I learned about four inventions this week and they were ether, the fax machine, the iron steam passenger ship, and the ice cream maker. First, I learned about ether. Anesthesia goes back to ancient history and was pain relief gained by ritual, herbs, or procedures. The inventor of ether, Clawford Long, born in Georgia in 1815, spent many years learning to become a doctor. Ether is an anesthesia for surgery and makes it pain free. James Simpson was inspired by ether to invent chloroform for use in childbirth.

Second, I learned about the fax machine. It was hard to make copies in the old world. They had to be copied by hand. The inventor of the fax machine, Alexander Bain, born in Scotland in 1811, learned about electromagnetic field theory. A fax machine is a device that transmits data as audio signals. Fax machines scan and reproduce documents. Fax machines connected the telephone industry with computers.

Third, I learned about the iron steam passenger ships. Sailing across the sea was treacherous and was impossible to sail upstream before steam ships. The inventor of the steam ships, Isambard Bunel, born in England in 1806, was an apprentice to a clockmaker and educated by both his father and school. Steam ships are large ships that transport people and cargo long distances. It used propellers instead of the paddle wheel. It enhanced the industrial revolution and led to gilded ages. 

Finally, I learned about the ice cream maker. Ancient cultures made different kinds of ice cream. The inventor of the ice cream maker was Nancy Johnson. The hand cranked ice cream maker is a machine with a movable crank with a center paddle. Salt lowers the melting rate of ice. The blade scrapes ice cream from the wall. Multi million–dollar companies exist just to sell ice cream.