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Podcasts Take Two
The Atlantic lists the 50 greatest tech breakthroughs of all time
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Oct 25, 2013
Listen • 7:42
The Atlantic lists the 50 greatest tech breakthroughs of all time
Our friends at The Atlantic gathered scientists, entrepreneurs, engineers, and historians of technology to rank the top 50 breakthroughs that have shaped modern times.
Sir Alexander Fleming (1881 - 1955), discoverer of penicillin, studies mould cultures in his laboratory at the Wright Fleming Institute in London. Fleming also developed a technique of 'painting' pictures with germs, drawing outlines on small pieces of paper, which would grow into a picture as the microbes multiplied.
Sir Alexander Fleming (1881 - 1955), discoverer of penicillin, studies mould cultures in his laboratory at the Wright Fleming Institute in London. Fleming also developed a technique of 'painting' pictures with germs, drawing outlines on small pieces of paper, which would grow into a picture as the microbes multiplied.
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Peter Purdy/Getty Images
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Our friends at The Atlantic gathered scientists, entrepreneurs, engineers, and historians of technology to rank the top 50 breakthroughs that have shaped modern times.

It's safe to say that fire and the wheel top the list of innovations that have done the most to shape life for humans on Earth.  However, as the old saying goes, what have you done for me lately?

Our friends at The Atlantic were wondering that, too, so they gathered scientists, entrepreneurs, engineers, and historians of technology to rank the top 50 breakthroughs that have shaped modern times.  

James Fallows from the Atlantic joins the show with more.