Ask HN: What’s the most important modern simple invention?

Re:Ask HN: What’s the most important modern simple invention? by allhacks on Monday February 10, 2020 @02:27PM (#22292324)

Since OP didn’t provide reasons, I will.

Window screens: malaria prevention.

Indoor plumbing: make sanitation so convenient that you don’t have any reasons not to use it (vs throwing the old night bucket outta the window). Obviously city scale sanitation == no dysentery, cholera...etc.

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Re:Ask HN: What’s the most important modern simple invention? by nickserv on Monday February 10, 2020 @03:38PM (#22293004)

Sanitation systems are really old, though.

I was impressed with the sophistication of the one present in Glanum, a small (but wealthy) Roman provincial town abandoned in the 2nd century. The sewer system runs underneath the main street: baths, villas, and the abatoir connect to it.

To say nothing of the ones in major cities of the time.

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