Mothers of Invention

Overview

Light bulb moments have transformed our planet, with the rapid pace of change galvanising humanity's pioneering spirit. In this episode Tony discovers the inspirations, set backs and ingenuity that lead to astonishing feats of invention. To discover how powered flight first began Tony joins a group of enthusiasts in country Victoria, attempting to get a replica plane off the ground. In 1890s Western Australia Tony meets a humble engineer, whose ambitious solution to a desperate problem catapulted him to fame before ending in tragedy. Tony journeys from the culinary creation of an icon in Queensland, to the discovery in New South Wales of a forgotten backyard invention that helped win a war. And a visit to London in the 1880s reveals the bright sparks who formed a partnership that paved the way to an electronic golden age. The drama behind overcoming technological barriers proves that tenacity and good luck can revolutionise the world.