.

 

[Ch3tan]

What Thorwyn said about the human genome work, but then I realised Zenith is very right too

 

[cHodAX]

None of the others happen without the microchip, end of story.

 

[Punishment]

Microchips.
Without microchips, we wouldn't have space exploration, computers, internet, mobile phones or anything that needs computing power (such as decoding the human genome, MRI scanners, modelling the universe etc).

They are tasty if you stuck for a bite not enough in the boxes tbh, surely you can think of a better invention ?

 

[Olgaline]

None of the others happen without the microchip, end of story.

I'm preaty sure "the pill" would have been invented

 

[Septima]

The human genome is the most relevant in the last 50 years, stem cell research will be the one in the next 50, it's too early to see all the consequences and benefits from that research now.

The other 8 are very relevant too, but microchip and internet p.e. are not really linked to what we really are as humans ... if i make myself understood. They are usefull and challenging but are only tools, human genome decoding tells about us and give us an incredible insight from our own nature.
Stem cell research got the potential to really rock our world, as we at this moment, see it. But like i said, it's too early to really embrace all possibilities coming from that research yet.

 

[Calaen]

The thing is though Sept the microchip is a fucking good tool to have to help us move forward with all other research!

 

[Lamp]

For what its worth, Professor Robert Winston voted for increased understanding about the Big Bang

 

[Septima]

The thing is though Sept the microchip is a fucking good tool to have to help us move forward with all other research!

I totally aggree with that, but i "only" see it as a tool. The origins of the big bang and the human genome are related to the ultimate scientific and philosophical question: who are we?
And from my point of view, that is what science is all about.

Nevertheless, if in the meanwhile i can have a discussion with another person thousand km away, using a computer that i can handle in my hand...well, i still realize that it's f***ing amazing and glad scientists made this breakthroughs

 

[tierk]

None of the above.

Sliced Bread

 

[Punishment]

Extra large condoms , lolzolozlzozllzlolzolzozlzozlzolz , no seriously

 

[Ezteq]

where the hell is the option for krispy kreme donuts fgs???


other than that I'd have to say the interweb, it has changed society and the way people think and function in so many ways that people now do not even think about it. Also getting the ability to access and share information so easily has probably facilitated a lot of the other developments.

 

[ford prefect]

The Microchip - Robert Noyce gets 10 out of 10 for thinking outside the box on that one.

 

[Appollo]

They are tasty if you stuck for a bite not enough in the boxes tbh, surely you can think of a better invention ?

2 boxes for 5 mins = win

 

[old.Tohtori]

Casual sex *nod*

 

[xomer]

internet ofc !

 

[Shagrat]

gotta be either the microchip, you wouldnt have the internet, etc, etc, without that, or

decoding the human genome, just beccause of the massive implications that will have on our future development as a species. Extended life, cures to various diseases, designer children, growing new body organs, even cloning yourself should anything happen to you, the possiblities are endless.

 

[megadave]

it's definitely the fleshlight

 

[georgie]

it's definitely the fleshlight

Sooo outdated masturbation technology... Join the future, Dave.

Spoiler

YouTube - Tenga Fliphole

Though it does look kinda scary mind you.

 

[ECA]

Fliphole is so 2009.

YouTube - TENGA EGG

 

[TdC]

Sooo outdated masturbation technology... Join the future, Dave.

Spoiler

YouTube - Tenga Fliphole

Though it does look kinda scary mind you.

I bought one of those after some friends of mine dared me to during a pub night. Funny thing was that my female friends were much more curious/disbelieving about it than my male friends. I'd have thought the reverse to be more probable.

to the impressionable ladies I mentioned that it was *much* more awesome than the real thing, that I was ruined for all women, no comparison, etc. they didn't believe me. then I went on to mention the extra but not-mentioned perk of it not being able to speak, and thus not complaining when you stored it away after use. that they *did* believe, but as none of them have spoken to me again after I said this...well....

to the impressionable men I mentioned the same. they *did* believe me