Yeast
Category Invention
So lets kick off this exploration into what I call true innovation...!
The first enthralling episode is yeast... this stuff is everywhere and yet it has made such a huge difference to modern man.
From my research it appears the clever Egyptians discovered the properties over 5,000 years go, apparently they have documented they used to leave there dough next to the oven to let it rise.
Whilst they didn't understand the science of it, they definitely knew how to use it... Whilst the original person who noticed this phenomenon will go unnamed they truly are a great innovator.
It wasn't until Louis Pasteur worked out the mystery in 1859 that we really understood that yeast was a living organism and it was responsible for these amazing behaviour.
The next great leap come in the mid 19th century where modern man worked out how to produce a standardise yeast, up until that point it was hit and miss.
Since then we have worked out how to use this humble single celled organism to make bread rise, make wine, then beer and even environmently friendly fuel. Of course the most important creation of all Vegimite...!
Now you will notice I'm calling it an innovation not an invention.... To me invention is the creation of something new... innovation is finding a new way to make something valuable. So invention is the creation of the light bulb, innovation is the guy who worked out how to use the failed glue to make post it notes.
Oh and by the way to give full credit the scientist who invented it was Dr Spencer Silver and the genius who stumbled on the use of the “failed” product was Arthur Fry.
Anyway, the next time you eat a sandwich or have some toast think about how someone 5,000 years ago was clever enough to come up with a way to put that bread on your table.
References
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2791820
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeast
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-it_note
So lets kick off this exploration into what I call true innovation...!
The first enthralling episode is yeast... this stuff is everywhere and yet it has made such a huge difference to modern man.
From my research it appears the clever Egyptians discovered the properties over 5,000 years go, apparently they have documented they used to leave there dough next to the oven to let it rise.
Whilst they didn't understand the science of it, they definitely knew how to use it... Whilst the original person who noticed this phenomenon will go unnamed they truly are a great innovator.
It wasn't until Louis Pasteur worked out the mystery in 1859 that we really understood that yeast was a living organism and it was responsible for these amazing behaviour.
The next great leap come in the mid 19th century where modern man worked out how to produce a standardise yeast, up until that point it was hit and miss.
Since then we have worked out how to use this humble single celled organism to make bread rise, make wine, then beer and even environmently friendly fuel. Of course the most important creation of all Vegimite...!
Now you will notice I'm calling it an innovation not an invention.... To me invention is the creation of something new... innovation is finding a new way to make something valuable. So invention is the creation of the light bulb, innovation is the guy who worked out how to use the failed glue to make post it notes.
Oh and by the way to give full credit the scientist who invented it was Dr Spencer Silver and the genius who stumbled on the use of the “failed” product was Arthur Fry.
Anyway, the next time you eat a sandwich or have some toast think about how someone 5,000 years ago was clever enough to come up with a way to put that bread on your table.
References
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2791820
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeast
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-it_note
Comments
Posted by The Old Boss At 11:44:03 AM On 28/05/2007 | - Website - |
Nice to hear from ya old boss
Matt
Posted by Matt At 04:28:12 PM On 28/05/2007 | - Website - |