James Watt made a critical improvement in 1764, by removing spent steam to a separate vessel for condensation, greatly improving the amount of work obtained per unit of fuel consumed. By the 19th century, stationary steam engines powered the factories of the Industrial Revolution.

In forensic analysis, the advances in technologies that have shaped the future of archeology are the introduction of medical technology that focuses on the aspects of life and mysteries of death rather than the treasure buried with the remains. The x-ray was invented, followed by CT scanner through which diagnostic imaging could be done.

Key People: Robert Fulton James Watt Oliver Evans Richard Trevithick George Stephenson stoker See all related content → steam engine, machine using steam power to perform mechanical work through the agency of heat. (Read James Watt’s 1819 Britannica essay on the steam engine.) Britannica Quiz