Earlier, 
I read about the ball-point pen at BBC. Revolutionary? Probably not, but definitely groundbreaking: how many generations have used the ball-point pen since it’s invention in 1938 by the Biro brothers? How many of your pens have been stolen (or borrowed) by your colleagues, brothers, sisters or schoolmates? How many pens have you gone through (including all Parkers, Sheaffers and Watermans you owned)?
Probably way too many.
1. A history of ball-points wars.