In May 1925, TIME magazine acknowledged Thomas Edison on its cover for his inventions of the electric light bulb, phonograph, movie camera, and alkaline battery. The light bulb, in particular, brought a jump in living standards – illuminating streets, homes, offices, factories, and cities across America.
In December 2021, TIME magazine named Elon Musk Person of the Year, a long-held tradition of recognising someone with a profound impact on society. With climate change, the issue of the day, the person with a solution became the man of the moment.
It’s worth looking back at the power of innovation in the past century.
