Essential Report
Greatest scientific achievement of 20th century
Q. Which of the following do you think was the greatest scientific achievement of the 20th century?
Q | Total | Gender | Age | |||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
Discovery of penicillin | 40% | 36% | 43% | 24% | 36% | 56% |
Launch of the World Wide Web | 18% | 20% | 17% | 21% | 20% | 14% |
First person to walk on the moon | 10% | 11% | 8% | 10% | 10% | 9% |
First powered aircraft flight | 8% | 10% | 7% | 12% | 8% | 5% |
Generation of electricity from nuclear power | 6% | 6% | 7% | 10% | 5% | 4% |
Introduction of the contraceptive pill | 6% | 3% | 8% | 8% | 5% | 4% |
Invention of the television | 5% | 6% | 4% | 4% | 7% | 3% |
World’s first cloned animal | 2% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 1% |
First person to reach the South Pole | 2% | 1% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 0% |
Other scientific achievement | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 5% | 3% |
- The discovery of penicillin was the most selected event, with 40% selecting it as the greatest scientific achievement of the 20th
- As we approach the 50th anniversary of humans setting foot on the moon, 10% regard this as the greatest scientific achievement, behind the launch of the internet, selected by 18% of people.
- Over 55s were more likely to select the discovery of penicillin (56%) than younger respondents (36% of 35 to 54 year olds and 24% of 18 to 34 year olds).
- Those with a university education were more likely to select the launch of the World Wide Web (25%) than those with a secondary education (14%) or a professional qualification (16%).
- Just 5% regarded the invention of the television as the greatest scientific achievement of the previous century.

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