The Genius of Invention: Ideas That Changed the World

Michael Mosley and team pick twelve inventions and explore how they have changed the way we live our lives. They explain how these inventions came about—from sparks of genius to steady incremental improvements hammered out in workshops—and separate myth from reality in the lives of the great inventors. The four-part series starts with the story of power and three of the most transformative inventions of all time: the steam engine, the electrical generator, and the steam turbine. The second program reveals the fascinating chain of events that made global travel possible. In episode three, the team explores how the electric telegraph, the telephone, and wireless communication transformed the way we speak to each other. Finally the series looks at a defining characteristic of our times; the ability to see and record live events anywhere in the world.

Power: The Genius of Invention - Ideas That Changed the World

In the first episode, the team tell the story of the handful of extraordinary inventors and inventions who helped build the modern world by understanding, harnessing, and using power. Coming from Dracks, the U.K.’s largest power station, it tells the amazing story of three of the greatest and most transformative inventions of all time: the steam engine, the electrical generator, and the steam turbine. 

Speed: The Genius of Invention - Ideas That Changed the World

In the second program, the team reveals the fascinating chain of events that made the everyday marvel of quick and safe global travel possible. Coming from the Rolls Royce aero-engine factory Michael Mosley and team tell the amazing story of three more era-defining inventions: the steam locomotive, the internal combustion engine, and the jet engine. 

Communications: The Genius of Invention - Ideas That Changed the World

In episode three, the team explores how nothing shrunk the globe more than our extraordinary ability to talk to one another across the oceans and continents. They reveal the fascinating chain of events that made such everyday miracles possible by telling the story of the extraordinary inventors who harnessed electricity and electromagnetism. Their brilliance led to three transformative inventions: the electric telegraph, the telephone, and wireless communication.

Visual Image: The Genius of Invention - Ideas That Changed the World

This final episode looks at a defining characteristic of our times: the ability to see and record live events anywhere in the world. It makes virtual neighbors of us all and is a fundamental part of our modern society. This program tells the story of the inventors who tackled the complexities of chemistry and electronics and discovered how to capture and reproduce still and moving images. Their brilliance led to our final three genius inventions: still photography, moving pictures, and finally, television.

Grade: 9-12

The Genius of Invention: Ideas That Changed the World (DVD)
© 2013
Time: 50 each Minutes