Those Backward 1950s
Recently someone made reference to the 1950s as being the dark ages. I decided to do some research on those backwards 1950s.
In case you’ve forgotten the major science breakthroughs in the 1950s (or maybe never even knew), here’s a list of some of the important scientific achievements, (listed in chronological order; some more vitally important than others). These achievements are a representative sampling of some of the successful technology and science discovered; Many of these discoveries have had a major impact on our lives.
1950-52:First electric power from U.S. reactor. 2. First U.S. thermonuclear explosion. 3. Introduction of Coast-to-coast TV. 4. Large electronic computer delivered to the Bureau of Census. 5. Automation of the auto industry begins. 6. Bubble chamber for tracking atomic particles created. 7. Discovery of the brain’s arousal system. 8. Heart-lung machine first used on a human. 1953-54 9. Proposed structure of DNA announced. 10. Solar batteries unveiled. 11, Tranquilizers introduced. 12, Introduction of both color and wide-screen TVs. 13. Nike missile revealed. 14. First supersonic flight by a military aircraft. 15. Discovery of reward center in the brain. 1955-56 16. vertical take-off and landing of jet aircraft. 17. Experimental use of oral contraceptives. 18. Mass use of Salk polio vaccine. 19. All-transistor radios introduced. 20. Transatlantic telephone cable introduced. 21. Nuclear-powered submarines unveiled. 1957-58 22. Discovery of cold fusion. 23. Synthetic diamonds produced. 24, First U.S. satellites and ICBM unveiled. 25. Stereo record technology developed. After WWII, a good deal of the money spent on scientific research went to the military, but the military’s discoveries carried over to civilian life and to other branches of science. Military funding for science, in fact, helped develop computer engineering and technologies leading to digital computing. Because it was the military complex’s scientific research that created the computing culture, some say it retains its “Cold War military perspective.”
http://factoidz.com/25-major-scientific-achievements-in-the-1950s-can-we-top-them/
1950
First Modern Credit Card Introduced
First Organ Transplant
1951
Color TV Introduced
1952
Car Seat Belts Introduced
Polio Vaccine Created
1953
DNA Discovered
1954
First Atomic Submarine Launched
Report Says Cigarettes Cause Cancer
Segregation Ruled Illegal in U.S.
1955
Rosa Parks Refuses to Give Up Her Seat on a Bus
1956
T.V. Remote Control Invented
1957
European Economic Community Established
Soviet Satellite Sputnik Launches Space Age
Laika Becomes the First Living Animal to Enter Orbit
1958
NASA Founded
Peace Symbol Created
1959
International Treaty Makes Antarctica Scientific Preserve
http://history1900s.about.com/od/timelines/tp/1950timeline.htm
These are but a few of examples of just how backward we were back in the 1950s.
*2 Kudos*
I think it’s a bit obvious that whomever said the 1950s were the dark ages might be a little bit in the dark themselves… unless they were joking.
In the dark ages, from what I have read of history, someone you meet on the road was about as likely to try to kill you as not. The 1950’s, at least in the US, was nothing even remotely like what the dark ages were about, if you can believe history. And that’s before you even get to the subject of technology.
It’s an impressive list. Things seem to be changing even faster now. Socially, I can understand how many could consider it the dark ages. 😉 Domestic violence was never discussed and American Apartheid was not our proudest moment..
Science for the better part has been very kind to us humans. I vote for science and progress!!!
I told my Momma that someone said the 1950s were dark ages. She is still laughing. Weren’t them the days of castles an knights?
You forgot Ranger Joe cereal. And Prince Valiant comics on Sundays. (is Prince Valiant still around?)
I am glad that some of us are more tolerant now. I pray for a day when we all are more tolerant.
I live in a quiet almost 1950ish, the cleavers could live next door, neighborhood. Except, to my left is a Racially mixed couple and family and to my right is a black family and we have an asian family that lives a little further down the street. Our restaurants do not serve whites only. Yes we have made progress. Is it enough? no. we must keep moving forward.
As far as Science goes. I’m not a big fan. I wish Nuclear Energy had never been discovered. Alot of good boys may have died in the invasion of Japan, but maybe the invasion of Japan would have been realized to be unnecessary.
I would have hoped our love affair with the car would have ended by now and public transportation would be more readily available.
We seem to be going backwards, my friend.
But no the 1950s were hardly the dark ages.
I think we are in the dark ages now….
I wish I had been around in the 50’s….:)
It is debatable whether the development of nuclear power was a good advance or a retrograde step considering the mass destructive power and the continued cancers and deformities caused by it. The structure of DNA i believe was discovered by a woman but her work was credited to her male boss? That is typical of the male dominated 50s. Certainly it was an extension of the pre-existing dark ages for women. I didn’t like the 70s for the same reason. And so we arrive here, and the 1950s got us here? Shame we can’t turn back the clock and take a difference direction.
Éire in the 1950s > http://www.benjaminblackbooks.com/1950sIreland.htm
Those Backward 1950s