5 German inventions that changed the world

Wall plugs had already been invented, but they weren't very effective - until Swabian inventor Artur Fischer came up with a plug with teeth in 1958, during Germany's building boom. The tiny spikes straighten when the screw is turned tight, wedging it into place. The method is even used to treat bone fractures.

In the early 19th century, a German glass blower produced vessels with hollow walls designed to transport liquid gases. He recognized their insulating properties, and using that principle, he created an entirely new flask, the thermos. In 1903, Reinhold Burger had the invention patented.

Dario Fontanella invented this ice cream specialty in his Italian family's ice cream parlor in Mannheim. In 1969, the young man experimented with vanilla ice cream, pressing it through a spaetzle maker. Voila, spaghetti ice cream! Topped with strawberry sauce and grated almonds, it's still a favorite in ice cream parlors across Germany today.

Back in 1895 at Fein company, two employees just couldn't be bothered to hand-drill holes: To make things easier and save time, they simply attached a small electric motor to the drill chuck. Emil Fein recognized the potential - and developed the first electric hand drill. The modern version can still be found in most households today.

In 1907, Dresden pharmacist Ottomar von Mayenburg experimented with a novel paste containing limestone, essential oils and mint oil, aimed at helping patients who complained of aching teeth. Similar products existed, but "Chlorodont" went down in history as the mother of all toothpastes.