I think it's impossible to choose just one. That's not a cop-out, just a
historian's recognition that life is not so easily reducible. For one thing,
almost every important invention had negative unintended consequences, which
should be taken into the equation somehow.
I think we could easily compile a list, however, without feeling any need to
artificially select out a single uber-invention while knowing that we were
painting with just one color instead of using the entire spectrum.
Tom Beck
I'd nominate such things as (in no especial order) the printing press, the
microscope, the telescope, artificial refrigeration, the elevator,
antibiotics, the steam engine, the telegraph, the telephone, metal alloys,
pasteurization, vaccinations, and cheesecake. Definitely cheesecake.
