Category Archives: Inventions

Gasoline

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Gasoline

If it doesn’t run on diesel, it’ll probably run on gasoline.

  • Gasoline is a liquid fuel used to power engines that produce power through the process of combustion, and it is commonly used in vehicles like automobiles, as well as lawn mowers.
  • ‘Gasoline’ is also known as ‘petrol’ or ‘petroleum’, and also by the general term ‘fuel’, and the product is a combination of hydrogen and carbon, a ‘hydrocarbon’.
  • Although gasoline is generally produced clear in colour, it is sometimes dyed yellow, purple, orange or red to visually distinguish between fuel types and grades.
  • Gasoline is sourced from crude oil, or ‘petroleum’ as it is also known, and the oil undergoes a distilling process which produces kerosene among other products, and the petrol produced is a by-product of this process.
  • The raw gasoline distilled from oil is generally unsuitable for use in engines as it causes engine knocking, and so to remedy this, chemical additives are included in the mixture, and these were originally lead based chemicals until leaded-fuels where banned in most countries from the 1970s onwards.

Petrol, Gasoline, Petroleum, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Red, Liquid, Fuel, Cup, Code, Invention

  • Significant amounts of carbon dioxide are released on combustion of gasoline, and this, as well as the toxic nature of petrol leaks, and the non-renewable source of the fuel, has led it to be marked as not environmentally friendly.
  • Gasoline contains around 15 different chemicals that are poisonous to humans on consumption, and the fuel gives off a strong vapour which is toxic to humans if inhaled, although some people deliberately sniff the substance and as a result, petrol called ‘Opal’, that has a much reduced odour, has been introduced to some areas where sniffing is a serious problem.
  • In 1859, the American oil driller Edwin Drake, is said to have distilled the first gasoline, although he disposed of it under the assumption it would be of no use; and it was not until the 1890s that it was first used in automobiles.
  • After a year or so, gasoline is generally rendered too unstable and thus unusable for most engines, and is best disposed ofor used with the addition of fresh fuel, although a stabiliser can be added to fuel to extend its shelf life.
  • Gasoline is widely available at service stations, and in 2015 it cost between 50 cents and $7 US dollars for 3.8 litres (1 gallon) depending on the country, and the fuel is notoriously more expensive in Europe.
Bibliography:
Bellis M, History of Gasoline, 2015, About Money, http://inventors.about.com/od/gstartinventions/a/gasoline.htm
Gasoline, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline
Gasoline (Petrol), n.d, AMMA Resource Industry Employment Group, http://www.miningoilgasjobs.com.au/oil-gas-energy/hydrocarbons-and-energy/hydrocarbons/oil-and-gas/downstream/gasoline.aspx
History of Gasoline, 2014, US Energy Information Administration, http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=gasoline_history

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Candle

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Candle

Shadows flicker in the light of the candles.

  • A candle is an invention that was originally purposed primarily to provide light using a burning flame and wax, and they are typically cylindrical in shape, and can be wide, short, thin or long, although other moulded shapes are also available.
  • Candles generally consist of two primary parts, a wick, which the flame travels along, and the actual wax, which holds the wick and fuels the flame.
  • A variety of different waxes can be used to make candles, and historically bees wax; rendered animal fat, known as ‘tallow’, from sheep or cattle; wax obtained from whales, known as ‘spermaceti’; and plant based wax, were used, while modern candles are mostly made from paraffin that originates from petroleum and other products.
  • It is believed that the Ancient Romans were the first to make traditional style dipped candles, as early as 500 BC, while various methods and materials have been used over the centuries by other civilisations.
  • Candles usually do not need outside assistance once lit, as the flame is fueled by the wax melting and vaporising, which is caused by the heat it produces, combined with the atmospheric oxygen.
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Candles
Image courtesy of Esteban Chiner/Flickr
  • When modern candles burn, the wick will generally self-combust slowly, due to it curling over as it does so, and this type of wick is known as a ‘self-trimming wick’, while past versions required the wick to be trimmed for the candle to burn efficiently.
  • The term ‘candle’ originates from the Latin words ‘candela’ and ‘candere’ meaning ‘torch’ or ‘light’, and ‘to shine’ respectively.
  • Candles have been and can be used for the purpose of producing heat, and the flame has a temperature that ranges on average 1000°C to 1400°C (1832°F to 2552°F), and while the wax does not get that hot, care should be taken when using the invention, as the wax can burn skin, and the exposed flame can cause a fire.
  • Time has been measured through the use of candles, often by markings on the invention, and sometimes with weights placed periodically in the wax that would drop and clang on a solid object, once the surrounding wax had melted.
  • Candles in the modern era are often used for decorative purposes or to generate an atmosphere for celebratory purposes especially on cake; in ceremonies; for romantic purposes; or to enhance the general mood of a room, and they are also used in an emergency when electric lighting fails.
Bibliography:
Candle, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candle
History of Candles, 2015, National Candle Association, http://candles.org/history/
History of Candles, 2015, History of Lighting, http://www.historyoflighting.net/lighting-history/history-of-candles/

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Chopsticks

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Chopsticks

Have you mastered the art of chopsticks?

  • Chopsticks are an invention used to handle food, often to move food from a plate to one’s mouth for the purpose of eating, but also moving or stirring food in cooking, and East Asian countries are the main users of the utensil.
  • Chopsticks are usually used in pairs held in a single hand, and they are long and generally a tapered rod shape.
  • The Ancient Chinese are believed to have invented chopsticks, most likely between 2000 and 1100 BC, and were thought to have initially used them mainly in cooking, and it was not until around the 5th century AD when people used the utensil for eating purposes.
  • Typically chopsticks are created out of wood, plastic, bamboo or stainless steel, although other materials such as gold, brass, jade, ivory, porcelain and silver may be used.
  • Chopsticks range from 18 to 40 centimetres (7 to 16 inches) in length, and generally have a flat or pointed end, and the styles and lengths vary depending on the country of origin and their purpose, where the Chinese ones are generally longer and flat on the end, whereas the Japanese ones are usually shorter and have pointed ends.

Chopstick, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Utensil, Invention, Eating, Assortment, Plastic, Wooden, Disposable

  • To hold chopsticks, the bottom stick is laid between the thumb and index finger and rested on the ring finger and is left immobile, while the second is held between the the thumb, index and middle fingers, and pushed in an up-and-down motion to obtain food.
  • ‘Chopsticks’ are also known as ‘zhu’ in Ancient Chinese, though today they are called ‘kuaizi’ in Chinese and ‘hashi’ in Japanese.
  • Chopsticks are often disposable, with the highest user being the nation of Japan, with 24 billion disposed of annually in the country, most of which are imported from China.
  • China manufactures the greatest amount of disposable chopsticks in the world, with roughly 45 billion produced each year, which equates to around 25 million trees, and as such, they have added a tax on the utensils, to discourage their popular use.
  • Due to the repetitive usage requirements of chopsticks, common users of the utensil have a marginally increased likelihood of developing osteoarthritis in the hand.
Bibliography:
Butler S, A Brief History of Chopsticks, 2013, History.com, http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/a-brief-history-of-chopsticks
Chopsticks, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chopsticks
Chopsticks, n.d, Asian ArtMall, http://www.asianartmall.com/chopstickshistory.htm

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Sock

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Sock

Instead of putting socks in someone’s mouth, put some in their brain.

  • A sock is a popular article of clothing designed to fit on a human foot, and it is usually sold in a pair, that match in colour and style, so that both feet can be covered by them.
  • People wear socks for a number of reasons, including keeping feet warm; absorbing sweat; increasing foot comfort in shoes; and as a fashion accessory; and they are used in sport and hiking to protect the leg area from abrasions.
  • The English term ‘sock’ comes from ‘socc’, an Old English term, meaning ‘light shoe’ or ‘slipper’, which originates from ‘soccus’, a Latin word that has an almost identical meaning.
  • Socks are found in a wide range of lengths, including foot, ankle, shin and knee lengths, with some reaching the thigh, although these items are generally named ‘stockings’.
  • Synthetic and natural fibres are generally used to make socks, including nylon, silk, wool, linen, polyester and cotton, while thousands of years ago, leather or cloth fabric wrapped around one’s feet, or felted animal hair, were used.

Sock, Clothing, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Invention, Assortment, Pairs, Pink, Red, White, Black,

  • Socks come in a wide variety of colours, and they can be plain, patterned or feature an image, while some are host to protruding ornaments like bows and pompoms, or trimmed with items like decorative lace.
  • The use of socks made from felt in Ancient Greece around the 700s BC is evident, and a knitted pair of Egyptian ones have been found that date back to 200 to 500 AD.
  • A knitting machine was invented in 1589 by William Lee, an English clergyman, that quickened the production of socks, although the process was not widely adopted until the late 1700s and early 1800s, and eventually machines completely replaced hand knitting.
  • A sock is generally a flexible enclosed item with a small opening at the upper end where the foot is inserted, although some versions of the clothing are flat cloth wrapped around the foot, while others have separated toe pockets.
  • Between 400 and 1300 AD, socks became a popular accessory and were adopted by many Europeans, especially the wealthy; and in modern times, socks, which are generally machine knitted, have become readily available and inexpensive in the Western world.
Bibliography:
F Nancy, A Brief History of Socks and Hand-knitted Footwear, 1997, Crofters, http://www.crofters.org/personal%20essays/history%20socks.htm
Sock, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sock
Sock History, n.d, Lonely Sock, http://www.lonelysock.com/SockHistory.html

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Smoke Detector

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Smoke Detector

Have you checked your smoke detector for working batteries recently?

  • Smoke detectors are an invention used to detect smoke, and particularly to warn of the danger of a fire, and in 2013, approximately 93% of households in the United States had the device in their home.
  • There are three main types of smoke detectors used to sense fire dangers, including those that use photoelectric or optical sensing; ionisation which uses radioactive elements; and air sampling known as ‘aspirating’ detectors or ASD.
  • Smoke detectors sometimes have a mix of two types of sensors – photoelectric and ionisation – as different sensors perform better during different stages of a fire, with the former being best during smouldering stages, and the latter during flaming stages.
  • Smoke detectors are often installed in both commercial and domestic buildings; and they are usually found in the centre of a ceiling, in hallways, on each building level, as well as in or near sleeping quarters.
  • Approximately 30% of smoke detectors in households will fail to function during an actual fire danger, primarily due to the detector malfunctioning because of age, battery removals and dead batteries.

Smoke Detector, On, Green, Fire Alarm, Trivia, Random Facts, Ten, White, Ceiling, Domestic, House

  • The size of a common disc-shaped smoke detector is usually around 15 centimetres (6 inches) in diameter and 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) deep, and they are generally encased in a plastic, cylindrical cover.
  • Americans Francis Upton, an acquaintance of Thomas Edison, and Fernando Dibble are widely recognised as the inventors of the first portable electric fire alarm, an early smoke detector which was patented in 1890, although other fire alarms were in existence at the time.
  • A heat-based detector was invented in 1902 by George Andrew Darby from England, while the birth of the ionised smoke detector occurred during the 1930s, and was accidentally discovered by Walter Jaeger, from Switzerland, after his unsuccessful gas detector reacted to cigarette smoke.
  • After decades of development, domestic smoke detectors became more readily available and more affordable in the 1970s, while a number of countries now have laws that require the device in all public buildings and private dwellings.
  • Smoke detectors primarily alert through noise, often around 85 decibels with a piercing alarm sound, although voice, lights, and futuristic ideas like vibrations can also be utilised.
Bibliography:
Types of Smoke Alarms, 2015, Department of Fire & Emergency Services, http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/safetyinformation/fire/fireinthehome/Pages/typesofsmokealarms.aspx
Smoke Detector, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoke_detector

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Plate

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Plate

Have a plate for your bread and a plate for your roast.

  • Plates are an invention used to serve food in both a household and a commercial setting, both to increase presentation but also for practical purposes.
  • Plates are generally quite flat with a slight bowl or dip spreading from the centre, which is where food is generally served.
  • The three main sections that make up a plate are the rim, which is the outermost edge; the base, the underneath surface where the dishware rests; and the well, where the food is placed.
  • A variety of materials can be used to make plates including ceramics, metal, glass, cardboard, wood and plastic, while cardboard is generally used for those that are used once only and disposed of, and some plastic ones are also made with this purpose in mind.
  • Plates come in a wide variety of sizes, generally ranging from 10 to 36 centimetres (4 to 14 inches) in diameter, and the most common are usually between 25.5 to 30.5 centimetres (10 to 12 inches); and the size generally determines its use.

Plate, invention, Utensil, Food, Ten Random Facts, Assortment, Ceramic, Glass, Trivia, Ten Random Facts

  • Early plates were likely natural items such as large shells or big leaves, and old bread was also utilised, while wood, pewter, silver and clay items were later employed for this purpose, however they were designed for communal use, rather than as individual pieces.
  • Stereotypically, plates are of a round shape, although some cultures prefer a rectangular or ellipse shape, and square ones are not uncommon.
  • The Chinese created plates from porcelain through the ceramic process in the 7th century, and these were made available to Europeans from the 1300s, although it was not until the 1700s that Europeans started making the products themselves.
  • Some people collect plates as a hobby, although they are usually used to hold a wide variety of food, including main meals, entrees, buffets and bread; while a small one designed to hold a cup is known as a ‘saucer’.
  • In European countries, porcelain plates were originally reserved for those of wealthy status due to their expense and limited availability due to the product being made in China, however, they became affordable and readily available in the 1800s due to more efficient manufacturing processes.
Bibliography:
Carrol M, The History of Dinner Plates, 2015, eHow, http://www.ehow.com/facts_7728332_history-dinner-plates.html
The History Behind Your Plate, 2014, HubPages, http://nanlt.hubpages.com/hub/history-of-the-plate
Plate (dishware), 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_(dishware)

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