How 20th-Century Science Saved Millions and Reshaped the World

A century ago, scientific breakthroughs began transforming global health and industry. Researchers uncovered the causes of deadly diseases, improved food safety, and revolutionised transportation. Their discoveries also helped prevent large-scale famines and saved millions of lives. In 1900, malnutrition was widespread, with over 80% of children suffering from rickets and half of Chinese labourers in Malaya dying from beriberi. Polish biochemist Casimir Funk identified vitamin deficiencies as the root cause, coining the term vitamin and paving the way for dietary reforms.

Around the same time, Karl Landsteiner’s discovery of blood types made safe transfusions possible. Meanwhile, Hans Goldschmidt’s thermite process allowed railroad tracks to be welded at an atomic level, reducing maintenance costs and improving transport reliability.

The early 20th century also saw devastating crises. A 1921 drought in the Volga River basin triggered a famine, killing five million people. Decades later, India faced a similar disaster when 80% of Bihar’s crops failed in 1966, leaving 60 million at risk. However, upgraded rail networks allowed grain to be transported swiftly, averting mass starvation.

In industry, Herman Pines’ petroleum research led to synthetic plastics and rubbers, reshaping manufacturing. Benno Straus’ 18/8 stainless steel, meanwhile, improved food storage, cutting spoilage rates. Ernst Chain’s work on penicillin turned it into a lifesaving drug, though he warned early on about the rise of antibiotic resistance. These advancements reshaped medicine, agriculture, and infrastructure. Blood transfusions became routine, famines were mitigated through better logistics, and new materials transformed daily life. The discoveries also laid the groundwork for future challenges, from antibiotic resistance to sustainable food storage.