Whether we like it or not, interstate conflicts have always been a driving force of technology. Here are the most interesting examples that later found their way into the home, garage, or even the pocket of an ordinary person.
There are few inventions of humanity worse than wars and armed conflicts. Unfortunately, the truth is that disagreement is in human nature, and skillful management of the concepts of “us” and “them” has for millennia given the government support in conducting military operations. However, on the battlefield, you don’t always win with tactics, but often with technology. Coming to a gunfight with a sword wouldn’t be a good idea. It so happens that this desire to be one development step ahead of the opponent has been the driving force behind many technological revolutions. It often happens that equipment is first created for the army and later comes into common use. Here are the most interesting examples of this.
First the army, then the citizen. Here are the most interesting examples of military technologies in everyday life
Much is said about the impact of military technologies on everyday life. Computers, GPS, and the Internet itself are examples that everyone can cite. However, some of these inventions can be found in the kitchen, garage, first aid kit, and even in a woman’s handbag.
One of the most surprising examples is the microwave oven. Its history began with radars used during World War II. Engineer Percy Spencer worked on magnetrons, the elements responsible for generating microwaves in radar systems. While experimenting, he noticed that the bar in his pocket began to melt. A simple accident that led to a real kitchen revolution.
Drones have followed an equally interesting path. Just a dozen or so years ago, they were associated almost exclusively with the army and battlefield reconnaissance. Today we can buy them in an electronics store and use them to record holiday videos, inspect roofs, map areas or monitor crops.
The famous adhesive tape was also created for the needs of the army. During World War II, the American military needed durable, waterproof tape to secure ammunition boxes. The solution turned out to be so universal that it was available in stores after the war. Today it would be difficult to imagine a household with at least one roller skate on hand.
The history of the wristwatch is similar. Although the first models appeared earlier, for a long time pocket models were considered more practical. Only soldiers fighting on the fronts of World War I showed that the ability to quickly check the time without reaching into your pocket is of great importance. After the war, the fashion for wristwatches spread rapidly.
Freeze-dried food, EpiPen, and worm remedies
They also have military roots freeze-dried food products. Armies have long been looking for a way to provide soldiers with light, durable and nutritious food. The technology of removing water by freezing and drying in a vacuum turned out to be a hit. Today, freeze-dried meals are the basis of a student’s diet and are not necessarily healthy, but a cheap and quick meal when you do not want to prepare a full-fledged dish.
The history of automatic injectors, such as the famous EpiPen, is also interesting. Their creation was directly inspired by technology developed for the military, which during the Cold War was looking for a quick way to administer antidotes to soldiers in the event of a chemical attack. Civilian inventor Sheldon Kaplan used this idea to create an adrenaline administration device in the 1970s that is now saving the lives of allergy sufferers.
Summer is beautiful, but insects can be unmerciful. Then you take a repellant and you have relative peace. Well, insecticides are also an initially military technology. Soldiers fighting in tropical regions of the world were exposed not only to the enemy, but also to mosquitoes carrying dangerous diseases. Intensive research has led to the creation of effective repellents, which we now take with us on every summer trip.
Chance also played a big role in the discovery of Super Glue. Scientists working on new materials for the military industry have found a substance with extremely strong adhesive properties. The idea was that it would be a means of quickly and firmly gluing wounds together. Now it’s mostly used to stick your fingers together while you’re trying to stick something else together.
Finally, it is worth mentioning: WD-40. The preparation was created in the 1950s while working on the protection of rocket elements and aviation equipment against corrosion. Today, it’s hard to find a garage or workshop without a distinctive can.
Graphics: depositphotos.com
