and if THEESE folks hadn't invented, stumbled-upon, or otherwise orchestrated these wonderful (mostly toxic) phenomena, they would have eventually appeared anyhow.....Including Algebra, Calligraphy, and the game of polo.

"Biotechnological self-replicating microchips, an eventuality; The human race will synthesize or become by-products of evolution."
-Itzhak Zechrevitz

When I was in elementary school, science class included making fun of "old wives tales" as emblematic of superstition.

There was an "old wives tale" that moldy bread could cure a fever.

If only those early scientists had been more curious and less dismissive, we might have had penicillin much much sooner.

Of course, then we would have had penicillin resistant bugs much sooner, too...

Horrible presentation. Emotionless reading as fast as possible. Not sure who wanted it to end first, me or the narrator.