A world without linear motion?

The invention of the wheel is a glorious example of linear motion in action. The ancient Sumerians probably never imagined that their invention would one day lead to cars, trains and aeroplanes, all based on the principle of linear motion. They were probably just looking for something that rolled better than a square.

The famous scientist Sir Isaac Newton gave linear motion a VIP ticket, so to speak, with his first law of motion ('A body remains at rest or in uniform motion unless forced to change its state by external forces'). Newton's laws of motion and the theory of gravity have not only revolutionised our understanding of motion, but have also paved the way for modern physics and technology.

From the simple migration of our ancestors across the continents to today's space travel, which takes us directly to other planets, linear motion has brought us a long way. Without it, we would probably still be travelling in circles. Linear motion is not just a physical principle, but a symbol of human progress and ingenuity.

And who knows where the straight line will take us next? Perhaps the quickest way to an interstellar destination, or, for the less adventurous among us, at least the shortest route to the fridge.