Embedded Files
Communication Technologies
Pre-Internet: TV and radio ads promoted long-distance phone calls.
Mobile Technology: By the 1990s, cellphones allowed global communication.
Social Media: Platforms like Twitter and Facebook revolutionized information sharing.
Impact: Videos of police actions sparked inquiries and outrage; social media fueled the Arab Spring protests in North Africa and the Middle East.
Transportation Advancements
Air Travel: Approximately 2 million people fly daily.
Cargo Planes: Facilitate around-the-clock commercial shipments.
Giant Tankers: Transport thousands of shipping containers globally, some too large for the Panama Canal.
The Green Revolution
Agricultural Advances
New Varieties: Developed higher-yield, pest-resistant grains through crossbreeding and genetic engineering.
Farming Techniques: Increased use of irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides; mechanized equipment reduced farm labor jobs.
Challenges
Economic Inequality: Small farmers often couldn't afford new technologies and were forced to sell their land.
Environmental Damage: Heavy chemical use harmed soil and ecosystems.
Genetic Engineering Concerns: Potential decline in pollinating insects and loss of old seed varieties.
Energy Technologies
Fossil Fuels
Early 20th Century: Coal, petroleum, and natural gas became dominant energy sources.
Environmental Impact: Contributed to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Nuclear Power: Clean energy but with risks of accidents and hazardous waste.
Renewable Energy
Development: Wind and solar power are emerging but still only account for 5% of global energy consumption.
Challenges: Technologies continue to evolve to reduce carbon emissions and minimize nuclear power hazards.
Medical Innovations
Antibiotics
Penicillin: Discovered in 1928, became the first antibiotic, revolutionizing the treatment of bacterial infections.
Antibiotic Resistance: Overuse led to the evolution of resistant strains, posing a threat of renewed epidemics.
Birth Control
Birth Control Pill: Developed in the early 1950s, approved in 1960, led to declining fertility rates and reshaped gender roles.
Global Impact: By 2018, over 300 million women were using modern contraception.
Vaccines
Development and Distribution: Widespread vaccination efforts began after 1900, significantly reducing diseases like polio, measles, and smallpox.
Impact: Vaccines prevent millions of deaths annually; better coverage could save even more lives.
Google Sites
Report abuse