For each of the last 25 years, TIME editors have highlighted the world's most effective new products and ideas. TIME's Best Inventions problem. The first edition, published under the cover of the protracted counting of the Bush vs. Gore presidential vote in December 2000, featured some 35 inventions, including some that seem downright distant: Ricoh RDC-i700 (a digital camera that could post photos online), the first 3D ultrasound for pregnant parents and double pontoon bike that intrepid cyclists can ride around the lake.
Others might just as well end up on the 2025 list. Medtronic's Activa Tremor Control therapy was introduced in a 2000 release as one of the first attempts at deep brain stimulation to treat Parkinson's disease. This year's release includes a recently FDA-approved upgrade to the same technology. BrainSensewhich continually adapts to patients' unique tremors.
The pace of innovation has only accelerated in a quarter-century, and to reflect this, this year's list includes 300 inventions—our largest list ever. To compile it, we solicited nominations from TIME editors and correspondents around the world and through an online submission process, with a particular focus on emerging areas such as health care and artificial intelligence. We then assessed each applicant on a number of key factors including originality, effectiveness, ambition and impact.
Result 300 revolutionary inventions (And 100 Inventions That Received Special Mention) – including Do you have a detector for teachers, a. home sprinkler system forest fires, the world's largest roller coasterAnd humanoid robot that load the dishwasher are changing the way we live, work, play and think about what's possible.
