The 1940s were best known for World War II, but did you know that Velcro was invented during this period? In the 1940s, technological changes occurred with both their positive and negative effects, but these effects benefited society more by being the basis of many items used today. Technology in the 1940s had undergone many changes. Some of the technological changes involved the flight of America's first jet plane. Additionally, the first nuclear reactor and the first atomic bomb were created, but both contributed to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. The first computer was invented. Just like the Polaroid camera, which was the first instant camera, and the transistor, which helped advance video and television technologies. Penicillin became popular as an antibiotic during World War II. All of these had an impact in one way or another (science in the 1940s). Technology developed throughout the 1940s had positive effects. The first American jet, the Bell XP-59A Airacomet, first flew in 1942. Although this aircraft never saw combat during World War II, it "gave the Army U.S. Air Force and Navy valuable jet experience." aviation technology and helped pave the way for more advanced designs” (Bell XP-59A Airacomet). This led to the development of faster and more efficient jet aircraft. RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging) was first used practically in the 1940s. RADAR was used during World War II to control and guide ships and aircraft and to detect enemy craft. RADAR has also been shown to detect rain, snow and other forms of precipitation. During World War II, RADAR operators noticed that rain, etc., continued to appear on RADAR fields. It was around this time...... middle of article...... APons Program. " Federation of American Scientists. Np, April 16, 2000. Web. December 10, 2013. "CP-1 (Chicago Pile 1 Reactor)." Argonne National Laboratory. United States Department of Energy, nd Web. 10 December 2013. "RADAR Days." The Franklin Institute, nd Web December 10, 2013. "Science in the 1940s." The Making of the Atomic Bomb, California: Lucent Books, Inc., 2000. “The ENIAC (Electronic Digital Integrator and Computer). )." Temple University. Np, nd Web. December 9, 2013. "The biggest gun in the world." 5AD Online!. Np, nd Web. December 10.. 2013..