The 25 inventions that have changed the world in the past 25 years
In 2000, when the editors of Time magazine sat down to select the top three inventions of the year, they unexpectedly discovered many fascinating innovations. Eventually, dozens of them were included, ranging from unbreakable light bulbs to more easily recyclable paper. This initiated the magazine's tradition of seeking the most exciting innovations every year. Over the past 25 years, they have documented hundreds of inventions that have transformed human life. In 2025, Time first released the "Hall of Fame of the World's Best Inventions," carefully selecting 25 of the most iconic inventions from the past quarter - century. This list covers multiple fields such as healthcare, digital technology, consumer goods, and aerospace. Let's take a look back at these great innovations that have shaped the modern world.
#1 Healthcare: From Contraception to the Genetic Code
1. NuvaRing Contraceptive Ring: More Choices for Women (2001)
"Some women hate taking pills, and some are afraid of implants or injections." In 2001, a new form of contraception entered the market - the NuvaRing contraceptive ring. It is a thin and flexible plastic ring that women can flatten like a rubber band and insert themselves once a month. After years of stagnation in contraceptive technology, this innovation expanded women's options. It is more convenient than taking daily pills and more flexible and controllable than intrauterine devices. Although it paid a $100 million settlement in 2014 due to potential blood - clot risks, more than 20 years later, about 2 million prescriptions for the NuvaRing contraceptive ring are still written in the United States each year.
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2. LifeStraw: A Straw That Saves Lives (2005)
It looks like an ordinary straw and costs only $3 to manufacture, but inside, it hides a seven - layer filtration system, including mesh, iodine, and activated carbon. It can prevent water - borne diseases that cause at least 2 million deaths each year. Whether it's the victims of natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes or weekend outdoor enthusiasts, they can all benefit from it. As Time said, "The price of a latte can really save a life."
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3. 23andMe: Decoding the Genetic Mysteries (2008)
For $399 and a saliva sample, you can assess your susceptibility to more than 90 traits and diseases. In 2008, personal genetic testing services turned the genetic fingerprint, once accessible only to elite researchers, into a service that anyone could order online. This initiated the revolution in personal genomics, not only changing the way we take care of ourselves but also redefining what personal information is. Although the company later faced bankruptcy and restructuring, it has decoded the genetic codes that shape more than 15 million people.
Image source: Courtesy 23andMe
4. mRNA Vaccines: The Fastest Medical Miracle in History (2020)
"Testing new technologies during a pandemic may not be the best time, but that's exactly what the experts behind the COVID - 19 vaccines were doing - and the results were encouraging." The new method based on mRNA, a genetic material, is both fast and flexible. Vaccine manufacturers don't need to cultivate or manipulate the virus; they only need its genetic sequence. The virus's genetic sequence was announced in January 2020, volunteers began receiving vaccinations in May, and it was approved by the FDA in December, breaking the previous 4 - year vaccine development record, not to mention the more than 10 years usually required.
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5. Semaglutide: An Unexpected Weight - Loss Drug (2023)
Novo Nordisk's drugs in this category were originally developed for patients with type 2 diabetes to control blood sugar by helping with weight loss. But it's only recently that their weight - loss effects have made them the most sought - after prescription drugs. These appetite suppressants have completely changed the discussion about weight loss and health. While sparking controversy, they have also led about 12% of Americans to try these drugs.
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6. Double Nerve Bypass: Restoring Sensation for Paralyzed Patients (2024)
In a groundbreaking surgery, scientists implanted a microchip into a patient's brain, connecting thoughts with arm movements and creating a two - way connection, allowing signals to be transmitted in both directions. Now, Keith Thomas, who was paralyzed in a pool accident, can open his palm, raise his arm, flex his biceps, and even pet his dog and feel the texture of its fur.
Image source: TIME
#2 Digital: From Pockets to the Cloud
7. iRobot Roomba: Making Vacuuming a Breeze (2002)
"Let's face it, vacuuming is a hassle," Time commented in 2002. This disc - shaped robot navigates using sensors and is powered by a rechargeable battery. "It roams around your home completely autonomously, sucking up dust and scattered cereal, and can even get under beds and sofas where humans can't reach." The best part is that "after finishing cleaning the room, the Roomba will proudly beep and then automatically turn off." So far, the company has sold more than 50 million robots.
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8. YouTube: The People's Network (2006)
In April 2005, YouTube started hosting video clips. The first uploaded video was a 19 - second zoo tour called "Me at the zoo." By the following autumn, 70,000 videos were being uploaded every day. Now, it's more than 20 million per day. The founders "pieced together a simple program that allows videos in any format to play on almost any browser on any computer." Later, when Google acquired it for $1.65 billion, Time wrote, "The videos may not be of high quality, but they are real... Authenticity is the standard on YouTube. That's why celebrities like Paris Hilton have to compete with a sleepy kitten - and they might lose."
Image source: Geof Kern for TIME
9. iPhone: Invention of the Year (2007)
In June 2007, Apple released the iPhone, and people went crazy for it. It came in two versions: 4GB ($499) and 8GB ($599). Time called it "part of a new relationship with computers," reflecting Steve Jobs' fundamental insight that "good design is actually as important as good technology." By the time the article was published that year, 1.4 million iPhones had been sold. Now, the global sales exceed 3 billion.
Image source: TIME
10. Google Street View: Virtual Strolls (2007)
"It places dynamic 360 - degree panoramic views of cities like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago on the Internet. Enter an address, and you can take a virtual stroll past buildings, landmarks, and unsuspecting passers - by captured by Google's all - powerful camera cars." Initially, it only covered some cities, but now it spans 12 million miles of roads in more than 110 countries and regions.
Image source: TIME
11. IBM Watson: Welcome Our New Computer Overlord (2011)
"I, for one, welcome our new computer overlords," were the words of Ken Jennings, the 74 - time Jeopardy! champion, after IBM's Watson defeated him. This supercomputer, "the size of 10 refrigerators and capable of performing 80 trillion operations per second," became an early star in artificial intelligence.
Image source: Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
12. GPT - 4: A Game - Changing AI (2023)
ChatGPT was launched on November 30, 2022, and by January of the following year, it had 100 million monthly active users. The leap in GPT - 4's capabilities is astonishing. While its predecessor, ChatGPT, could only outperform 10% of the students taking the bar exam, GPT - 4 can outperform 90%. This significant improvement in capabilities has convinced the market and the world that AI is rising at an exponential rate.
Image source: TIME
#3 Innovations That Changed Lifestyles
13. Philips LED Bulb: Slashing the Electricity Bill (2009)
"With a simple flick of the switch, Philips may have just significantly reduced America's electricity bills." This LED bulb emits the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb but uses less than 10 watts of power and has a lifespan of 25,000 hours, which is 25 times that of a traditional bulb. Two years later, Philips won a $10 million prize from the US Department of Energy.
Image source: Rick Friedman—Corbis/Getty Images
14. Montreal Bixi: Bike - Sharing (2008)
"When many people use public resources, such as cheap public bike rentals, they often abuse them." When Montreal was building its public bike system, "the designers incorporated all the technology they could find, desperately trying to overcome human weaknesses through engineering." Equipped with solar charging stations, RFID tags for tracking, and fully enclosed components (to withstand the weather, accidents, and vandalism), this technical solution became a model for cities like London, New York, and Chicago.
Image source: Peter Macdiarm