The invention of dynamite was an important step towards the creation of a relatively safe explosive of high power intended for mining and construction work. But who exactly invented dynamite, and what is the essence of this invention?
Why did you need dynamite?
With the development of civilization and transport infrastructure, a need arose for a radical change in the natural relief: the laying of tunnels, the blasting of mountain ranges, and the draining of lakes. It quickly became clear that the explosion power of conventional gunpowder is not enough, so chemists began to look for more advanced explosives. One of these substances was nitroglycerin - an explosive liquid, the explosion power of which is ten times higher than the power of gunpowder. Unfortunately, its production, storage and transportation were very dangerous, as nitroglycerin is very sensitive to temperature, accidental sparks and shock.
Dynamite inventor Alfred Bernhard Nobel was a chemical engineer working in a nitroglycerin factory owned by his father. Nobel conducted many experiments with explosives, trying to invent a safe way to create it, since accidental explosions in such factories were not uncommon. As a result of one of these incidents, Alfred's younger brother, Emil, died. In the end, Nobel managed to solve the problem of the safety of nitroglycerin production, but the problem of transportation and storage was still urgent.
As in the case with many well-known inventions, this problem was solved purely by accident: one of the bottles with nitroglycerin broke during transportation, but since the bottles were transported in crates with porous soil, the explosion did not occur. Nobel conducted experiments and found that the soil impregnated with an explosive liquid has significant resistance to external influences, while at the same time maintaining the power of the explosion. In 1867, Alfred Nobel patented dynamite - nitroglycerin mixed with a neutral absorbent. Cardboard tubes were used as packaging.
One of Nobel's teachers, the Russian chemist Nikolai Zinin, together with the military engineer Petrushevsky, at about the same time invented his own version of dynamite, in which nitroglycerin was mixed with magnesium oxide.
Nobel Prize
Nobel's invention quickly became popular. In part, this was facilitated by an aggressive advertising campaign launched by the inventor: public lectures, work demonstrations, the use of dynamite in government construction projects. As a result, Nobel quickly became rich and by the end of his life owned two dozen factories for the production of dynamite and other explosives. However, public opinion accused Alfred Nobel of producing weapons, explosives for the army, and called his wealth "bloody."
Nobel did not want his name to be associated only with the creation of deadly explosives, so he bequeathed his fortune to the establishment of a prize that encourages the most talented scientists from around the world.
Initially, the Nobel Prizes were to be awarded in five nominations: physics, chemistry, physiology and medicine, actions to establish peace on Earth, and literature. Since 1969, there has also been a prize in economics.
The Nobel Prize Committee still operates today, annually awarding money to the most outstanding scientists for their research or inventions.
