Some Things Are Probably Better Left Uninvented

Some of the world's greatest inventions, such as telephones, computers, and electricity, are things we can't imagine living without. But on the opposite end, there have also been some downright terrible ideas that should have never made it past the blueprint stage. If you're ready to be disappointed, let's take a look at 20 of the absolute worst inventions—from the AVE Mizar flying car to pop-up advertisements—of all time.

Doug Duncan on Wikimedia

1. Parachute Coat

Invented by French tailor Franz Reichelt, the parachute coat was developed to be a suit that could transform into a ballooning parachute for aviators should they need to jump ship. Upon receiving permission to test his invention from the Eiffel Tower in 1912, Reichelt leapt from the platform—and fell 187 ft (57 m) to his death. 

Unknown author on Wikimedia

2. Hydrogen Airships

Before transatlantic flights on passenger jets became common, there weren't many ways to travel other than by sea. So when the LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin came into the scene—an airship that could fly passengers across the Atlantic—it was an initial success. What made it a failure? Filling it with highly flammable hydrogen gas, which led to the Hindenburg disaster of 1937.

Biblioteca Valenciana Nicolau Primitiu on Unsplash

3. DDT

DDT, or dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, was originally invented as an insecticide before being used to fight insect-borne diseases (such as typhus, malaria, and dengue fever) in the second half of World War II. However, DDT exposure led to cancerous growths in wildlife, leading to its ban by the United States in 1972.

102% Yield on Wikimedia

4. Betamax

Most of us who are old enough will likely remember VHS (Video Home System) tape cassettes, but what about Sony's Betamax invention? Despite offering better quality than its rival VHS, Betamax ultimately failed due to its higher price tag and restrictions. For one, VHS could record for more than two hours compared to Betamax's one-hour limit.

Ya, saya inBaliTimur on Wikimedia

5. SEGA Dreamcast

When SEGA released the Genesis in 1988, intended to compete with Nintendo, it became one of the company's most successful and beloved consoles. Yet the release of Saturn in 1994 had the opposite effect, and when the Dreamcast was unveiled in 1998, SEGA was a shell of its former self. Why? Because they ultimately couldn't compete with the rise of Sony's Playstation, which led SEGA to take their exit from the console market.

WikimediaImages on Pixabay

6. Apple Newton

In the days before the iPhone and iPad—devices that rule the smartphone and tablet markets today—there were the not-so-ingenious inventions by Apple. The Newton, in particular, was a dud. Though it was marketed to be a portable digital notepad and the first to feature handwriting recognition, it failed to deliver exactly what it claimed.

Blake Patterson from Alexandria, VA, USA on Wikimedia

7. AVE Mizar

Wouldn't it be cool if cars could fly? Though it'll still take years before we'll see these prototypes in the air, the idea certainly didn't stop Henry Smolinski from making it a reality by attaching a portion of a Cessna Skymaster onto a Ford Pinto. During one of its test runs, the wing strut failed and Smolinski and his passenger fell to their death.

Doug Duncan on Wikimedia

8. Red Dye No. 2

Known also as amaranth, red dye no. 2 is a tasteless substance that can be added to food and cosmetics to achieve a flaming color. But while it was in popular use back in the day, it was pulled from the US market in 1976 after it was revealed it could cause cancer.

eismannhans on Pixabay

9. Baby Cage

Invented by Robert C Lafferty, baby cages might be deemed odd now, but at the time it was developed for health and immunity reasons during a time when tuberculosis was widespread. Of course, people began to question its safety by the mid-1900s, as it probably wasn't smart to leave your baby dangling in a wire cage several floors above a busy street.

Inventor Emma Read, by Watson E. Coleman Attorney. on Wikimedia

10. Siamese Shoes

If you really wanted to be in sync with your dancing partner, these shoes were a must—that is, if you're not afraid of tripping over your feet. Featured in Philip Garner's spoof "Better Living Catalogue" in 1981, the siamese shoes were nothing short of bizarre, joined at the toes with two soles on either end for each partner.

Preillumination SeTh on Unsplash

11. Family Bicycle

Have you ever wanted to cycle with the entire family on one single contraption? Well, before the common ones you see on the market today, Charles Steinlauf's invention included not only three spots to sit and pedal, but a sewing machine in the middle for someone to make clothes on the go. Talk about convenience.

Mark Stosberg on Unsplash

12. Pop-up Ads

We can probably all agree that pop-up advertisements are one of the absolute worst inventions of all time. But who in the world came up with them, anyway? Well, it was the work of Ethan Zuckerman in the late 1990s, who had devised a method to open ads in a separate window. He has since apologized for the notoriety that pop-up ads are known for.

Ehsan Akhgari on Wikimedia

13. Plastic Bags

When Sten Gustaf Thulin invented plastic shopping bags in 1965, they were designed to be continually reused—not knowing that they would become a leading problem in global pollution and cause harm to marine life. Some studies have predicted that by 2050, there will be more single-use plastic in the sea than fish.

cocoparisienne on Pixabay

14. Pet Rock

Want a pet but not the commitment they come with? Perhaps that was the main reason why Gary Dahl's Pet Rock invention became so popular, despite being practically useless. Adorably, they were also packaged in boxes imitating a pet carrier, with straw bedding and ventilation holes, which may have also contributed to their initial popularity. 

Hempdiddy (talk) on Wikimedia

15. USB Pet Rock

Because how can you have a pet rock without the ability to charge it? That's exactly what the USB Pet Rock offered. Before you ask: no, it doesn't actually do anything. You simply plug in your Pet Rock and... pet it as you go about your day. Maybe you can even teach it tricks during your work break.

Owner of Pet Rock Net on Wikimedia

16. DVD Rewinder

Unlike VHS tapes which needed a dedicated machine to rewind its spools, DVDs aren't linear and don't require a separate device to play back certain parts. Thus, the DVD Rewinder was more of a gag gift than anything, though it did bring with it a sense of nostalgia.

Brett_Hondow on Pixabay

17. Walking Sleeping Bag

Forget lugging around your sleeping bag—just wear it! Though it might be mind-boggling to know that there's a market for walking sleeping bags, they were inspired by the Selk’nam natives of Tierra del Fuego. At least wearing this means you'll never be worried about getting cold again, although your taste in fashion will surely be questioned.

Pexels on Pixabay

18. Google Glass

When Google X first announced Google Glass, it looked like a futuristic piece of tech far too advanced for its time. And despite the potential it had, there were several reasons it failed, and violating privacy was its biggest criticism. A decade later, Google would tap back into the extended reality market with Android XR.

Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine on Wikimedia

19. Agent Orange

Agent Orange was a herbicide used by the US military from 1961 to 1971 during the Vietnam War. Designed to be sprayed onto fields to reveal enemy forces, its effect was deadly, resulting in widespread birth defects, cancers, and other severe health disorders. While US soldiers were also exposed to the defoliant, Vietnamese citizens bore the brunt of it, with as many as 4 million people affected.

US Army on Wikimedia

20. Ford Pinto

If there were an award for the absolute worst car invention of all time, it would probably go to the Ford Pinto. Its fuel-tank design made it prone to leaking and bursting into flames if struck in its rear. During the 1970s when it was manufactured, you probably wouldn't dare tailgate a driver of this vehicle.

dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada on Wikimedia