What did the British ever do for us? (scientifically)

It has famously been asked "What did the Romans ever do for us." But what about the British? It is fashionable to malign Britain and its old empire - but their scientific achievements alone saved billions of lives. This video is a far-too-short summary of some of the major British advances in science and technology
Dr Peter Ridd is a physicist who has written over 100 scientific publications in international journal.
Since being fired by James Cook University for raising concerns about science quality assurance issues, Peter Ridd works receives no payment for any of the work he does.
Also see / projectforrealsciencer...

[@leearnold2832]

and don't forget the Brits sacrificed their empire to stop hitler

[@classicalmusic1175]

To all British haters out there You're welcome...

[@JosephB-tv7gf]

The haters out there exist due to the Brits. In passing, only the other week I found out the Brits invented the first blood transfusion service. And are far the largest per capita donors of all demographics in Britain today.

[@BritishBeachcomber]

What do you mean by that.

[@johnbell-yn5xe]

He means who gets the most criticism from people the man who builds a successful company or the man who picks up the litter in his carpark Thats us the Brits

[@prophetsnake]

That's pretty much everyone.

[@user-xd9rn8vu1z]

Interesting that you would recognise that there would be many haters.

[@waynesmith4589]

Most of the British haters are simply jealous.

[@khankrum1]

Or Morons!

[@Ubique2927]

Or just I G N O R A N T.

[@morgand8727]

Obviously! that's a given!

[@mrsuperger5429]

Britain civilised the world, for which they will never be forgiven.

[@tokenspirit6140]

Now, that's a bit like saying we are the best in the world. Uncivilized at the moment.

[@Liquid278]

Because of the way we did it, just like everyone else mind you but we were the best at it so everyone hates us

[@timobrien2813]

And never forgiven!

[@tempejkl]

You know, telling people that suffered under colonialism that they should be grateful is probably the worst thing you can do when you want them to like you.

[@ChristineRead-ck1uq]

@@tokenspirit6140 Ah but that isn't the British, is it?

[@andyf4292]

we basically invented the 20th century. and probably the 19th- and we ended slavery.

[@ToothbrushMan]

Er. First, we didn't end slavery. Slavery never stopped. Second, prohibiting slavery after 9 million were enslaved is too little, too late.

[@stevewilcox6375]

There are more slaves now than ever!!

[@mouthstick-gaming]

We may have been amongst the first to end slavery, but by God we profited from it immensely before that time. It's also a little-known fact that when did finally abolish slavery, we gave out the equivalent of millions of pounds of compensation...to the slave OWNERS, not the slaves themselves.

[@mpetersen6]

Well, Britian did not end slavery. I will admit that they pretty much shut down the Atlantic Slave Trade in the early 19th Century. The Anti Slave Trade Squadron also had ships from the US Navy assigned to it. But the Brits carried the load. Still slaves were flowing North and East to other cultural areas. And in the 1830s Britain officially ended slavery in the Empire. But I'd be willing to bet it was still going on quietly in places. The other two major European derived countries with slavery abolished the practice in the 1860s. In one it took a Traumatic Civil War. In the other, Brazil, it was done fairly peacefully. Unfortunately the practice still exists in parts of the world. Even in so calledcivilized parts.

[@DerekLangdon]

Slavery is alive and well bud. Even in Britain!

[@DS-fk7ed]

Well, I'm proud of being British. Rule Britannia.

[@benhodkinson6467]

Indeed! God save the King!

[@stevesilk51]

Me too. No country should call themselves the greatest (USA try to) but Britain , (inc. England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland) are way up there.

[@lostintranslation1957]

I'm proud of being old British, I'm not proud of being that new invention that the Tories have pushed. This anti-constitutional perversity they call multicultural.

[@user-rb3zh6sz1b]

​@@benhodkinson6467 God save the King 🇬🇧

[@youme1414]

You are proud of being a colonialist. Jeez!

[@chrisbingham3289]

It's time us Brits stop being modest , polite and humble and declare “we gave you the best life you could have and ask for nothing in return but respect”.

[@tempejkl]

Nothing in return except 47 trillion from India, trillions from Ireland and Africa 😂😂😂 We gave you all that and we ask for nothing but yous to fǔck 0ff and mind your own business

[@petereames3041]

Not to mention the magna carta and the british common law tradition which is the foundation of all Western democracies.

[@Mad-Cowpat]

British Common Law dates further back than Magna Carta: The Molmutine Laws of the ancient Britons. They are given in the form of triads and include: There are three tests of civil liberty: equality of rights, equality of taxation, freedom to come and go. Three things are indispensable to a true union of nations: sameness of laws, rights, and language. There are three things free to all Britons: the forest, the unworked mine, the right of hunting. There are three property birthrights of every Briton: five British acres of land for a home, the right of suffrage in the enacting of the laws, the male at twenty-one, the female on her marriage. There are three things which every Briton may legally be compelled to attend: the worship of God, military service, the courts of law. There are three things free to every man, Briton or foreigner, the refusal of which no law will justify: water from spring, river, or well; firing from a decayed tree; a block of stone not in use. There are three classes which are exempt from bearing arms: bards, judges, graduates in law or religion. These represent God and His peace, and no weapon must ever be found in their hands. There are three persons who have a right of public maintenance: the old, the babe, the foreigner who can not speak the British tongue. There are three things free to a country and its borders: the roads, the rivers, and the places of worship. These are under the protection of God and His peace.[7]

[@leet3207]

Its just a pity we Brits are not allowed to celebrate any of our achievements in this strange modern world.

[@sarahjones7239]

We are allowed there is just a minority of anti western anti British who try to destabilise us…..don’t let them x🇬🇧

[@johnnunn8688]

Yes, yes I am.

[@benjamincjholmes]

We are allowed. And it's high time we speak them proudly.

[@--novus-ordo-secrolum-un--8820]

Stand up for your culture or we will be Erased!

[@BillDavies-ej6ye]

Speak for yourself. As an engineer in three distinct technologies, I am proud of the foundations created by my forebears. And, for our failings, who did more to iradicate slavery in the world? Or, through colonisation, created a new lingua franca that many are keen to learn and profit from today?

[@michaelrowsell1160]

Don't tell the Guardian about this as it will ruin their day

[@faithpearlgenied-a5517]

Idiotic comment.

[@margaretflounders8510]

LOL...Good!

[@user-wn1dl3kk6r]

Oh Guardian????????? 👍😁

[@Zakalwe123]

I'm a guardian reader. This is great.

[@harry2.01]

Great comment Michael, don't forget "The Independent" as well.

[@hafmaint7557]

As a 83 year old Welsh Brit we oldies remember the history of WW2 its thanks to the Canadian Australian New Zealand India and many other Commonwealth country's who helped us. I have visited Normandy many times in my life and seen the graves of the young men lying there thank you to all those countries for being with us in our darkest days.

[@peterjohnston377]

Well said.

[@resnonverba137]

Countries...

[@BoxTunnel]

Indeed we do, also non-commonwealth countries such as Poland, France, South Africa and others.

[@farmerned6]

Debts of blood that can never be repaid especially (for me) the young men from other countries that fought and died in the Battle of Britain

[@YusiAnimated-]

it's all thanks to the Queensland and her dominions that we have a free world today

[@traceys8065]

As a Scot i say thank you for this video 🙏 What we achieved as a small nation is incredible. And as a collective, us Brits were genuineness

[@Ionabrodie69]

Well said and quite agree , as an Englishwoman from the North it’s great to have such clever neighbours 👍😊

[@_bav]

As an Englishman, I have to doff my cap to our Scottish brethren - whilst the Brits as a whole have punched well above their weight in the invention of modernity, the Scots have made a massive contribution that belies their relatively small population. 👋👋👋👋

[@benhodkinson6467]

Hear hear!

[@YARROWS9]

Yeah. England and Scotland are like Lennon/McCartney. Creative geniuses.

[@Rexkramer68]

Scottish are British

[@McConnachy]

And we fought the wars. But we have a harsh history, and it got worse in the union. Cultural & linguistic genocide and the clearances, which is a polite term for ethnic cleansing.

[@richrobson220]

@@Rexkramer68no they’re Scottish, numpty

[@g6otu]

British are by far the best of all nations that have existed bar none.

[@Imagineering100]

No way

[@DerekLangdon]

The best of all nations? The British are fond of mutual masturbation. It makes them feel so good about themselves.

[@frogandspanner]

But you have to admit that Ozzie's have taken our humour and cursing, and improved them beyond recognition.

[@Angelcynn001]

and that is why every parasitically leeching third world retard wants to come here.

[@davidtuer5825]

But, The English, the English, the English are best. We couldn't give tuppence for all of the rest.

[@MegaJambo22]

I've always attributed our inventiveness down to the British weather. " I was planning a nice walk, but the weather is crap so I'll stay in and invent something important".

[@susanpowell6449]

Yes indeed, The Optical Time Domain Reflectometer was invented during a light shower over Grimsby (at the on the same day as Marmite) But not by the same bloke...though coincidently they were both called Jim and wore knitted top hats.

[@TheShiner46]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@EmperorsNewWardrobe]

Just imagine ending slavery and then getting guilt tripped for it heavily today while the Arab slave trade was longer, bigger, crueller, and yet Arab guilt isn’t even a concept, let alone a match in guilt. Hell, the main Arab idol utterly worshipped today was a slave trader himself…

[@mmcc5846]

Emperor the British never ended slavery that is a lie

[@cheryl71000]

​@@mmcc5846 yes they did in all British ruled countries slavery was abolished. From 1850. Ended it in India,also ended the wife of an Indian being burnt with her dead husband. Which was the custom in India at that time the wife Alive and well would be burnt with her dead husband. Ships of the royal navy patrolled the African coast and stopped slave ships, releasing the ships occupants on to the next African port. I stead of relying on Hollywood to tell history go to a library and read about it.

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

@@mmcc5846 In our local church in Selworthy there’s a plaque on the wall (it’s also online) dedicated to a son of the abolitionist Acland family, who died on a British navy ship intercepting slavers. Buying and selling captured people of your enemy was the norm in many countries; the Brits systematically put an end to the slave trade endemic in many countries, costing a veritable fortune in the process. Read a history book about it and not woke propaganda.

[@user-xn4gf9ll3y]

As a professional life long British person, I'd like to thank all my ancestors for being really, really good at inventing stuff.

[@richardhockey8442]

standing on the shoulders of giants

[@itwoznotme]

and building it! its just a shame about the current generation who just want to tell everyone what they are doing on facebook or whatever twatter is called these days.

[@SvenTviking]

And war! We were great at that.

[@alandyer1646]

South Africa, former British colony, that performed the first heart transplant and invented the CAT scan.

[@prophetsnake]

Like the concentration camp, for example?

[@andrewdoubtfire4700]

And ended slavery, virtually bankrupting themselves in the process.Not because they had to, but because it was the right thing to do.

[@user-it7lf7kk8m]

And virtually bankrupted ourselves saving europe from themselves yet again (with the commonwealth and US of course)

[@kennethrollo7891]

No, they didn't bankrupt themselves. They handed out government money to themselves.

[@elkpaz560]

@@kennethrollo7891 In other words they taxed the British people to ensure that the freedom of the slaves was not challenged. In doing so, they avoided a civil war. British pragmatism supporting British morality.

[@andylewis7360]

@@kennethrollo7891In fact, the British government BORROWED that money in 1833 and every British citizen who paid tax up until 2014 contributed to paying off that debt. And that doesn’t include the Billions, by modern day standards that Britain and the USA spent to eradicate The Barbary Pirate slavers. You’re welcome.

[@nealerennie9912]

The White British ended slavery between the black Africans and white Europeans.But slavery is still happening today in Africa and has been between African tribes forever.And don’t start me on other non European countries it’s only white people who are very naught isn’t it everyone 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@thetruthhurts7675]

You missed the biggest of all The COMPUTER was invented by Charles Babbage, in 1837, he named it the computer, and Ada countess of Lovelace invented computer programming for said computer. So this video would NOT be possible without two English people.

[@mikespike007]

I’m a very proud Brit and I will not apologise for our mistakes until the rest of the world says thankyou for our contributions

[@RJW998]

British inventions = The modern world.

[@dogsand77]

correction china is shaping the world in the 21st century, overpassing all the former british colonies and current commonwealth countries

[@MarquisVincentBissetdeGramont]

*European inventions/ideas

[@sprinter1832]

Industrial Revolution, BRITISH! who else would have built cast iron ships, when the whole world was pissing about in wooden ships and canoes!🤣😂😅

[@Steelninja77]

@@MarquisVincentBissetdeGramont What are?

[@bucklr11]

The only European ideas were from the Romans

[@bazzingabomb]

A while ago the Japanese did a study on inventions and found that the British a tiny island at the edge of Europe invented over 50% of everything, that's the reason they're called Great Britain. The greatest nation and empire that ever existed.

[@lorddaver5729]

No. That's not the reason it was called Great Britain. The term "Great" is a geographic term, not a political one.

[@tomnicholson2115]

I'm sorry to contradict you, but ​@@lorddaver5729is correct, the great in great Britain is only there to signify the largest of the British islands. Some great things did come from there for sure, but that is irrelevant to the title, Great Britain.

[@teeteringonthebrink.305]

@@lorddaver5729 Correct. You see this in villages up and down the country. Here in Cambridgeshire, I was born in Great Shelford - there is also a Little Shelford close by.

[@kitmoore9969]

Great Britain is an island of the coast of France, containing England, Scotland and Wales. The country (the United Kingdom) also includes Northern Ireland, which is on a separate island.

[@RandomerFellow]

You discovered the most substances in the periodic table with us (Swedes) in second place. Science has always been close to our hearts.

[@LW1Tok]

As a 24 year old Pacific Islander I thank the Brits for thier ancestors who made invaluable contributions to humanity's advancement. I am grateful to be born in a time far better then any other as a result of Western Civilization Project. I wish more of the young Brits today would be taught to appreciate their heritage.

[@davidbarlow350]

The British Empire was so disliked by all those it occupied,that every one of them joined The Commonwealth. I don't see any other colonising power achieving that.

[@stephenburgess5109]

So true didn't see Indonesia join a Dutch Commonwealth when they became independent and for the Pacific South Seas territories they are still ruled over by a European power the French in 2024

[@dogsand77]

correction china is shaping the world in the 21st century, overpassing all the former british colonies and current commonwealth countries

[@dogsand77]

compare china's rise with the british empire's rise, The brits used their empire to conquer others that resulted in over 100 million of deaths, plundering india's wealth, stealing of native lands. While china's rise doesn't involve wars of conquest, stealing of lands, genocide of natives etc, they have a far superior economic system. When comparing the 2 countries china dwarfs britain in terms of accomplishments and gdp and growth and scientific advancements etc

[@HieronymousCheese]

Like the USA?

[@user-rb3zh6sz1b]

You're 💯% correct!

[@MrMegan1962]

We virtually invented everything, now we need to invent a way of getting rid of people that hate us.

[@dancarter482]

_Volcanoes_ Are somewhat undervalued for their exceptional waste disposal capabilities!

[@Jamie_Pritchard]

I think we already came up with concentration camps... lol

[@leighstreet8298]

Very true, I had a volume argument with an invader today, as to why we need them, as we the British are lazy, stupid and incompetent at running the the country...

[@jacksprat9172]

They can start by arresting anyone supporting terrorist organisations like hamas or waving a swastika on British streets. Then make it a jailable offence for any news organisation to purposely mislead or lie to the public, that takes care of much of the mainstream media, from the guardian to the bbc. Then withdraw funding from universities who are spreading marxist philosophy and had half the country on its knees on behalf of blm which is run by a bunch of thieving, racist swindlers. And to all the net zero climate change cult members, who want to close our farms down (which would cause instant starvation across Europe)..........piss off! If a cow farts in Holland the sun will not set the Earth on fire, however much you may want it to, not going to happen, sorry doom-mongers. No Western Democracy is inherently racist though you may come across the odd one here and there, I encountered one once, about twenty years ago and told him what he could go do to himself, problem solved. Scrap DEI, its enforced racism and deport anyone from any hr department.....................anywhere, maybe a lost island. Stop promoting folk because they're the right colour or sex because that is racist and sexist. Anyone mentioning micro aggressions or practising cancel culture(especially those who deny it exists) gets sent to live with the hr department, as do all illegal immigrants and those who are not identifying as one of two, and only two, genders. Any politician with links to WEF can go rule over the hr departments island utopia. While I'm at it, anyone using terms like 'un-alived' can go there too.

[@wingcommanderdaltonwalton67]

He never even touched on Common Law or Democracy,which without that those nobheads wouldn’t have a voice to hate us with!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧💪🏻

[@joa8227]

This made me cry. My daughter and step-kids were not taught any of this. They believe anyone can choose their gender. They don't cope at all with debate or scientific questions. They are brainwashed by the internet, by the media, by the government. They know nothing. The only historical fact my daughter was taught in school in history (in the USA where we lived for a few years) was 'in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue'. When we moved back to the UK, she was overwhelmed. Thank you for this video.

[@stevenvater8720]

This should be compulsory education

[@johnjamesflashman6856]

The problem is we are too modest.

[@wonderworld7721]

Then, the w** is inevitable, because no one gonna take this nonsense story seriously all over the world except US, UK and probably EU !!...

[@thegeneralist7527]

I admire Great Britain so much I married a pommie. One side of my family is Scottish, and the other side English. I've always considered myself a proud colonial Canadian. One should not forget the contributions of English literature and of course the legendary English wit. What have the British ever done for me? Well, everything.

[@reefrebels]

Beautifully expressed 👏

[@H4CK61]

Very well said mate.

[@markpitts5194]

English bloody literature????? You should have read some of the shit we had to do for O level exams!

[@johnbell-yn5xe]

Thanks 👍

[@andylewis7360]

@@markpitts5194Such as?

[@TioDeive]

It's just jaw dropping when you realise how much one nation contributed to humanity when it comes to science. Mad respect for the British, past and present. Cheers from Brazil.

[@TheCornish123456]

In reality if he was to list everything the video would have been hours long.

[@sedekiman824]

Perhaps parliamentary proceedure?

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

Err thats because they were already an empire (and so had the wealth and power) when the industrial age happened, they also sat upon easily accessible coal deposits which powered it.

[@love-conquers-all]

Ty for your kind words with love from britain

[@neil8675]

Thank you, You have a positive open mind!

[@ShanePalmer-yo4og]

Even as a Brit I don't think I'd ever thought about just how much this country has been responsible for inventing. It does make you proud to be British. Yes, there are also some things we from history that we cannot be proud of. But when you consider just how much influence we have had in getting society to the level it is today, well, I doff my cap to Brits of the past. I do think young Brits should watch this as I believe all too often we are made to feel ashamed of our own country. We seem the be the "whipping boy" of modern society, but where would modern society be without the British inventions of the last few hundred years? Well, probably still in the dark ages. Thank you for presenting this video, I'll now have a look at other things you have done. Kind Regards,

[@douglasstrother6584]

The collaboration between Faraday and Maxwell is sorely under-appreciated.

[@douglasstrother6584]

... and Oliver Heaviside's subsequent contributions.

[@AJGeeTV]

As a Brit I have to say a big 'Thank You' for making this video. So many young Brits today are made to feel ashamed for being British. They should all sit down, watch this, and be proud and thankful.

[@ewencameron1548]

Jolly good show

[@edgeofeternity744]

Here here!

[@malpreece5008]

Well said. I’m doing my best to counter the anti-British nonsense taught at my children’s school, but it’s relentless. Still, if we can remind younger generations of the great achievements of their forebears I’m sure it will inspire them in the future. 🇬🇧👍🏻

[@lordhoot1]

Nobody has to feel ashamed of where they're from. But if you're going to choose to be proud you'd better at least be honest with yourself about the good and the bad. Or else it's just another kind of narcissism.

[@ryu_san_]

Thank you, well said!

[@MrJohnL21]

I think we've forgotten that the Brits also gave the world an international language which is spoken by over half of global humanity as a first, second or third language.

[@wolfthequarrelsome504]

Substantially correct.

[@MrDaiseymay]

WE GAVE THE WORLD , DEMOCRACY, INTERNATIONAL LAW, POSTAL SERVICE. , CANALS, TELEPHONE SYSTEM. GOVERNMENT CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM, IYER HEDUKATSHUN

[@alanbarsteward7630]

And in space😊

[@brianmitchell8904]

And English is also spoken in Space as any Star Trek fan has to accept And all the Superheroes Supervillains have to also accept that the first word they speak is English so they must of come from England even Krypton - Superman's home came from England originally all the heroes and villans originated from England.

[@Opendjr]

And further refined by us Aussie’s

[@gaynor1721]

Not forgetting my great grandfather's invention, _Stocks and Dies_ patented on 7th August 1902. It cuts threads on iron rods etc. Where would most of the things we use today be without screws and bolts? His name was Douglas Andrew Billany (1865 - 1918), who was half Swedish, half English and a very clever man considering he never went to university. His second eldest son emigrated to the USA in 1915 and took the patent to his father's invention with him. It was first used by the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan where my great uncle later worked as an electrician.

[@danielanthony8373]

As an Aussie very very grateful to the Brits you gave us this great country down under although the labor party here is trying hard to destroy it Ledger Brits 98% Good 2% Bad

[@razzle1964]

As a Brit we, too, are grateful you gave us the likes of the Waugh brothers, AC/DC, Jimmy Barnes, Kylie & Skippy. Cheers & “g’day, y’bastard”. 😉😅✌️🤘

[@covertcounsellor6797]

Dead right, Daniel! To all those whingers complaining about the British Empire… especially the “Vote Yes” brigade, I always say, imagine what would have happened if the French, Belgians or Imperial Germans had settled Australia. For your answer, I suggest you Google “Lothar von Trotha” or Leopold II of Belgium.

[@LittleBallOfPurr]

A lot of us think of you Aussies as close of a member of the family as England, Scotland, Wales and N.Ireland. Aussie humour is my favourite in the world.

[@tempejkl]

Of course you Aussies liked it, yous were the ones benefitting, not the ones being starved to death and put into the world's first concentration camps and human zoos.

[@tempejkl]

⁠@@LittleBallOfPurrWe are not part of your 'family'. We've had enough of your "past"

[@benhodkinson6467]

Music….. MUSIC!!!! The British contribution to modern music is extraordinary

[@user-rb3zh6sz1b]

Innit tho'? 😂

[@traceys8065]

Yes!

[@paulmay396]

Absolutely, hard rock and heavy metal were nurtured here and turned into global stadium-filling events known wolrdwide.

[@paulmay396]

and punk rock!

[@robertmac9057]

Oh yes, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Queen, Elton John, David Bowie and loads more.

[@paulallaker8450]

Makes me proud to be British.......you're welcome World..😉👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@moz7777]

I live on the same street Samuel Crompton (inventor of the spinning mule) lived in Darwen, Lancashire. Proud of it.

[@AndrewRoberts11]

A namesake invented the Electric Kettle, a century later, the there's Frye' bone china tea cups and saucers, Brearley's Stainless Steel teaspoons, all to enable the British tea break 😊

[@shaonian]

We live in a utopia created by a relatively small number of scientists and engineers. People don't understand how much our ancestors suffered before all this happened. The cultural change that is happening at present represents a return to a more primitive, backward world.

[@GreatSageSunWukong]

this is a good point and I can't help but think religion plays a part in holding societies back, we had a big window in the UK and Europe as a whole where religion became fairly toothless allowing for hypothesis, debate, experiments and inventions to flourish without interference from the state/groups.

[@user-it7lf7kk8m]

Net zero is going to send us back there

[@cuznerdexter]

Religion, homogeneity, pride and belonging was what kept Brit society stable. It created the thirst for knowledge and experimentation. No modern genuis is coming from a culture of Single Mothers, Gangsta Rap, Islam or Transgenders!! We are racing through the 'Mouse Utopia Experiment' societal collapse is imminent! (Tldr, the mice turn gay due to lack of female for sex, have civil wars, eat each other, starve and all die)

[@excession3076]

On the surface it may seem like a small elite of scientists and engineers are solely responsible. But that elite can't exist without tacit support for them running throughout society. What's often overlooked is the respect everybody has, or used to have, for education, learning, invention and ideas. There's a reason we have centuries old universities, there's a reason literature is held in such high regard, the thirst for knowledge in Britain ran throughout society. As an example, Various Lords spent years digging up their estates discovering what they could about Romans, the Stone Age and investigating the relics they had left behind. A working class local woman in Dorset collected fossils, and with little formal education is considered one of the most important pioneers in the study of fossils. See the contrast? Do you see what connects them? They were British and they were curious. No other country, without coercion, has replicated or supported that level of intellectual exploration and discovery.

[@faramir]

@@GreatSageSunWukong Huh? The deindustrialisation complained of here has occurred as British religious observance declined.

[@njm3211]

Hats off to you Brits. Hands down the most prolific contributors to modernity.

[@lizbignell7813]

Which, of course, is why Greta Thunberg blames us for climate change!!

[@josephbuckley5961]

​@@lizbignell7813she's a just figure head for billionaires to make money off

[@Andymcnabbb869]

Never let anyone come in your home and tell you how to live, especially when they don’t know how to. Vote reform 🇬🇧

[@LittleBallOfPurr]

I think it's time, even if not for the longterm, it's a good idea for people to vote Reform to remind the two main parties who they serve.

[@tempejkl]

Ah, is that why the 'superior' British didn't follow this when going to Ireland, telling them how to live, going to India, telling them how to live, Africa, etc etc.

[@tempejkl]

@@LittleBallOfPurrReform serves the billionaires 😂😂😂. (So does every party). The British people never fail to amuse me... you were joking, right?

[@TheGreatCalsby]

Absolutely braindead opinion. You do realise that for a large portion of British history, the Brits did exactly what you've just said - invade other countries and tell them how to live? I am a native Englishman. I am proud to be a modern Brit, but not a historic one. This idea of division and single-minded arrogance to the bigger picture of a complex culture needs to end - your mindset is exactly why people don't like the British.

[@geoffnichols3831]

I think that is the reason we are hated so much around the world, because no other country comes anywhere near us, ask the Americans about inventions n they truely believe they invented everything that the Brits actually did, a small island actually ruled most of the world because of it's inventions.

[@mrsentencename7334]

the America revolutionary war was a British civil war no matter how you cut it. We shouldn't compete with the Americans we should combine our tally

[@W5nmwh50]

Every young person should be shown this!

[@user-rb3zh6sz1b]

All the 'woke' should be shown this!

[@tempejkl]

@@user-rb3zh6sz1bWhat if we, the colonised peoples, showed the British what they did? The biggest genocides in history, the invention of concentration camps, etc. etc. The Nazis copied the British, you know.

[@Musrusticus6890]

The British have been a blessing to human kind and this wonderful Earth.

[@wonderworld7721]

😂😉🤣

[@cketts8128]

As a Brit, this video is so refreshing! I am so tired of being made to feel terrible about what our ancestors did to the rest of the world. We acknowledge the fact practically on a daily basis. However, the listing of these accomplishments is just amazing. Please Reef Rebels do another to explain everything else….literature, films etc….I’m sure we would appreciate that so much here in the U.K. 😌🇬🇧💚🧡

[@bloggalot4718]

Thank the BBC for this and their political masters.

[@kevincornwall2431]

Watched this on St Georges day April 23rd 2024....Massively proud to be a brit (English)

[@Gisborne1990]

Scottish, Welsh, Irish and British lol.....

[@tempejkl]

@@Gisborne1990We aren't British. We're Irish

[@Madonnalitta1]

Ending the Trans Atlantic slave trade and the Industrial revolution is plenty to be proud of. The modern world owes itself to Britain.

[@tempejkl]

We would've been a world power without Britain. Thanks to them, we are the only country to have a smaller population now than in the 19th century

[@YusiAnimated-]

it owes more than that, they stripped us of our empire as thanks for all that and now we must deal with incompitent people in parliment doing NOTHING and i mean NOTHING to help our situation

[@kevinrayner5812]

Just running down the list, Saudi Arabia did not abolish slavery until 1962.

[@kevinrayner5812]

1996 The last Magdalene Laundry closes in Ireland.

[@greyjamiesod4989]

Yes, but we invented and ran the slave trade.

[@grantsapain]

The British have been awarded the 2nd highest number of Nobel Prizes in history...

[@silgen]

And the most per head of population.

[@burtlangoustine1]

We men, it's said, think of the Romans at least once a day. When will it be the Brits I wonder? Is it already happening?

[@crzxr]

And Anglo-Saxons?

[@zenko247]

And the 1st highest number has so many from immigrants, Who grew up and were Educated in other Countries😁

[@gibson617ajg]

An English Church Bell-Ringer enjoyed his job so much he carried on for hours at a time, day and night. The locals created an award for him - he was the first recipient of the 'No Peace Bell Prize' - which, of course, is still handed out occasionally.

[@prodavnicayugo]

Sadly I think your approach, based on truth and logic, is of no interest to those driven by resentment, and ironically in the short term may even fuel those opportunists who exploit the insecurities of “their people(s)”. However, you are absolutely right to stand up for the many British contributions, well done and thank you. More countries and societies should do the same, especially but not exclusively in the west.

[@Gandim45]

Thank you. My heart is swelling with pride!

[@bowiedoctor9156]

They definately weren't sitting around watching netflix in those days.

[@willswomble7274]

Or mis-spelling everything, showing their total ignorance!

[@brothermaynard3200]

I think British humour has contributed greatly to my - and most of the civilised world's - psychological health.

[@Si_Mondo]

The Yanks do stand up better, in general I think..... they're an off shoot of us British though. 😅 Our sitcoms from the 70s through to the late 90s/very early 00s were mostly brilliant! Only Fools and Horses, Porridge, Open All Hours, Red Dwarf, Yes Minister/Prime Minister.... there's many, many more. All brilliant! Now, our comedy is mostly shit.

[@Karma1st]

You can’t discredit a country for the bad without giving credit for the good and positives it brought upon humanity

[@simonmoran16]

As an Englishman, thank me later 😉Did you mention Brunel? Probably the greatest engineer that ever lived? The man invented modern transport.... I even named my Rottweiler after him

[@albert21able]

The British are one of the greatest people that ever walked this planet.

[@hlambourne3847]

Is that nigel planer you're on about?

[@fredyellowsnow7492]

@@hlambourne3847 Edgy.

[@Rexkramer68]

I can't take this anymore , I love my old country, 😢

[@dogsand77]

i beg to differ, they killed over 100 million to have their empire

[@michaelportaloo1981]

Walked the plank?

[@telemachus53]

In brief, we Brits have an amazing heritage of invention and discovery. Now all we have to do is to hold on to this and not yield to those that wish to undermine this heritage. That includes arresting those that climbed the war memorial on Remembrance Day and draped it with flags - not of Britain.

[@fenixfp40]

Ooops, too late.

[@nevillegrimshaw7758]

Beautifully put👍

[@AndrewWilliams-ry6tb]

Deport. To our former colonies.

[@dannypembroke2372]

Unfortunately, our government and its enablers (all UK police services) have emasculated and subjugated the British to the point of insignificance. Shame on them. I’ll be gone by then, but a leader will rise and drag these people to book. What a day that promises to be.

[@zensweptandinteresting]

It's a privilege to be born with a British passport, and it's an achievement to get one! Same goes for any nation with a Union Jack in their flag. Pity about Canada though. Even Hawaii kept theirs.

[@djelalniyazi4090]

yeah canada,

[@hughbrissedits459]

It's nice to listen to facts instead of politics.

[@user-yq4sp5ij6u]

This should be mandatory watching for every country, particularly the good ole US of A

[@cuznerdexter]

Agreed. Second that.

[@All_Good_Things]

I think this would shock a lot of USA citizens as they usually believe they invented everything

[@Japan-in-N]

Watched a documentary on the US invention of the Hovercraft. Mr Cockrell may have something to say about that.

[@davidfrost779]

@@Japan-in-N The things the yanks invented you could put on the back of a very small matchbox

[@B-A-L]

​@@All_Good_Things I can't think of anything that America invented entirely on its own!

[@nickbutler7935]

As a Brit I am damn proud of my Country, and it's History ( good and bad ). I still think our greatest invention was the Bacon Butty to compliment a good old cup of tea.

[@DerekLangdon]

The Bacon Butty? How amusing! It will never reach the dizzy heights of the Cheeseburger bud! It’s world renown, unlike your greasy piggy sandwhich.

[@tinitus23]

The crunch question - with brown sauce or tomato sauce?

[@melvinpackham7490]

Tomato ketchup, or HP sauce though?

[@keithalderson100]

That and Victoris sponge cake, Eccles and Chorley cakes...

[@Bobmudu35UK]

@@tinitus23 Brown..

[@nni9310]

I am not aware of anyone who has downplayed the achievements of British scientists.

[@captainhadd0ck]

Not bad for a tiny island. And now we have Rishi Sunak (groan).

[@chigeryelam4061]

Just wait until the Guardian readers find this video. They'll have a melt down.

[@user-it7lf7kk8m]

The guardian that profitted from slaving

[@cuznerdexter]

Haha, truth hurts the lefty, especially historic truth. (Sticks work quite well also tho) 😂😂

[@baldieman64]

@@user-it7lf7kk8m The Guardian also ran puff pieces praising Britain's very own wannabe fascist dictator - Oswald Moseley.

[@martinwalker7202]

Oh, yes, Guardian readers wouldn’t be able to have a meltdown without the invention of newspapers!

[@MrDaiseymay]

good

[@JohnWilliams-iw6oq]

The man who never made a mistake never made anything, I guess the same can be said of nations and empires.

[@DerekLangdon]

Yawn! Yes, very profound.

[@andylewis7360]

@@DerekLangdonSarcasm’s a British invention too. 😊

[@elainehumphrey2307]

@@andylewis7360 Yes, and so is the Lowest form of wit. 😉

[@Ionabrodie69]

@@elainehumphrey2307Actually sarcasm is a highly developed form of wit which only certain people can master..

[@lilboy3102]

*"It is impossible to imagine Australia outside the British Empire. Throughout our history we have been sheltered by the majesty and might of the Royal Navy. Our prestige in the councils of the world is a reflection of the light of Britain"* -Stanley Bruce, Australian PM

[@tempejkl]

Australia was a benefactor of the British imperialism. They are just as evil

[@wfjw]

thank you sir

[@philevans7740]

You nailed it mate. Well said.

[@macflod]

As a british citizen i can say that after hearing all this how shameful it is that almost all of British engineering and manufacturing is gone today. Apart from a few specialised low volume products there is only a tiny proportion of manufacturing left in comparison to what there once was. It was all left to fall apart, shit down and sold out. im not even sure there is a steel industry anymore. Sadly country has been ruined, sold off and totally bled dry by government corruption.

[@A190xx]

The UK last week moved to the 4th largest exporter in the world. Much of our wholesale manufacturing is done abroad where either the resources are found or the labour is cheap, which is the price of globalisation. However, the UK still have a significant manufacturing industry, but mostly in highly skilled or specialised areas.

[@Spiklething]

Genuinely love what I am assuming to be a typo, I am pretty sure you meant ' It was all left to fall apart, *shut* down and sold out' but what you have written is so much better

[@mpetersen6]

I found it pretty sad when the two RN carriers wee built in France.

[@DerekLangdon]

Capitalism is about making profit! If Johnny Foreigner can make it cheaper than your own workforce, then this is what happens! Simple economics!!

[@abrahamdraper1911]

UK manufacturing wasn't "all left to fall apart". Rather, it was systematically demolished by the Thatcher governments. Ostensibly with the aim of 'modernisation', but more accurately in order to smash workers' unions.

[@notanindividual6474]

India was plagued by famine, but agricultural and storage improvements by Britain led to fewer famines and a huge rise in the Indian population. You should also read the book "the case for colonialism". The introduction of English common law was a huge driver in the development of countries around the world and brought investment into all parts of the British Empire. Remember Britain did not take over working democracies, they treated people better than the previous rulers.

[@vonryansexpress]

Yes - famines and resulting mass deaths were common India but the British contribution to reducing this was multifold. . . The inyroduction of Railways and better roads enabled food relief to be transported, and communication by wire allowed the accurate assesment of where shortages were and areas of plenty existed to provide relief . . . The rapid growth of English speaking aided much better communication and the quelling of tribal conflicts greatly assisted food production and distribution . . . All of this aided population growth and health which improved the standard of living for many . . . India now talks of plunder and the inhibiting effect of British rule on Indian developement - Indias current developement however is based on all that the British bequeathed the world - if one wanted an accurate balance sheet I would say the debt India owes to Britain vastly outweighs that which we owe the Sub-Continent . . . Not only that but there are many millions of Indians alive today that would not be without the British Raj

[@HeatherMyfanwyTylerGreey]

In India it should be remembered that there is the caste system at work too and no matter if anyone wanted to help there were those whom the native people themselves called the 'untouchables' and believed they should be left to themselves. It was next to impossible for in-comers even the British to help them.

[@sedekiman824]

@@HeatherMyfanwyTylerGreey The British also established hospitals, judiciary system, clean water, sent people to England to train as doctors, etc.

[@user-kj8lq7mo2s]

But I reckon the invention and or legacy the indians loved the most that was bequeathed to em by the evil imperilists was none other than CRICKET.

[@margaretflounders8510]

Exactly!!

[@dontbelievethehype9502]

First underground /subway network too!! Plus Concorde (along with the French); first heart transplants and many more medical procedures and of course GMT and longitude and latitude for navigation etc

[@davidgifford8112]

I think you find the first heart transplant was performed in 1967 by Dr Barnard in South Africa, based on work being carried out in Michigan USA. However Cyclosporine was first used to stop organ rejection by Roy Carne from Cambridge UK. I will give you UT (Universal time) by Astronomers Royal Biddle-Airy who as a party trick also invented astigmatic lens to correct that eye defect.

[@GamerPlayzzz]

That moment when an American tries to argue that America invented everything.. I'm showing them this.. 👍

[@OnlyAnOpinion20]

Michael Faraday is the scientist that inspires me more than any other, he didn't even finish school, yet he was able to light up the world through generated electricity, a true genius

[@grahamfrear9270]

🇬🇧👍

[@David-wf1hr]

Dr. David Faraday - a descendant of the Victorian scientist Sir Micheal Faraday has invented a super way of distilling whisky which is in use at penderyn distillery near hirwaun

[@laurencescales]

Visit his home at the Royal Institution!

[@jimbo-yv5jh]

Don't tell Black History Month.

[@plashplash-fg6hd]

Don’t tell the liberals.

[@jakechapman254]

Don’t tell King Charles…. He will start apologising for all of the work the British have done.

[@CharlesWilliams-jf2nb]

Brits also invented the hovercraft, radar (briefly mentioned here), the 1st pressurised jet passenger aircraft (The Comet), modern version of the refrigerator, and the grain dryer.

[@lynnecromack4933]

Don't think we've ever been accused of 'enslaving people'.

[@realitycheckreally8412]

Don't forget Britain was the first and only empire to that point to abolish and fought to end slavery..

[@A190xx]

Around 2% of GDP was devoted to this cause

[@miltonlevant3203]

No the slaves did

[@DerekLangdon]

Yes, the British have grabbed the moral high ground for themselves! And no bugger is gonna push them off!

[@heronimousbrapson863]

Of course, Britain had to adopt slavery before they could abolish it...

[@bushwhackeddos.2703]

Whilst its own working class were kept in abject poverty.

[@fredericksaxton3991]

It is quite incredible the contribution to modern humanity that has come from a small insignificant island off the north coast of Europe. I am very proud to be British. I accept that the British Empire had it's faults, but where she stamped her boot, she took Enlightenement, Christianity, Technology, Health care, Modern transport systems, Telegraphy, Bureacracy and a Civil Service and of course, the English Language. She stamped out and abolished inhuman behaviours, such as Cannibalism, Human sacrifice, Slavery. But the British Empire was of it's day, and at the end of the day, Britain gave away her Empire.

[@tempejkl]

We had Christianity, a more pure version, and the English spent 500 years trying to change it to their blasphemous form of Christianity. Murders, killing half the population, banning freedoms, doesn't really sound very Christian, does it?

[@Peergint67]

At last someone who is prepared to build up rather than knock down my country. Mostly these days people like Thunberg knock this country without any real knowledge at all. It's so easy to knock this country, but as an Englishman, I am so proud of our ancestors who saw it as a challenge to do something to benefit not only our country, but the world. Yes we have done things I hate, and rightly so, every country has bad people who do bad things and I don't condone any of it, but the good people who did things to eradicate disease, for example is an outstanding achievement. So God bless my country. I'm proud to be English and proud to be British! Thank you for putting this together!

[@michaeljohn1978]

Not science, but in sport we also invented Association Football, Cricket, Rugby and Golf. In music, many, so let's just mention The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. In literature, many, so let's just mention Shakespeare and Tolkien

[@onastick2411]

And while we were doing all that, we took time out to invent politeness, and showed the world how to behave with dignity and Christian charity.

[@dulls8475]

The state is now actively anti Christian.

[@sedekiman824]

And break for tea.

[@Enoo-Wynn]

How to queue!

[@Ghostdancer4444]

How to have a propa punch up at football? 😂

[@sirkildalot8409]

Hear, hear. It’s just a shame that not more people are proud of that heritage and to see respect and manners going down the drain.

[@jimbo2629]

This is a nice antidote to the BBC radio 4 programme this morning about how we were awful colonists in Africa and what wonderful countries the liberated have become. Unlike me they have never lived in Africa.

[@tempejkl]

Almost like there was some sort of 'unequal exchange' happening?

[@andrewyorke3352]

If I wasn't for the British empire most other empire's would have put the rest of the world into slavery. And we wouldn't be watching this programme with out the world web. Great show 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@artj2657]

Thank you. How refreshing from the constant BORING British bashing❗️ Can we have MORE? Also please share❗️🙏 🇬🇧

[@starsaber9631]

15 minute video for this topic. Should be at least 15 hours

[@JB9000x]

In a few hundred years we'll get that TV programme! 😊

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

African people are very willing to credit British colonialism as a massive plus for Africa. Still today schools, universities, railways and hospitals all founded by the colonists. I have lived in Africa all my life. Further one cannot underestimate the contribution of missionaries. Their schools are are alive and thriving today. The students are polite, respectful and well educated. These people do not have a negative opinion on the colonial era.

[@paulgraham3901]

My girlfriend is Zambian, her uncles and grandfather fought for Zambia's independence but she says sometimes that the British left to quick

[@drwhatson]

As affirmed by the wonderful Thomas Sowell.

[@johnnyf6617]

@@paulgraham3901 "My girlfriend is Zambian, her uncles and grandfather fought for Zambia's independence but she says sometimes that the British left to quick" Well, leaving a country with no experience in governing itself was bound to end in disaster. It would probably have been better if the Brits had handed over power more gradually to the local populations, helping them to develop their own systems of governance in a genuine partnership.

[@RichardMontgomeryYT]

​@@paulgraham3901the British left any country that wanted independence with nothing as soon as they held no monetary value to them anymore.

[@N1Moses]

It makes me sad that there is such a huge disconnect between African people and Black British people, alot of the Black British population have the worst view of the UK imaginable and want to be a victim in every way possible, they don't see the opportunities that people from the motherland would wish to have and would appreciate greatly to be given.

[@TripsandFeasts1]

4 of our planet’s top 10 major sports were coded in Britain. It still staggers me how worldwide football is.

[@kenricnarbrough8191]

Jeezuz, the list is utterly endless i thought it was incredible that the turbofan was British but this compilation is mind boggling. So inspiring

[@sarahlouise7163]

"there ain't half been some clever bastards" Ian Dury, English musical genius 😁

[@blackbob3358]

Was'nt the "nicest of chaps", ms Louise. I think it was the "hand he was dealt" , in life.

[@michaelportaloo1981]

He once stole a Razzle mag though.

[@jameswebb4593]

Makes a change for the Brits to breast beat , we usually let the Yanks do that. But how could an Aussie ignore the contribution to the world of sport . its enormous. Soccer , Cricket . Rugby , Snooker . Darts . Badminton , Table Tennis , Lawn Tennis . Bowls , Skittles . The rules of Boxing and Horse racing .

[@stephenbooth5929]

I recently learned that our game of rounders (now mainly played by children) was the source of American baseball. Rounders has been played since Tudor times.

[@reefrebels]

Something for another video. PR

[@axle.australian.patriot]

Gaelic football :P Ay, drink mead, rumble in the dirt and get your differences out of the way and move on and enjoy life :)

[@jontalbot1]

Cos it’s a science channel

[@frogandspanner]

And cards, according to Hoyle.

[@richardwaddington2038]

At last someone that recognises that the British invented EVERYTHING !

[@user-py9vz6qx2h]

We should teach this in schools. So many people have no idea what this small country have given the world.

[@georgebailey98]

British culture has always produced the best characters: Most famous outlaw: Robin Hood Most famous detective: Sherlock Holmes Most famous spy: James Bond Most famous nanny: Mary Poppins Most famous orphan: Oliver Twist Most famous miser: Ebenezer Scrooge Most famous king: King Arthur Most famous wizard: Merlin, Gandalf and Harry Potter Most famous knight: Lancelot Most famous castaway: Robinson Crusoe Most famous bear: Paddington Most famous gentleman's gentleman: Jeeves Most famous poltroon: Harry Flashman and many more.

[@stup1299]

You forgot most famous serial killer : Jack the Ripper 🙂

[@obi-ron]

I have to beg to differ on the world's most famous bear. More people are probably aware of Winnie the Pooh than Paddington, though he is also the creation of a British author.

[@terrystevens5261]

@@stup1299 Jack the ripper was real, the others were not.

[@crzxr]

Alice in Wonderland...Beatrix Potter...Hercule Poirot...Miss Marple - for goodness sake, there's no end to a very distinguished list. Effortlessly out in front.

[@zenko247]

and Poo bear

[@silgen]

You forgot the light bulb, invented by Joseph Swan a couple of hundred yards away from where I live in Gateshead.

[@toxictony4230]

Welcome to the north of England. We created the modern world.

[@gibson617ajg]

He also invented matches.

[@theSFCchannel]

AND LONG BEFORE THE lying yanks DID, TOO

[@MarkCW]

Thankyou, I feel proud to be British. Thanks also to the Aussies for inventing the Black Box Flight Recorder (1958), Cochlear Implant (1978), Plastic Banknotes (1988), Wi-Fi (1992), Electric Drill (1889), Surfboard Fins (1915), Sunscreen (1930s), and Plastic spectacle lenses (1960) to name a few!

[@lucodeath]

Before 1687 people kept falling off the earth but then we invented gravity.

[@maevedeburgh8554]

Thank you for this!!! As a nation we need to stop being silenced and dumbed down and stand up for a fantastic heritage.. Nobody's heritage is without a flaw!

[@jay8656]

I am a British Englishman and Your Welcome.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧 I tell people who slag off my Country and Culture. Name me a Empire that’s done no wrong.😎

[@Si_Mondo]

I'd live to know what those Roman emperors would say, if they could see what those blue painted savages that kept rebelling against them ended up doing! 😂😂

[@jboydayz]

@@Si_Mondoexactly, as a Brit, I am so proud of our history, from savages being invaded by civilised peoples to civilised peoples invading savages. Truly a national turn around

[@gaynor1721]

*You're. As a "British Englishman", I would expect you to have a better grasp of the language.

[@tempejkl]

The Soviet Union from 1922-1953 the People's Republic of China from 1950-now

[@tempejkl]

@@gaynor1721what do you expect, hes british

[@Angelcynn_2001]

I am a proud Englishman ❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 I love my history and culture, and I am proud of my people

[@catalinlulea]

Also, let's not forget, they've invented gravity. Or at least they've discovered it's laws...

[@stevetheduck1425]

Described it's laws without resorting to mythical convictions. Quite a large step away from the caves, actually.

[@cthulhurising4860]

The world has very short memories & when they do, only choose to remember selectively. Britain is without doubt the most remarkable country & by a considerable margin, been a net force for good on the rest of the world. Cheers from NZ

[@DerekLangdon]

Preach your subjective crap to the Māori people, and tell them how lucky they are to have you living among them!!!

[@Climpus]

@@DerekLangdon if they would like to live in a primitive hunter-gather basic agricultural society - they're welcome. I wonder how many have turned their backs on NZ society and live in the woods....?

[@Rocko130185]

​@@DerekLangdonthe maori only turned up in NZ a couple of hundreds of years before the Europeans and they were fond of genocide themselves.

[@user-it7lf7kk8m]

Remember the maori weren't indigenous to NZ

[@Climpus]

@@user-it7lf7kk8m They were the first humans to get there though.