Berlin, the city of sausages, beer, and a wall—that’s what most folks think about when they hear the name, right? But hold onto your Lederhosen, because we’re about to blow your mind with a list of Berlin’s Forgotten Innovations and Inventions that will have you saying, “Echt jetzt?” (That’s “Really now?” for those of you who aren’t up on your Deutsch).

First off, let’s kick it old school and take a spin back to 1881, when the world’s first electric tram was introduced, right here in Berlin. Whooshing through the streets of Lichterfelde, this electric tram was the brainchild of one Werner von Siemens, a name you might recognize from your dishwasher. But don’t think it was a smooth ride from the start. Oh no, my friends, the first passengers were a bunch of skeptical school kids who thought they were on a ride straight to the afterlife. Spoiler Alert: they survived.

Next up on our list is the humble traffic light. You see them every day, but did you ever stop to think where they came from? Well, look no further than Potsdamer Platz. In 1924, the world’s first automated traffic light system was installed here. Now, if only they could invent a system to stop Berliners from jaywalking.

Let’s continue our journey with a little something we like to call the refrigerator. Yes, you heard that right. The modern refrigerator was invented in Berlin by Carl von Linde in 1876. The beer-loving Berliners no longer had to endure warm brewskis during the summer months. It’s no wonder this guy has a street named after him.

And speaking of beer, what’s a cold Pilsner without a side of currywurst? That’s right, this iconic Berlin street food was invented right here in the city by Herta Heuwer in 1949. Using ketchup and curry powder she received from British soldiers, Herta whipped up a sauce to accompany her sausages and thus, the currywurst was born. Talk about making the best out of what you’ve got.

Now, onto something a little more techy. Ever heard of MP3? Of course, you have. And guess where it was invented? No, not Silicon Valley. It was conjured up by a bunch of nerdy engineers over at the Fraunhofer Institute in Berlin. Now, that deserves a fist bump or a high five, whichever you prefer.

Enough with the tech talk, let’s switch to fashion. The first ever fashion show in the world took place in Berlin in 1837. The show was organized by Rudolph Mosse who obviously had a keen eye for style. And let’s just say it: without Berlin, the world might still be wearing potato sacks.

This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the invention of the modern theory of evolution. No, it wasn’t Charles Darwin. It was actually Alfred Russel Wallace, a British naturalist who lived in Berlin. He published his theory of evolution before Darwin, but didn’t get the same level of recognition. Talk about being robbed of your spotlight.

And finally, let’s not forget about the invention of aspirin. Yes, that little white pill that saves us from headaches, hangovers, and heartaches was invented in Berlin by Felix Hoffmann in 1897. So, next time you’re nursing a Berliner Weiße-induced hangover, remember to say a little thank you to good old Felix.

So there you have it, folks. Berlin is not just about techno music, graffiti, and underground clubs. It’s a city that’s been quietly shaping the world with its many forgotten innovations and inventions. And whether you’re a local or a tourist, it’s always good to remember that there’s more to Berlin than meets the eye. Now, go forth and impress your friends with your newfound knowledge. And remember, in Berlin, you’re always standing on the shoulders of giants…or at least, on the platform of an electric tram.

Helpful Q&A:

Q: Can you tell us about some forgotten innovations and inventions from Berlin?

A: Oh, where do I start? Berlin is like a treasure trove filled with forgotten inventions. Let’s take the traffic light for example. Yes, the humble traffic light! Berlin boasts of the first ever traffic light tower in Europe. It was installed in Potsdamer Platz, back in 1924. Not as flashy as the modern ones, but it did the job!

And speaking of flashy, did you know that the first ever electric tram was also launched in Berlin? That’s right. The electric tram, known as the Groß-Lichterfelde Tramway, chugged along its tracks for the first time in 1881. It was quite a sight, I tell you. It’s like watching a toddler take its first steps, if the toddler was a giant mechanical contraption on wheels.

There’s also the aspirin, which was not exactly invented in Berlin, but the man who made it commercially viable, Felix Hoffmann, worked for the Berlin-based company, Bayer. An invention that’s been a headache for headaches worldwide, if you ask me!

And did you know that the first programmable computer, the Z3, was also born in Berlin? Konrad Zuse, its creator, must’ve had a lot of time on his hands, considering he came up with something that eventually led to you asking me this question on a computer!

Q: Were any famous scientific discoveries made in Berlin?

A: Oh, absolutely! Berlin is the birthplace of the X-ray, discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen in 1895 while he was working at the University of Würzburg. The discovery earned him the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. Talk about seeing through the competition!

Another groundbreaking scientific discovery in Berlin was Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. While Einstein was teaching at the University of Berlin, he published four groundbreaking papers in 1905, forever changing the way we understand the universe. It’s like he had an apple fall on his head, but instead of gravity, he discovered…well, everything else!

Q: Are there any inventions from Berlin that changed the world?

A: Besides the traffic light, electric tram, aspirin, and the Z3 Computer? Well, there’s also the Bunsen burner, an essential tool in every chemistry lab. Robert Bunsen, the inventor, taught at the University of Heidelberg, but he was born in Göttingen, which is just a stone’s throw away from Berlin, if you’re particularly good at throwing stones.

Of course, we can’t forget about the MP3 format, which was developed by the Fraunhofer Society, a research organization based in Berlin. Without it, we might still be carrying around walkmans and cassette tapes. Can you imagine that? A world without portable digital music is like a wurst without mustard!

Q: What are some forgotten innovations from Berlin that are still used today?

A: Well, as I mentioned earlier, the humble traffic light and the aspirin are still very much in use today. But let’s not forget about the refrigerator. Carl von Linde, a German engineer, helped to develop the modern refrigerator and his company, Linde AG, was founded in Berlin. So next time you’re grabbing a cold beer from the fridge, remember to toast to Carl!

Moreover, the first practical magnetic tape recording was developed by Fritz Pfleumer in 1928 in Berlin. Magnetic tapes might seem outdated now, but they were the forerunner to all digital storage. Every time you save a file on your computer, you’re basically living in the legacy of Fritz’s invention. So, the next time your computer reminds you that your storage is almost full, remember to say a quick “danke” to Fritz!