Annual lists of landmark innovations.

from: the best publications
March 1, 2020


Dear readers,

Here’s a good selection of compilations tracking the progress of — civilization, science, design, and innovation. These publications curate annual lists of the top breakthroughs.

  • MIT Technology Review • by MIT
  • the Atlantic
  • Time
  • Science • by AAAS

library editor


by definition | breakthrough

(noun) break • through

A sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development.
An act of moving beyond an obstacle.
A step forward in progress or a revolution.
An advancement in the sciences + engineering.
An innovation in the arts.
A positive leap in social + humanitarian issues.




1. |

publication: MIT Technology Review • by MIT
story title: 10 Breakthrough Technologies
deck: the annual list
read | story

— summary —

This annual list — curated by the world’s top thinkers — features each year’s 10 most important innovations that will change tomorrow for the better.

These are the tech advances we believe will make a real difference in solving important problems. How do we pick? We avoid the one-off tricks, the over-hyped new gadgets. Instead we look for those breakthroughs that will truly change how we live and work.

list | 10 Breakthrough Technologies

year: 2023 — read
year: 2022 — read
year: 2021 — read
year: 2020 — read
year: 2019 — read
year: 2018 — read
year: 2017 — read
year: 2016 — read
year: 2015 — read
year: 2014 — read
year: 2013 — read
year: 2012 — read
year: 2011 — read
year: 2010 — read
year: 2009 — read
year: 2008 — read
year: 2007 — read
year: 2006 — read
year: 2005 — read
year: 2004 — read
year: 2003 — read
year: 2001 — read


on the web | pages

MIT | home
MIT Technology Review • by MIT | home

— summary —

The mission of MIT Technology Review is to bring about better-informed and more conscious decisions about technology through authoritative, influential, and trust-worthy journalism.

motto: mind + hand
tag line: MIT’s magazine of innovation.



2. |

publication: the Atlantic
tag line: text
web: home • channel

story title: the 50 Greatest Breakthroughs: since the wheel
read | story

— summary —

Why did it take so long to invent the wheel-barrow? Has humanity reached peak innovation? What our list reveals about imagination, optimism, and the nature of progress.

presented by

group: Emerson Collective
tag line: Ideas that matter: since 1857.
web: home • channel



3. |

publication: Time
story title: Best Inventions of the Year
deck: the annual list
read | story

— summary —

Every year, Time highlights the innovations making the world better, smarter, and even a little more fun. We evaluate each contender based on key factors: including originality, creativity, influence, ambition, and effectiveness.

list | Best Inventions of the Year

year: 2022 — read
year: 2021 — read
year: 2020 — read
year: 2019 — read
year: 2018 — read
year: 2017 — read
year: 2016 — read
year: 2015 — read
year: 2014 — read
year: 2013 — read
year: 2012 — read
year: 2011 — read
year: 2010 — read
year: 2009 — read
year: 2008 — read
year: 2007 — read
year: 2006 — read
year: 2005 — read
year: 2004 — read
year: 2003 — read
year: 2002 — read
year: 2001 — read
year: 2000 — read


4. |

publication: Science
tag line: text
award: Breakthrough of the Year

read | the complete historic list

— summary —

The Breakthrough of the Year is an annual award made by the editors of the AAAS journal Science — for the most significant development in scientific research. It is widely considered one of the highest distinctions in science.

The award was founded in year 1989 — originally called Molecule of the Year. The award name was changed in year 1996 to Breakthrough of the Year. It’s given to a novel discovery that makes headway in solving a long-standing problem — and is interesting to a wide range of people.

presented by

group: by AAAS
tag line: text


on the web | pages

Science • by AAAS | home
Science • by AAAS | magazine archive: by year
Science • by AAAS | YouTube channel

AAAS | home

tag line: The world’s largest general scientific society.


award name | history

* award name: Molecule of the Year — year 1989 -to- 1995
* award name: Breakthrough of the Year — year 1996 -to- present


explore | cover stories + featurettes
for the Breakthrough of the Year award

year: 2022 — read watch
year: 2021 — read watch
year: 2020 — read watch
year: 2019 — read watch
year: 2018 — read watch
year: 2017 — read watch
year: 2016 — read watch
year: 2015 — read watch
year: 2014 — read watch
year: 2013 — read watch
year: 2012 — read watch
year: 2011 — read watch
year: 2010 — read watch
year: 2009 — read watch
year: 2008 — read watch
year: 2007 — read
year:
2006 — read
year: 2005 — read
year: 2004 — read
year: 2003 — read
year: 2002 — read
year: 2001 — read
year: 2000 — read
year: 1999 — read
year: 1998 — read
year: 1997 — read
year: 1996 — read


read | cover stories
for the Molecule of the Year award

year: 1995 — read
year: 1994 — read
year: 1993 — read
year: 1992 — read
year: 1991 — read
year: 1990 — read
year: 1989 — read



 


— notes —

MIT = Massachusetts Institute of Technology
AAAS = American Association for the Advancement of Science