In the mid-1800s, nitroglycerin was the go-to explosive—but it was so unstable, it could blow up without warning. After his brother died in a factory accident involving it, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel set out to make it safer.

In 1867, Nobel found that mixing nitroglycerin with a soft, absorbent material called diatomaceous earth made it far more stable. He called his invention dynamite, from the Greek dynamis, meaning "power." It quickly revolutionized construction, mining, and transportation by making controlled explosions safer and more practical.

Dynamite helped carve tunnels, build railways, and blast through rock around the world. But as its use in warfare grew, Nobel grew uneasy. 

Hoping to leave a better legacy, he used his fortune to establish the Nobel Prizes, honoring those who contribute to peace, science, and progress.

Though largely replaced today by safer alternatives, dynamite changed the world—and reshaped Nobel’s own legacy.