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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Invention and Innovation summary
Vaclav Smil
A Brief History of Hype and Failure
21 mins
Brief summary
Invention and Innovation by Vaclav Smil examines how technological breakthroughs shape societies. It delves into the processes behind scientific advancements, highlighting their impact on economic growth and addressing the complexities of fostering sustainable innovation.
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Invention and Innovation
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The hidden cost of leaded gasoline
In the 1920s, car engines suffered from a problem called knocking – dangerous mini-explosions that damaged engines and reduced efficiency. Researcher Thomas Midgley discovered that tiny amounts of tetraethyl lead, or TEL, could solve this problem while improving fuel economy. General Motors cleverly marketed it as ethyl gas, avoiding any mention of lead in spite of its evident toxicity, which had been well-documented even in ancient times.
What’s interesting is that better alternatives already existed. Ethanol completely prevented knocking and was even championed by Henry Ford himself. Benzene blends worked just as well. Yet TEL won out because it offered complete corporate control through patents and cost just pennies per gallon.
When health concerns emerged, they were quickly brushed aside. In 1924, five workers died from acute lead exposure at a processing plant. Experts warned that no lead industry had ever successfully eliminated work hazards, but after a rushed seven-month study, production simply resumed.
The environmental impact was enormous. From 1945 to 1975, the US alone added about 4.7 million tons of lead to the environment. This global contamination continued until 2021, when Algeria finally became the last country to ban leaded fuel.
Children suffered the most. Research eventually showed that even tiny lead exposures reduced IQ scores, reading ability, attention span, and motor skills, with no safe level ever identified. These effects hit children from poorer backgrounds hardest, denying millions an equal chance for healthy brain development.
The phaseout only began in the 1970s, driven mainly by the introduction of catalytic converters, which stopped working when exposed to lead. Today, ethanol – one of those originally rejected alternatives – has become our main anti-knock additive.
This story goes to show how short-term technological advantages can hide deep societal costs that span generations, especially when powerful companies influence public policy.
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What is Invention and Innovation about?
Invention and Innovation (2023) examines the complex history of human invention, offering a sober analysis that distinguishes between genuine innovation and overhyped promises. It explores various categories of inventions – those that failed to dominate as promised, those that turned disastrous, and those long-promised but not yet realized – along with a pragmatic wish list of inventions urgently needed to address 21st century challenges.
Who should read Invention and Innovation?
- Cautious technology investors seeking realistic market assessments
- Curious historians studying technological development patterns
- Anyone interested in technology’s past and future
Categories with Invention and Innovation
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