Born on the battlefield

From foxholes to fashion: 10 wartime innovations you can’t live without

Image: Евгений Новиков

Since time immemorial, conflict and the urgent necessities of war have driven rapid innovation. Many everyday products trace their origins back to military needs. From wristwatches to instant coffee, items that once kept soldiers alive, efficient, or comfortable now fill our kitchens, closets, and offices. Here are 10 objects with surprisingly martial origins.

Image: Paul Bright

Now a ubiquitous fabric present in everything from clothes to carpets, nylon debuted in WWII as a replacement for scarce silk in parachutes, ropes, and tire cords.

Its lightweight durability made it indispensable for military supplies. After the war, nylon quickly transitioned into civilian life, with stockings becoming its first big hit.

Image: Marcus Urbenz

First patented in the late 19th century, zippers gained traction during WWI as fasteners for military uniforms and gear. Buttons proved slower and less reliable under battlefield conditions, making zippers a more efficient choice.

The military’s adoption helped standardize their use, and after the war, zippers spread rapidly into civilian clothing, luggage, and countless household items.

Image: Calle Macarone

In 1795, Napoleon offered a prize for a food preservation method that could feed his armies on long marches without risk of spoilage.

Nicolas Appert, a French confectioner, spent 15 years experimenting before developing a process of sealing food in glass jars and heating them to sterilize the contents. Appert received the prize in 1810, and before long, the technique was adapted to tin cans, which soon found their way into military rations.

Image: Amr Taha™

A precursor to modern instant coffee appeared during the American Civil War as a concentrated coffee, milk, and sugar mixture called Essence of Coffee. Soldiers mixed a teaspoon with hot water, but many complained it had the consistency of axle grease (yikes!).

In the decades that followed, the concept was refined, and by WWI and WWII, the U.S. military was mass-issuing instant coffee to troops for convenience and morale. Civilian popularity grew alongside military adoption.

Image: Bryan Angelo

During WWI, officers found pocket watches impractical during fast-paced and unpredictable combat conditions. Many soldiers began strapping them to their wrists for quick time checks, turning a personal improvisation into a battlefield necessity.

The first true wristwatches were designed specifically for this purpose, and the term "trench watch" soon became common. Surprisingly, these early designs already featured enduring innovations, such as luminous dials for nighttime visibility.

Image: Roman

When the U.S. entered WWII, the Army invited more than 130 companies to develop prototypes for a lightweight, four-wheel-drive reconnaissance vehicle; only Bantam and Willys-Overland responded. The resulting Willys MB "Jeep" proved rugged, versatile, and indispensable to soldiers.

After the war, surplus Jeeps hit civilian markets, sparking the off-road craze and laying the groundwork for modern SUVs.

Image: Markus Winkler

Instant noodles were inspired by post-WWII food shortages in Japan. Momofuku Ando, founder of Nissin Foods, invented them in 1958 as a quick, affordable, and portable meal, ideal for a country struggling with limited food supplies.

The noodles were flash-fried to remove moisture, making them lightweight and long-lasting. The concept was influenced by military-style rations, designed for easy storage and preparation.

Image: aaron boris

Zippo lighters were standard issue for U.S. troops in WWII and Vietnam, valued for their windproof flame and reliability in harsh conditions. Throughout the conflicts, the company devoted its full production capacity to meeting military demand.

Afterward, the iconic design and dependability spoke for themselves, turning Zippos into a pop culture symbol of ruggedness among civilians.

Image: Lacey Raper

Specially designed in the 1930s for British paratroopers, cargo pants featured extra pockets for maps, ammunition, and essential supplies, allowing soldiers to carry gear hands-free during airborne operations.

The practical design proved so effective that it was widely adopted by other Allied forces throughout WWII. After the war, the durable pants transitioned into civilian life as reliable workwear for laborers, hikers, and adventurers.

Image: Devin Rajaram

While freeze-drying, or lyophilization, has been known for centuries—the Inca were freeze-drying potatoes as early as the 13th century—it wasn’t until WWII that a commercially viable process was developed.

The military needed a way to preserve blood plasma and penicillin for soldiers in harsh battlefield conditions, where refrigeration was a rare luxury. This demand drove the development of modern freeze-drying techniques, which are still used today for food, medicine, and scientific materials.

Decoding

Being a "treasured guest" is not a compliment. This is the hidden meaning

Have you ever heard "Code Adam" while shopping for groceries at Walmart? Or maybe you’ve heard how "Dr. Firestone" was being paged during a routine hospital visit. They sound like harmless announcements. But behind these ordinary words are secret codes staff use to signal emergencies without causing panic. From hospitals and supermarkets to airports and Disney Parks, these phrases quietly warn employees that something is happening. You hope you never hear them, but if you do, it helps to know exactly what they mean.

We all love getting special attention at airports or hotel desks, but if you hear the clerk call you a "treasured guest," don’t feel so flattered. You may not be as VIP as one could think.

In the hospitality industry, "treasured guest" has become a humorous bit of industry folklore to describe someone causing trouble. Maybe a customer yelling at staff over expired coupons, demanding impossible accommodations, or throwing a full-blown tantrum at the front desk. Whatever it is, the phrase has become the staff’s secret way to warn co-workers without escalating the situation in front of the customers. Most guests don’t realize the meaning, but once you know it, you may start hearing it more often. We just hope it’s not about you.

Imagine you’re pushing a shopping cart through Walmart when suddenly the overhead speaker announces, "Code Adam." You can easily assume it’s some kind of employee meeting or cleanup request. But when you see them start locking the exits and moving around, you know something’s wrong.

This code was created in 1994 by Walmart in collaboration with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), in memory of the tragic case of 6-year-old Adam Walsh. Adam was abducted from a Sears department store in 1981 while shopping with his mother. His father, John Walsh, later became famous for hosting the TV program America’s Most Wanted and advocating for missing children. Even if Adam’s story ended in tragedy, Walmart created the emergency system in Adam’s memory, and other retailers soon adopted it nationwide, intending to have a quick response to missing or abducted children.

You’re sitting in a hospital waiting room during a routine check-up when you suddenly hear "Code Blue, Room 214." Most people immediately know it sounds serious, even if they are not entirely sure why.

The phrase "Code Blue" is used at hospitals to draw the necessary staff and equipment to perform a resuscitation. It was created in the early 1960s at Beathany Medical Center by Dr. Hughes Day. Before then, hospital resuscitations were often chaotic and poorly coordinated. In 1961, Dr. Day received a grant to build one of America’s first cardiac care centers, and he developed both the Code Blue alert system and the modern crash cart to improve survival rates during cardiac emergencies. Today, the system is used in hospitals across the country, sometimes with specialized versions like "Code Blue Pediatric" or "Code Blue Neonate."

Imagine visiting a loved one in the hospital when the intercom calmly announces, "Paging Dr. Firectone to the third floor." Your head surely goes, "Dr. Firestone’s probably having a busy day up there." He is, but it’s not what you think.

The phrase is actually a discreet fire alert used to warn staff about smoke, flames, or overheating equipment without frightening patients and visitors. Hospitals adopted these coded announcements after realizing that openly yelling "fire" over loudspeakers could create panic, especially among patients who aren’t able to move quickly. "Code Red" is an alternative used by many health centers today, but it also hints at the situation while keeping hallways calm.

You’re standing at a checkout counter when the cashier picks up the phone and quietly says, "I need a Code 10 authorization." If you think that’s just another way to get a supervisor’s approval or technical issue, think again. In reality, the cashier may suspect the credit card is stolen or fraudulent.

Code 10 was developed through a cooperative effort between major credit card companies like Visa and Mastercard, along with international standard organizations. As credit cards became more common in the 1960s and 1970s, stores needed a discreet way to alert banks about suspicious activity without directly accusing customers and potentially putting employees at danger. When a cashier requests a Code 10, the bank’s operator begins asking yes-or-no questions to assess the situation and guide the employee on what to do next.

You’ve probably experienced those long airport security lines. The wait is usually uneventful. But sometimes, you can hear "Code Bravo" over the speakers. Maybe it’s a delay, or maybe it’s an issue with luggage. Within seconds, people stop moving, the security line freezes, and exits may even close. It’s something bigger.

Code Bravo is the emergency phrase used by airport security and the Transportation Security Administration to signal a serious security threat, such as an unattended bag, a breach at a checkpoint, or someone slipping into a restricted area. The term comes from the international phonetic alphabet used in aviation and military communications, where "Bravo" represents the letter B. When this is called, security staff immediately lock down affected areas, stop screening lines, and search for the source of the threat. To passengers, it’s sudden and confusing, but to security, it’s a carefully rehearsed response.

You are heading back to your cabin on a cruise ship when the speakers announce, "Code Alpha, Deck 7." You may think Alpha is related to the captain, but that’s not the case. It means someone on board is suffering a medical emergency.

The phrase comes from the NATO phonetic alphabet, where "Alpha" represents the letter A. In maritime emergency jargon, it became shorthand for a Priority A medical situation requiring immediate response. Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line commonly use the term, though some ships use variations like repeating "Alpha" three times. Once the code is announced, onboard medical teams rush toward the specified deck or cabin. If necessary, stretcher crews are mobilized, and in severe cases, the ship may even divert course toward the nearest port for emergency evacuation. Passengers are enjoying the views, but the staff is running to save a life.

Anyone who remembers the CB radio craze of the 1970s probably smiles when they hear "10-4." Movies, truckers, and radio fans turned those number codes into a part of American culture. So if you overhear "10-33" on a police scanner, you might assume it’s just another routine message. But it’s not as simple as it sounds.

The 10-code system was first created in 1937 by Illinois State Police communications director Charles Hopper and later standardized by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, better known as APCO. Officers needed short phrases they could understand clearly over crackling radio signals. The 10-33 code commonly means an officer needs emergency assistance. In some departments, it also signals radio silence so dispatchers can focus on the crisis unfolding in real time.

Disney World is amazing, the parks offer something for everyone, and there are things to see wherever you look. But that’s exactly the kind of place where a child can easily disappear into a sea of strollers, balloons, characters, and crowds. For that reason, Disney has developed the "Signal 70," which alerts cast members and security that a child has become separated from their family.

The number comes from older police and emergency radio systems, where "70" was commonly associated with missing persons. Disney adopted the phrase because it allows employees to communicate discreetly without frightening or alarming nearby guests. If a member finds the child, they gently -and magically- escort them to Baby Care Center, where they coordinate the reunion.

Cruises are great to relax, enjoying a good book under the sun with a nice drink by the side. Until you hear "Echo, echo, echo" on the speakers. If you do, something is happening somewhere else on the ship.

The code is used among cruise employees to signal that dangerous winds or a navigational hazard are affecting the ship. It comes from the international maritime phonetic alphabet, where "Echo" stands for the letter E. In maritime signalling, the letter traditionally means "I am altering my course to starboard." And, in time, the phrase became associated with urgent ship maneuvers and weather-related warnings. However urgent, the repetition of the word by three doesn’t represent life-threatening situations. It alerts the crew of a certain hazard to prepare while avoiding panic among passengers.