6 Worst Inventions of All Time and Why They Failed Miserably
Inventions have transformed our world into the technological behemoth that it is today. However, some inventions don’t always make our lives easier or are useful. They may be created with good intentions, but often these backfire into the worst inventions of all time, which have since guided inventors on what not to make. Keep reading to learn more about these six worst inventions and why they failed.
6. Leaded Gasoline
Starting our list of the worst inventions is leaded gasoline. When you pull into the gas station, you might notice that every pump is labeled “unleaded.” Before this change, gasoline companies used leaded gasoline to get rich for nearly six decades. While tetraethyl lead boosted the octane levels, the safety was questionable. In 1924, 35 men at the Standard Oil Company contracted symptoms of lead poisoning, leading the EPA to phase out lead gasoline completely in 1986.
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5. Asbestos
Fifth on our list of worst inventions is asbestos. At first, the material was thought to be perfect for construction workers, as the mineral fiber excelled at absorption and withstanding higher temperatures. However, those same fibers can become quite dangerous during remodeling or demolition, and inhaling the toxic particles can lead to asbestosis. While most of the asbestos-based construction equipment has been banned by the EPA, many older homes still contain the harmful substance.
4. Hair in a Can
Next up for worst inventions is hair in a can. Yes, you read that right. Hair in a can was hyped for a while on off-hour infomercials, with the spray-on hair supposed to cover up bald spots. In reality, the spray-on hair emitted a fine powder that only looked slightly better than using a can of hair-colored spray paint. Maybe leaving the hair to specialists or embracing your hair loss is the better choice.
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3. DDT
Rounding out the top three worst inventions is DDT. Discovered in 1873, DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) was used widely until 1939 when Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Muller realized its effectiveness as a pesticide in WWII. However, nobody considered the environmental effects of dumping millions of pounds of pesticides each year, or the fact that DDT can cause fertility and neurological problems in humans. DDT was later banned in the U.S. in 1972.
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2. The Parachute Coat
Second on our list of worst inventions is the parachute coat. Franz Reichelt was a tailor, but in the days of powered human flight, he decided to join the craze and create a suit that could be used as a parachute by pilots. Confident his design would work after initial tests with dummies, Reichelt jumped from the lower level of the Eiffel Tower in 1912. Unfortunately, his design failed, and he fell to his death, but thanks to his ideas, we now have wing suits used for base jumping, as well as parachutes and ejector seats for pilots.
1. Hydrogen Airship
Last but not least on our list of worst inventions is the hydrogen airship. Powered flight was booming in the early part of the 20th century, with air balloon travel quickly becoming a means of transport. But it was the emergence of the Zeppelin company that showed massive growth in airship popularity. During the late 20s and early 30s, it was a popular means of travel between Europe and the United States. What hurt the zeppelin was filling the balloons with highly explosive hydrogen gas, leading to the ultimate mishap with the Hindenburg disaster of 1937, ending the age of the airship in an instant.
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