The fax machine was invented in 1843 — 33 years before the telephone

The printing press was invented by Gutenberg around 1440 — but China had movable type 400 years earlier

Gutenberg's press, circa 1440, followed China's 1000-year-old movable type innovation

The first alarm clock could only ring at 4 AM — invented by Levi Hutchins in 1787

Levi Hutchins created the first alarm clock in 1787, set to ring at 4 AM

The first computer bug was an actual bug — a moth found in a Harvard Mark II relay in 1947

A moth caused a malfunction in the Harvard Mark II computer in 1947

The first antibiotic penicillin was discovered by accident in 1928 — Alexander Fleming left a petri dish uncovered

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 by accident

The word 'algorithm' comes from al-Khwarizmi, a 9th-century Persian mathematician

'Algorithm' derives from Al-Khwarizmi's name, pioneering mathematician

Beer was first brewed around 5,000 BC in Mesopotamia — some of the oldest recipes survive

Beer originated circa 5,000 BC in ancient Mesopotamia